Windows 7

Accessibility in
Windows 7
Accessibility in Windows 7
Published by Microsoft Corporation

Trustworthy Computing, Accessibility Group
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
Copyright 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this document may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. For
permissions, visit www.microsoft.com.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Find
further information on Microsoft Trademarks (http://www.microsoft.com/library/toolbar/3.0/trademarks/enus.mspx).
www.microsoft.com/enable/
Introduction
Windows 7 includes accessibility options and programs that make it easier to see, hear, and
use your computer. Accessibility is the epitome of usability and was a key tenet throughout
the engineering of Windows 7.
Windows 7 gives you more ways to interact with your PC by taking advantage of new strides
in speech recognition and touch technology. Windows 7 includes accessibility options and
programs that make it easier to see, hear, and use your computer including ways to
personalize your computers and use keyboard shortcuts.
Included in this document, you will discover how to:
Make Your Computer Easier to Use (Ease of Access Center)...................................5
The Ease of Access Center is a central location where you can get quick access to explore
and manage accessibility options. Explore how:
Use the computer without a display...........................................................................7
Make the computer easier to see.............................................................................. 9
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard........................................................11
Make the mouse easier to use.................................................................................13
Make the keyboard easier to use.............................................................................15
Use text or visual alternatives to sounds...................................................................17
Make it easier to focus on task................................................................................19
Use Accessibility Tools..........................................................................................21
Windows 7 introduces significant improvements to the accessibility tools. Magnifier now
includes a lens mode and full-screen mode. On-Screen Keyboard can be resized to make it
easier to see and includes text prediction. Learn how to:
Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier)..................................................22
Type without using a keyboard (On-Screen Keyboard)................................................26
Hear text read aloud with Narrator...........................................................................29
Use Speech Recognition..........................................................................................34
Personalize Your Computer...................................................................................36
Personalize your computer so it looks just the way you want it. Find out how to change and
personalize:
Themes................................................................................................................36
Aero.....................................................................................................................36
Sounds.................................................................................................................37
Desktop Background..............................................................................................37
Screen Saver........................................................................................................37
Font Size..............................................................................................................37
User Account Picture..............................................................................................37
Desktop Gadgets...................................................................................................38
Tutorials................................................................................................................39
These tutorials provide both keyboard and mouse steps to help you set up your computer
and start using the accessibility features in Windows 7.
Keyboard Shortcuts...............................................................................................72
Get the complete list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 7. Keyboard shortcuts can make it
easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows
and other programs.
Make Your Computer Easier to Use (Ease of

Access Center)
The Ease of Access Center is a central location where you can turn on and set up
accessibility settings and programs available in Windows. You can adjust settings that make
it easier to see your computer, use the mouse and keyboard, and use other input devices.
You can also answer a few questions about your daily computer use and accessibility
requirements and have Windows recommend settings and programs for you.
Figure 1: Ease of Access Center:
Make your computer easier to use
The Ease of Access Center is available through a Control Panel icon, and can be opened by
selecting the Start button
, clicking Control Panel, clicking Ease of Access, and then
clicking
Ease of Access Center. You can also press the Windows logo key
Ease of Access Center will open. The Ease of Access Center includes:
+U and the
Quick access to common tools

Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use, and
Explore all settings
Quick access to common tools

Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick
access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from
the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want
these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore
all settings categories.
Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use

This optional questionnaire provides a personalized list of recommended settings that can
improve your ability to see, hear, and comfortably use your computer. The Ease of Access
Center questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings. Based on your answers
to a series of questions about routine tasks, a custom list of recommended settings is
provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can complete the
questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. You can find the questionnaire in
the Ease of Access Center (in Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations to make
your computer easier to use.
Explore All Settings

Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows 7
brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in
the Ease of Access Center. You can explore seven different categories of accessibility
settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display................................................................................7
Make the computer easier to see....................................................................................9
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.............................................................11
Make the mouse easier to use......................................................................................13
Make the keyboard easier to use..................................................................................15
Use text or visual alternatives to sounds........................................................................17
Make it easier to focus on tasks...............................................................................19
Use the computer without a display

