How to use narrator to read text windows 7

Note: Narrator provides basic screen-reading capabilities so you can use Windows when you don't have a more comprehensive screen reader. Narrator isn't designed to read content in all apps.

For more info about screen readers and other assistive technologies, go to the Microsoft Accessibility website. Windows comes with a basic screen reader called Narrator, which reads text on the screen aloud and describes some events such as an error message appearing that happen while you're using the computer. Narrator is not available in all languages, so if the steps below don't work, Narrator is not available for your language.

To open Narrator click the Start button , and then, in the search box, type Narrator. In the list of results, click Narrator. Use the keyboard shortcuts in the following table to specify which text you want Narrator to read:.

Move the cursor backward to the beginning of any preceding text that has different formatting. For example, the cursor moves from a bold word to the beginning of a non-bold word that precedes it.

Move the cursor to the beginning of any text that follows it that has different formatting. For example, the cursor moves from a bold word to the beginning of a non-bold word that follows it. Move the cursor back to the beginning of any text that has the same formatting. For example, the cursor moves from the middle of a bold word to the beginning of that word. Move the cursor to the end of any text that has the same formatting.

For example, the cursor moves from the middle of a bold word to the end of that word. Note: The Insert key is used for Narrator commands, so when you press Insert while Narrator is running, you won't be able to insert characters. To hear background events, such as notifications, select the Announce System Messages check box. To hear an announcement when the screen scrolls, select the Announce Scroll Notifications check box.

Click Voice Settings , and then make any of the following adjustments:. To select a different voice, click the voice you want to use in the Select Voice box. For a faster voice, select a number in the Set Speed list. The higher the number, the faster the voice. For a louder voice, select a number in the Set Volume list.

The higher the number, the louder the voice. For a higher-pitched voice, select a number in the Set Pitch list. The higher the number, the higher the pitch. A higher-pitched voice can be easier for some people to hear. Select the Start Narrator Minimized check box. The next time you start Narrator, it will appear as an icon on the taskbar instead of being open on your screen. To restore the Narrator dialog box to its full size, click Narrator in the taskbar.

There are different ways to start Narrator. To stop Narrator from reading text, press the Control key on your keyboard. Two other useful shortcuts are: Control, Shift, Enter, which will read the currently item or the item that has keyboard focus and Control, Shift, Space, which will read the contents of the currently selected window. To listen to a tutorial about Narrator, choose Quick Help on the Narrator window. To change the voice settings for Narrator, choose Voice Settings on the Narrator window.

This will open a popup window with menus that will let you adjust the speaking rate, pitch and volume. The more you tell us the more we can help. Can you help us improve? Resolved my issue. Clear instructions.

Easy to follow. No jargon. Pictures helped. Didn't match my screen. Incorrect instructions. Too technical. Not enough information.