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JAWS

JAWS is a popular screen reader for windows based computers.

Install

You can download and install JAWS from Freedom Scientific. A time-limited demo is also available.

How to find your version

  1. Open JAWS
  2. The version is listed under the JAWS menu

Guides, Documentation, and resources

Modes

Commands

The following are some common commands.

Common

TaskCommand
Read next focusable itemTab
Read next itemDown arrow
Read previous focusable itemShift + Tab
Read previous itemUp arrow

General

TaskCommandNotes
Activate ButtonEnter or Space
Activate LinkEnter
Enter forms modeinsert + zAutomatically activated when entering a form control.
exit forms mode (go to PC cursor)insert + z
Read iteminsert + up arrowAnnounces the current item
Open element listInsert + F3
Turn OffInsert + F4
Turn On(none)
Keyboard command while in forms or application mode<keyboard command>

Reading

TaskCommand
Read next focusable itemTab
Read next itemDown arrow
Jump to controlled elementInsert + alt + M
Follow the element referenced by aria-flowtoequals sign
Go to the the first element that references this element via aria-flowtoshift + equals sign
Next regionr
List headingsInsert + F6
List regionsCtrl + Insert + r
Read previous focusable itemShift + Tab
Read previous itemUp arrow
Start reading from current positionInsert + down arrow
Stop readingControl

Forms

TaskCommandNotes
Activate ButtonEnter or Space
Activate Form ControlSpace
Enter forms modeinsert + zAutomatically activated when entering a form control.
exit forms mode (go to PC cursor)insert + z
enter text<enter text>must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior.
select next optionDown arrowmust be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior.
select previous optionUp arrowmust be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior.
select an optionEntermust be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior.
Read next focusable itemTab
Read previous focusable itemShift + Tab
Keyboard command while in forms or application mode<keyboard command>

Tables

TaskCommandNotes
Move to the start of the containerwindows key+homeWill move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc)
Past the end of the containerWindows key+endWill move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc)
Move to next columnControl + Alt + Right arrow
Move to next rowControl + Alt + up arrow
Move to previous columnControl + Alt + Left arrow
Move to previous rowControl + Alt + down arrow
Read current cellControl + Alt + Numpad 5

Elements

TaskCommandNotes
Next buttonb
Next buttonshift + b
Next form fieldf
Next form fieldf
Next graphicg
Next unvisited linku
Previous unvisited linkshift+u
Next visited linkv
Next headingh
Previous headingshift + h
Next heading of level1-6
Open element listInsert + F3
Next listl
Move to the start of the containerwindows key+homeWill move to the start of the current container (list, table, etc)
Past the end of the containerWindows key+endWill move past the end of the current container (list, table, etc)
Next list itemi