Windows has many features that enable you to use your computer without a display. For
example, you can have screen text read aloud by using Narrator or you can have Windows
describe screen activity to you.
You can turn on or adjust settings for these features by clicking Use the computer
without a display page in the Ease of Access Center, then select the options that you
want to use:
Turn on Narrator. This option sets Narrator to run when you log on to Windows.
Narrator reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error
messages appearing) that happen while you're using the computer. More on
Narrator.
Turn on Audio Description. This option sets Audio Description to run when you log on
to Windows. Audio descriptions describe what's happening in videos.
Turn off all unnecessary animations. This option turns off animation effects, such as
fading effects, when windows and other elements are closed.
How long should Windows notification dialog boxes stay open? This option sets how
long notifications are displayed on the screen before they are closed.
Figure 2: Ease of Access Center: Use the computer without a display
Make the computer easier to see

If you occasionally have trouble seeing items on your screen, you can adjust the settings to
make text and images on the screen appear larger, improve the contrast between items on
the screen, and hear on-screen text read aloud.
You can adjust many of these settings on the Make the computer easier to see page in
the Ease of Access Center. For information about other settings, see Getting the best display
on your monitor.
Open the Ease of Access Center, then select the options that you want to use:
Choose a High Contrast theme. This option allows you to set a high-contrast color
scheme that heightens the color contrast of some text and images on your computer
screen, making those items more distinct and easier to identify.
Turn on or off High Contrast when Left Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen is pressed. This
option allows you to toggle a high-contrast theme on or off by pressing the Left
Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen keys.
Turn on Narrator. This option sets Narrator to run when you log on to your computer.
messages appearing) that happen while you're using the computer. More about
Narrator.
Turn on Audio Description. This option sets Audio Descriptions to run when you log
on to your computer. Audio Descriptions describe what's happening in videos.
Change the size of text and icons. This option allows you to make text and other
items on your screen appear larger, so they're easier to see. For more information,
see Make the text on your screen larger or smaller.
Turn on Magnifier. This option sets Magnifier to run when you log on to your
computer. Magnifier enlarges the part of the screen where the mouse is pointing and
can be especially useful for viewing objects that are difficult to see. For more
information about using Magnifier, see Make items on the screen appear bigger
(Magnifier).
Adjust the color and transparency of the window borders. This option allows you to
change the appearance of window borders to make them easier to see.
Fine tune display effects. This option allows you to customize how certain items
appear on your desktop.
Make the focus rectangle thicker. This option makes the rectangle around the
currently selected item in dialog boxes thicker, which makes it easier to see.
Set the thickness of the blinking cursor. This option allows you to make the blinking
cursor in dialog boxes and programs thicker and easier to see.
fading effects, when you close windows and other elements.
Remove background images. This option turns off all unimportant, overlapped
content and background images to help make the screen easier to see.
Figure 3: Ease of Access Center: Make the computer easier to see
10
Use the computer without the mouse or keyboard

Windows has two features to help you use the computer without using a mouse or
keyboard: Speech Recognition (you can use voice commands to work with Windows) and
On-Screen Keyboard (you can enter text by selecting characters on the screen).
You can turn on or adjust settings for these features on the Use the computer without a
mouse or keyboard page in the Ease of Access Center.
Use On-Screen Keyboard. This option sets On-Screen Keyboard to run when you log
on to Windows. On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with all the standard
keys. You can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, or you can use
keys on the standard keyboard. For more information about using On-Screen
Keyboard, see Type without using the keyboard.
Use Speech Recognition. Use this option to control the computer with your voice.
With a microphone, you can speak commands that the computer will understand and
respond to, as well as dictate text. For more information about setting up Speech
Recognition, see Set up Speech Recognition.
11
Figure 4: Ease of Access Center: Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
12
Make the mouse easier to use

You can change how the mouse pointer looks, and turn on other features that can help
make it easier to use your mouse.
You can adjust these settings on the Make the mouse easier to use page in the Ease of
Access Center.
Change the color and size of mouse pointers. You can use these options to make the
mouse pointer larger, or change the color to make it easier to see.
Turn on Mouse Keys. You can use this option to control the movement of the mouse
pointer by using the numeric keypad.
Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse. This option makes it easier to
select and activate a window by pointing at it with the mouse rather than by clicking
it.
Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the
screen. This option prevents windows from automatically resizing and docking along
the sides of your screen when you move them there.
13
Figure 5: Ease of Access Center: Make the mouse easier to use
14
Make the keyboard easier to use

