JAWS Screen Reader for Windows:

Included in this website page are the following sections. About JAWS Screen Reader. Free 40 Minute Version of JAWS. Shared Licenses. Online Resources to Learn JAWS. JAWS Key Commands. Getting Started with JAWS. JAWS OCR Key Commands. End of list. Last Updated December 14th, 2025.

About JAWS Screen Reader:

JAWS is a screen reader software for Windows computers from a manufacturer called Freedom Scientific. JAWS stands for Job Access With Speech. For the Home Annual License (U.S. only) of JAWS, the cost is $104.50 per year. The annual license is automatically renewed and is managed using the Freedom Scientific Licensing Portal. Free alternatives to JAWS are Narrator Screen Reader and Non-Visual Desktop Access.

Free 40 Minute Version of JAWS:

Shared Licenses:

Some jobs and schools have shared licenses that individuals can use. 

Link to check for access using an email address. 

JAWS Key Commands:

JAWS has different key commands for laptops and desktops.

Getting Started with JAWS:

  • To turn on JAWS on a laptop from the desktop, type CapsLock, then Control, then Shift, then the letter J, and then Enter. 

  • To turn on JAWS on a desktop computer from the desktop, type Insert, then the letter J, and then Enter.

  • Use the arrow keys to move around the screen.

  • To select something, type Enter.

  • Type Control to pause JAWS speaking.

  • To turn off JAWS on a laptop from the desktop, type CapsLock, then F4, and then Enter. 

  • To turn on JAWS on a desktop computer from the desktop, type Insert, then F4, and then Enter.

  • To go back to the desktop, type Windows then the letter D.

JAWS Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Key Commands:

An example of a compatible OCR device to use with JAWS is the PEARL Reading Camera from Freedom Scientific.

  • Task: Get an image from a camera or scanner.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter A.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter A.

  • Task: Recognize currently selected image file.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter F.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter F. 

  • Task: Recognize current PDF document.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter D. 

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter D.

  • Task: Recognize current application window.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter W.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter W.

  • Task: Recognize the entire screen.

  • Desktop Keys Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter S.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter S.

  • Task: Recognize currently selected control.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter C.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter C.

  • Task: Cancel recognition while in progress.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter Q.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then the letter Q.

  • Task: Announce help message for OCR commands.

  • Desktop Key Command: Insert, then Space, then the letter O, and then Question Mark.

  • Laptop Key Command: CapsLock, then Space, then the letter O, and then Question Mark.