NVDA · Windows

This guide covers NVDA for Windows web testing. Office documents, managed virtual environments, add-ons, touch input, and full Windows desktop-application testing are outside this basic section.

Essentials

Task	Command	What happens
Start or restart NVDA	`Control-Alt-N`	Works when the desktop shortcut was enabled during installation.
Stop speech	`Control`	Stops current speech.
Pause or resume speech	`Shift`	Pauses speech when supported by the synthesizer.
Open NVDA menu	`NVDA-N`	Opens preferences, tools, help, and exit options.
Exit NVDA	`NVDA-Q`	Opens the exit dialog.
Input help	`NVDA-1`	Describes keys without performing their normal action.

Web navigation

Task	Command	What happens
Toggle browse and focus mode	`NVDA-Space`	Useful when automatic mode switching is not enough.
Read from current position	`NVDA-Down Arrow`	Starts continuous reading.
Next or previous heading	`H / Shift-H`	Moves through headings in browse mode.
Next or previous landmark	`D / Shift-D`	Moves through landmarks and regions.
Next or previous link	`K / Shift-K`	Moves through links.
Next or previous form field	`F / Shift-F`	Moves through form controls.
Open elements list	`NVDA-F7`	Lists links, headings, form fields, buttons, and landmarks where available.
Move in a table	`Control-Alt-Arrow Keys`	Moves between table cells when semantic table structure is exposed.

Practical notes for this platform

Record Windows version, NVDA version, browser and version, keyboard layout, and selected NVDA modifier.
Test with browse-mode structural navigation, not only Tab.
State when focus mode is active or manually toggled.
Use Speech Viewer as supporting evidence, not as a substitute for task impact.

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 NV Access changes the user guide or command reference.