You can use your keyboard to control the mouse and make it easier to type certain key
combinations.
You can adjust these settings on the Make the keyboard easier to use page in the Ease
of Access Center.
Turn on Mouse Keys. This option sets Mouse Keys to run when you log on to
Windows. Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard
or the numeric keypad to move the pointer.
Turn on Sticky Keys. This option sets Sticky Keys to run when you log on to
Windows. Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must
press the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys together to log on to Windows), you can use one
key by turning on Sticky Keys and adjusting the settings. This way, you can press a
modifier key and have it remain active until another key is pressed.
Turn on Toggle Keys. This option sets Toggle Keys to run when you log on to
Windows. Toggle Keys can play an alert each time you press the Caps Lock, Num
Lock, or Scroll Lock keys. These alerts can help prevent the frustration of
inadvertently pressing a key and not realizing it.
Turn on Filter Keys. This option sets Filter Keys to run when you log on to Windows.
You can set Windows to ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession, or
keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Underline keyboard shortcuts and access keys. This option makes keyboard access in
dialog boxes easier by highlighting access keys for the controls in them. For more
information about keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts in Windows Help.
15
Figure 6: Ease of Access Center: Make the keyboard easier to use
16
Use text or visual alternatives to sounds

Windows provides settings for using visual cues to replace sounds in many programs.
You can adjust these settings on the Use text or visual alternatives for sounds page in
the Ease of Access Center.
Turn on visual notifications for sounds. This option sets sound notifications to run
when you log on to Windows. Sound notifications replace system sounds with visual
cues, such as a flash on the screen, so that system alerts are noticeable even when
they're not heard. You can also choose how you want sound notifications to warn
you.
Turn on text captions for spoken dialog. This option causes Windows to display text
captions in place of sounds to indicate that activity is happening on your computer
(for example, when a document starts or finishes printing).
17
Figure 7: Ease of Access Center: Use text or visual alternatives for sounds
18
Make it easier to focus on tasks

You can reduce the amount of information on your screen so that it's easier to read, and you
can set up your keyboard to make typing easier.
You can adjust these settings on the Make it easier to focus on reading and typing
page in the Ease of Access Center.
Turn on Narrator. This option sets Narrator to run when you log on to Windows.
messages appearing) that happen while you're using the computer. For more
information about using Narrator, see Hear text read aloud with Narrator.
Remove background images. This option turns off all unimportant, overlapped
content and background images to help make the screen easier to see.
Turn on Sticky Keys. This option sets Sticky Keys to run when you log on to
Windows. Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must
press the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys together to log on to Windows), you can use one
key by turning on Sticky Keys and adjusting the settings. This way, you can press a
modifier key and have it remain active until another key is pressed.
Turn on Toggle Keys. This option sets Toggle Keys to run when you log on to
Windows. Toggle Keys can play an alert each time you press the Caps Lock, Num
Lock, or Scroll Lock key. These alerts can help prevent the frustration of
inadvertently pressing a key.
Turn on Filter Keys. This option sets Filter Keys to run when you log on to Windows.
You can set Windows to ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession, or
keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
fading effects, when windows and other elements are closed.
Choose how long Windows notification dialog boxes stay open. With this option, you
can choose how long notifications are displayed on the screen before they close.
19
Figure 8: Ease of Access Center: Make it easier to focus on tasks
20
Use Accessibility Tools

View Online Video Demos
Windows 7 introduces significant improvements to
the Microsoft accessibility tools Magnifier, On-Screen
Keyboard, and Narrator.
Magnifier
On-Screen Keyboard
In this section learn how to:

Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier)...........................................22
Type without using a keyboard (On-Screen Keyboard) ........................................26
Hear text read aloud with Narrator....................................................................29
Use Speech Recognition...................................................................................34
21
Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier)

Magnifier enlarges different parts of the screen. This is especially useful for viewing objects
that are difficult to see, but also for seeing the whole screen more easily.
There are three modes:
Full-screen mode. In full-screen mode, your entire screen is magnified. You can
then have Magnifier follow the mouse pointer.

