Narrator Screen Reader for Windows:

The following information is for Windows 11. Last Updated December 14th, 2025. This website page includes the following section. About Narrator Screen Reader. Narrator Windows Screen Reader Audio Sample YouTube Video. Online Resources to Learn Narrator Screen Reader. How to Setup Narrator on Windows 11. Narrator Mouse Mode. Narrator Tutorial. About the Narrator Key. Getting Started with Narrator. Basic Narrator Key Commands. Narrator Scan Mode. Basic Narrator Scan Mode Key Commands. Navigating with Narrator Scan Mode Key Commands. Reading Text with Narrator. Basic Narrator Reading Text Key Commands. End of list.

About Narrator Windows Screen Reader:

Narrator is a free Windows Screen Reader that provides audio feedback of what is on the screen and what is typed. The Narrator settings can be accessed in the accessibility section of settings.

How to Setup Narrator on Windows 11:

  • Go to Settings.

  • Go to the Accessibility Section.

  • Go to the Narrator Section.

  • Turn on Narrator.

Or type Windows then Control then N for a keyboard shortcut to Narrator settings.

Narrator Mouse Mode:

Narrator can be used with the mouse. Mouse Mode can be turned on in the Narrator settings in the Mouse and Keyboard section. This allows users who can see the screen to use Narrator’s audio feedback to navigate the screen with their mouse.

Narrator Tutorial:

The Narrator Home screen with the tutorial automatically starts when the user turns on Narrator for the first time. Once the user selects QuickStart, Narrator will automatically read out the tutorial. In the bottom left corner of the Narrator Home screen is the option to stop the Narrator Home screen from automatically starting every time that Narrator is turned on. This setting can also be found in the Narrator settings in the Narrator Home section.

About the Narrator Key:

The Narrator Key is CapsLock and/or Insert. The user types the Narrator Key when typing in some keyboard commands. For example, a Narrator user may type CapsLock then 1. The user presses and holds the CapsLock key then presses and lets go of the 1 key to complete a specific key command. These key commands are one way a Narrator user can use Narrator.

Getting Started with Narrator:

  • Turn Narrator on. Press and hold Windows then type Control then type Enter.

  • Move around a screen like settings. Press and hold the Narrator Key then type an arrow key. For example, press and hold CapsLock then the right arrow key to move to the right.

  • Move around the desktop. Use the arrows keys to move from desktop icon to desktop icon.

  • To select something, type Enter.

  • Type Control to pause Narrator speaking.

Basic Narrator Key Commands:

  • Turn Narrator on and off command. Windows then Control then Enter.

  • Open Narrator settings command. Windows then Control then N.

  • Select command. Enter.

  • Input learning command. Narrator Key then 1.

  • Stop Narrator from speaking command. Control.

  • Change Narrator volume command. To turn the volume up, Narrator Key then Control then Plus. To turn the volume down, Narrator Key then Control then Minus.

  • Change how fast or slow Narrator speaks command. To have Narrator talk faster, Narrator then Plus. To have Narrator talk slower, Narrator then Minus

  • Announce the time and date. Narrator Key then F12.

Narrator Scan Mode:

  • Scan mode lets you navigate apps, email, and webpages using the arrow keys. 

  • You’ll also be able to use common keyboard shortcuts to read text and jump directly to headings, links, tables, and landmarks.

  • Scan mode turns on automatically when you use Mail, Outlook, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox. It also turns on automatically when you open any Windows app where you turned it on before.

Basic Narrator Scan Mode Key Commands:

  • Scan mode on or off command. Narrator Key then Spacebar.

  • Move command. Up or down arrow keys. Use the up arrow key to move back or the down arrow key to move forward.

  • Activate primary action command. Enter or Spacebar.

  • Activate secondary action command. Shift then Enter or Shift then Spacebar.

Navigating with Narrator Scan Mode Key Commands:

  • Move to and read the first character of a line command. Home key.

  • Move to and read the last character of a line command. End key.

  • Read the next line command. Control key then down arrow key.

  • Read the previous line command. Control key then up arrow key.

  • Read the next word command. Control key then right arrow key.

  • Read the previous word command. Control key then left arrow key. 

  • Read the next character command. Right arrow key.

  • Read the previous character command. Left arrow key.

  • Move to and read the first line of text command. Control key then Home key.

  • Move to and read the last line of text command. Control then End key.

Reading Text with Narrator:

  • Use the arrow keys.

  • In Scan Mode, use the up and down arrow keys to read by paragraph and the left and right arrow keys to read by character.

  • Use specific reading text key commands.

  • To pause reading, type the Control key.

Basic Narrator Reading Text Key Commands:

  • Read the current item command. Narrator Key then Tab key.

  • Read from where focus or your cursor is command. Narrator Key then Letter R key.

  • Start reading a document from the beginning command. Narrator Key then Control key then Letter R key or Narrator Key then Letter R key.

  • Read text from the beginning to where your cursor is command. Narrator Key then Shift key then Letter J key or Narrator Key then Alt key then Home key.

  • Pause Narrator reading command. Control key.

  • Keep reading from where Narrator left off after pausing Narrator speaking command. Up or down arrow keys.

  • Hear formatting attributes command. Narrator Key then Letter F key. 

  • Hear the next group of formatting attributes command. Narrator Key then Letter F key again. 

  • Hear the previous group of formatting attributes command. Narrator Key then Shift key then Letter F key.