VoiceOver for MacOS
VoiceOver is a popular screen reader that is free and built in to MacOS.
Install
VoiceOver is built in to MacOS and can be enabled from the System Preferences app.
How to find your version
- Open "About this mac"
- Use search
- Press
command+space bar to open search
- Type "About this mac"
- Click "About this mac"
- OR click the apple icon in the top left corner of the desktop and select "about this mac"
- Use the version number listed on the dialog
Guides, Documentation, and resources
Modes
VoiceOver does not have the same concept of modes that many other screen readers have.
Commands
The following are some common commands.
The default NVDA modifier key is set to: Control + Option
Common
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next item | VO + Right arrow |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | VO + Left Arrow |
General
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Activate Button | VO + space |
| Activate control (enter) | enter |
| Activate Link | Enter |
| Open Rotor | VO + U |
| Turn Off | Command + F5 |
| Turn On | Command + F5 |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> |
Reading
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Read next focusable item | Tab |
| Read next item | VO + Right arrow |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab |
| Read previous item | VO + Left Arrow |
| start reading from current position | VO + A |
| start reading from current position | Control |
Forms
| Task | Command | Notes |
|---|
| Activate Button | VO + space | |
| Activate control (enter) | enter | |
| Activate Form Control | Space | |
| Read next focusable item | Tab | |
| Next Form Control | VO + Command + J | |
| Previous Form Control | VO + shift + Command + J | |
| Perform the default action | VO + space | |
| Read previous focusable item | Shift + Tab | |
| enter text | <enter text> | must be in a form or application context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select next option | Down arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select previous option | Up arrow | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| select an option | Enter | must be in a listbox context, and this is native browser behavior. |
| Keyboard command while in forms or application mode | <keyboard command> | |
Tables
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Move to Next Column | VO + Right Arrow |
| Move to Next Row | VO + Down Arrow |
| Move to Previous Column | VO + Left Arrow |
| Move to Previous Row | VO + Up Arrow |
| Read Column Header | VO + C |
| Read row header | VO + R |
Elements
| Task | Command |
|---|
| Next Form Control | VO + Command + J |
| Previous Form Control | VO + shift + Command + J |
| Next Graphic | VO + Command + G |
| Next Heading | VO + Command + H |
| Previous Heading | VO + Shift + Command + H |
| Next Link | VO + Command + L |
| Next Table | VO + Command + X |
| Next Table | VO + Command + T |
| Next Visited Link | VO + Command + V |