Lens mode. In lens mode, the area around the mouse pointer is magnified. When
you move the mouse pointer, the area of the screen that's magnified moves along
with it.
Docked mode. In docked mode, only a portion of the screen is magnified, leaving
the rest of your desktop in a normal state. You can then control which area of the
screen is magnified.
Figure 9: Image of Magnifier magnifying a portion of the screen
Note
22
Full-screen mode and lens mode are only available as part of the Aero experience. If your
computer doesn't support Aero, or if you're using a theme other than an Aero theme,
Magnifier will only work in docked mode.
1. Open Magnifier by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking
Accessories, clicking Ease of Access, and then clicking Magnifier.
2. On the Views menu, click the mode that you want to use.
3. Move the pointer to the part of the screen that you want to magnify.
Notes
To exit Magnifier, press the Windows logo key
+Esc.
When you're using full-screen mode, you can quickly preview your entire desktop by clicking
the Views menu, and then clicking Preview full screen.
For a list of keyboard shortcuts that you can use with Magnifier, see Keyboard shortcuts.
Magnifier topics in this section:
To
To
To
To
To
To
choose where Magnifier focuses

change the zoom level
set the zoom increment
set the lens size
turn on color inversion
display the Magnifier toolbar
To choose where Magnifier focuses

2. Click the Options button, and then select the option that you want:
Option
Description
Follow the mouse pointer
Displays the area around the mouse pointer in the Magnifier

window. When you select this option, you can choose to have
the Magnifier window move when the mouse pointer
approaches or when the mouse pointer hits the edge of the
Magnifier window.
Follow the keyboard focus
Displays the area around the pointer when you press the Tab
or arrow keys.
Have Magnifier follow the

text insertion point
Displays the area around the text that you're typing.
23
To change the zoom level

2. Do one of the following:
To
Do this
Zoom in
Click Zoom in or press the Windows logo key
Zoom out
Click Zoom out or press the Windows logo key

sign
+Plus sign
+Minus
To set the zoom increment

The zoom increment determines how quickly Magnifier zooms in and out.
2. Click the Options button, and then move the slider to adjust the zoom increment.
Moving the slider to the left causes Magnifier to zoom slower, with smaller changes
between zoom levels. Moving the slider to the right causes Magnifier to zoom faster,
with larger changes between zoom levels.
To set the lens size

When you're using lens mode, you can adjust the size of the Magnifier lens.
2. Click the Options button, and then, under Magnifier Lens Size, move the sliders to
adjust the size of the Magnifier lens. The lens size changes right away. Adjust the
level until it's right for you.
Notes
You must be using lens mode for the lens size options to appear.
You can quickly change the lens size by pressing Ctrl+Alt+R, and then moving the
pointer up and down to change the height, and left and right to change the width.
To turn on color inversion

Turning on color inversion increases the contrast between items on your screen, which can
help make your screen easier to see.
2. Click the Options button, and then select the Turn on color inversion check box.
24
To display the Magnifier toolbar

2. Click the magnifying glass icon or click Magnifier on the taskbar.
25
Type without using the keyboard (On-Screen

Keyboard)
Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type and enter data, you can use On-Screen
Keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard displays a visual keyboard with all the standard keys. You
can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, or you can use a single key or
group of keys to cycle through the keys on the screen.
Figure 10: Image of On-Screen Keyboard on computer screen
On-Screen Topics in this section:
To
To
To
To
change how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard

set On-Screen Keyboard to use audible clicks
use a numeric key pad in On-Screen Keyboard
enable text prediction in On-Screen Keyboard
26
To change how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard

