Narrator · Windows

This guide covers Narrator for Windows web testing. Full Windows app workflows, Office-specific tasks, touch, braille, image description features, and voice access are outside this basic section.

Essentials

Task	Command	What happens
Start or stop Narrator	`Windows key + Control + Enter`	Turns Narrator on or off.
Exit Narrator	`Narrator key + Escape`	Stops Narrator.
Toggle input learning	`Narrator key + 1`	Describes keys without performing their normal action.
Show command list	`Narrator key + F1`	Opens the commands list.
Move to next or previous item	`Narrator key + Right Arrow / Left Arrow`	Moves through items.
Do primary action	`Narrator key + Enter`	Activates the current item.

Web navigation

Task	Command	What happens
Toggle scan mode	`Narrator key + Spacebar`	Switches scan mode on or off.
Next or previous heading	`H / Shift-H`	Moves through headings in scan mode.
Next or previous link	`K / Shift-K`	Moves through links in scan mode.
Next or previous form field	`F / Shift-F`	Moves through form controls in scan mode.
Next or previous table	`T / Shift-T`	Moves through tables in scan mode.
Next or previous landmark	`D / Shift-D`	Moves through landmarks where available.
Read from current location	`Narrator key + Down Arrow`	Starts reading from the current position.

Practical notes for this platform

Record Windows version, Narrator version or Windows build, browser and version, keyboard layout, and whether scan mode is active.
Use Narrator as a baseline only when the product rationale supports it; do not let it replace NVDA or JAWS by default.
Test with scan-mode structural navigation, not only Tab.
State whether a defect affects discovery, operation, focus, announcement, or recovery.

Platform-neutral testing pointers

Before testing

Record device, operating system, browser or app, screen reader, and versions.
Use a combination relevant to the product's supported environments.
Learn the basic commands before judging the interface.

Test a representative task

Identify where you are and the purpose of the current view.
Discover content and controls through the screen reader.
Check names, roles, states, values, order, and relationships.
Operate controls and trigger a meaningful change.
Cause or locate an error, then recover.
Complete the task and find a route back.

Document

Exact starting point and actions used
Expected announcement or behaviour
Actual announcement or behaviour
Impact on the user's task
Whether the result was reproduced

A beginner completing this check does not prove efficiency for regular users, compatibility across every combination, or that user research is unnecessary.

Primary sources

Editorial model reviewed 4 August 2026. Command sheets must be rechecked when Microsoft changes Narrator guidance or Windows releases.