In On-Screen Keyboard:
1. Open On-Screen Keyboard by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs,
clicking Accessories, clicking Ease of Access, and then clicking On-Screen
Keyboard.
2. Click Options, and then, under To use the On-Screen Keyboard, select the mode
you want:
Typing mode
Description
Click on keys
In clicking mode, you click the on-screen keys to type

text.
Hover over keys
In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to

a key for a predefined period of time, and the selected
character is typed automatically.
Scan through keys
In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans

the keyboard and highlights areas where you can type
keyboard characters by pressing a keyboard shortcut,
using a switch input device, or using a device that
simulates a mouse click.
Notes
If you're using either hovering mode or scanning mode and accidently minimize OnScreen Keyboard, you can restore it by pointing to it in the taskbar (for hovering
mode) or by pressing the scan key (for scanning mode).
If you're using a mouse click to select a key in the Scan through keys mode, the
mouse pointer must be located over On-Screen Keyboard.
The keyboard layout changes in On-Screen Keyboard depending on the language
displayed in the active program.
To set On-Screen Keyboard to use audible clicks

You can have On-Screen Keyboard make an audible click when a key is pressed.
Open On-Screen Keyboard:
Keyboard.
2. Click Options, select the Use click sound check box, and then click OK.
27
To use a numeric key pad in On-Screen Keyboard

You can use a numeric key pad to enter numbers with On-Screen Keyboard.
Keyboard.
2. Click Options, select the Turn on numeric key pad check box, and then click OK.
To enable text prediction in On-Screen Keyboard

When text prediction is enabled, as you type, On-Screen Keyboard displays a list of words
that you might be typing.
Keyboard.
2. Click Options, select the Use Text Prediction check box, and then click OK.
If you don't want to automatically add a space after you insert a word using text prediction,
clear the Insert space after predicted words check box, and then click OK.
Notes
Text prediction is only available in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. To
enable text prediction in a specific language, you must first install additional
language files for that language. For more information, see Install or change a
display language in Help.
Text prediction isn't included in Windows 7 Home Basic.
28
Hear text read aloud with Narrator

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 topics in this section:
Narrator Keyboard Shortcuts

Choose which text Narrator reads aloud
Change the Narrator voice
Start Narrator minimized
Narrator doesnt read what I expect it to
I cant hear any text read aloud by Narrator
o To check for a sound card
o To determine if the sound card is working
o Text to speech frequently asked questions
Narrator is not available in all languages, so if the steps below dont work, Narrator is not
available for your language.
1. Open Narrator by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking
Accessories, clicking Ease of Access, and then clicking Narrator.
Narrator Keyboard Shortcuts

Use the keyboard shortcuts in the following table to specify which text you want Narrator to
read:
Use this keyboard shortcut
To do this
Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Get information about the current item
Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar
Read the entire selected window
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar
Read the items that are selected in the current window
Insert+Ctrl+G
Read a description of the items that appear next to the

currently selected element
Ctrl
Stop Narrator from reading text
Insert+Q
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.
Insert+W
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.
29
Use this keyboard shortcut
To do this
Insert+E
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.
Insert+R
Insert+F2
Select all of the text that has the same formatting as the
character at the cursor
Insert+F3
Read the current character
Insert+F4
Read the current word
Insert+F5
Read the current line
Insert+F6
Read the current paragraph
Insert+F7
Read the current page
Insert+F8
Read the current document
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 use the Insert key to
insert characters while Narrator is running, press Insert+I and then the characters
you want to add.
Choose which text Narrator reads aloud

2. Under Main Narrator Settings, do one or more of the following:
To hear what you type, select the Echo User's Keystrokes check box.
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.
Change the Narrator voice

2. 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.
30
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.
Start Narrator minimized

2. 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.
Narrator doesn't read what I expect it to

This topic provides information about problems you might run into when using Narrator.
Narrator doesn't read what I expect it to read. Narrator provides basic screenreading capabilities that allow you to use Windows when you don't have a more fullfeatured screen reader. Narrator is not designed to read content in all programs. For
more information about screen readers and other assistive technologies, go to the
Microsoft Accessibility website www.microsoft.com/enable.
Narrator doesn't read notifications or the contents of some folders. Narrator

can't read notifications because notifications can't be selected. For the same reason,
it can't read the contents of some folders.
Narrator doesn't read some Help topics. Narrator can't read the text that
appears below collapsed headings in Help topics. To read the text of Help topics with
collapsed headings, tab to the Show all link at the top of the topic and press Enter
to expand all the topics. Then press Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar to have Narrator read the
window again.
Note
Narrator is not available in all languages.
31
I can't hear any text read aloud with Narrator

Here are some things to try if you're having trouble hearing text read aloud by Narrator:
Make sure that your speakers are connected properly. If you're not sure how to do
this, check the information that came with your speakers.
Make sure that the speaker volume is turned up sufficiently and your speakers aren't
muted.
Make sure that your sound card is properly installed and the drivers are updated.
To check for a sound card

1. Open Audio Devices and Sound Themes by clicking the Start button, clicking
Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking Sound.
2. Your sound card is listed on the Playback tab.
If you don't have a sound card installed, you'll have to get one for Narrator to work.
To determine if the sound card is working

1. Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking
Systems and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password or provide confirmation.
2. If the sound card has a yellow question mark next to it, the sound card might not be
working. Try reinstalling the sound card driver. For more information, see Update a
driver for hardware that isn't working properly, in Help.
3. If the sound card appears twice in the list, you might have a ghost device. If so,
delete the entry with the question mark.
Narrator does not read some Help topics

Narrator cannot read the text that appears below collapsed headings in Help topics. To read
the text of Help topics with collapsed headings, tab to the Show all link at the top of the
topic and press ENTER to expand all the topics. Then press CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR to have
Narrator read the window again.
The INSERT key doesnt work as expected when Narrator is running

The INSERT key is used for Narrator commands, so when you press INSERT while Narrator
is running, you wont be able to insert characters. To use the INSERT key to insert
characters while Narrator is running, press INSERT+I and then the characters you want to
add.
32
Text to speech: frequently asked questions

Here are some answers to common questions about text-to-speech programs.
Note that Narrator is not available in all languages.
Can on-screen text be read aloud to me?
Yes, Narrator and other programs read aloud text, buttons, menus, file names, and
other items on the screeneven keystrokes. This can be helpful for people who don't
see the screen or have difficulty seeing the screen.
Does Windows include a text-to-speech program?
Yes. It's called Narrator. It's adjustable in many ways and can make the computer easier
to use. For more information, see Hear text read aloud with Narrator in Windows
Help.
Can any computer read text aloud?
Nearly any computer can be set up to read text aloud. Make sure your computer has a
functioning sound card, and that you meet the basic requirements. For more
information, see Troubleshoot Narrator problems in Help.
Are there other text-to-speech programs?
Yes, there are several. For a list of text-to-speech programs, go to the Microsoft
Accessibility website www.microsoft.com/enable.
33
Use Speech Recognition

You can use your voice to control your computer. You can say commands that the computer
will respond to, and you can dictate text to the computer.
Before you get started using Windows Speech Recognition, you'll need to connect a
microphone to your computer.
Figure 11: Image of Set up Speech Recognition dialog box
Once you've got the microphone set up, you can train your computer to better understand
you by creating a voice profile that your computer uses to recognize your voice and spoken
commands. For information about setting up your microphone, see Set up your microphone
for Speech Recognition in Windows Help.
After you've got your microphone and voice profile set up, you can use Speech Recognition
to do the following:
Control your computer. Speech Recognition listens and responds to your spoken
commands. You can use Speech Recognition to run programs and interact with
Windows. For more information about the commands you can use with Speech
Recognition, see Common commands in Speech Recognition in Windows Help.
Dictate and edit text. You can use Speech Recognition to dictate words into wordprocessing programs or to fill out online forms in a web browser. You can also use
34
Speech Recognition to edit text on your computer. For more information about
dictating text, see Dictate text using Speech Recognition in Windows Help.
Note Speech Recognition is available only in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese,
Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
35
Personalize Your Computer

You can add a personal touch to your computer by changing the computer's theme, color,
sounds, desktop background, screen saver, font size, and user account picture. You can also
select specific gadgets for your desktop. Find out more on the Windows website.
Themes
A theme includes a desktop background, a screen saver, a window border color, sounds, and
sometimes icons and mouse pointers. You can choose from several Aero themes. Use the
whole theme or create your own customized theme by changing the pictures, colors, and
sounds individually. You can also find more themes online. For more information, see What
is a theme? in Windows Help.
Components of a theme
Aero
Aero is the premium visual experience of this version of Windows. It features a transparent
glass design with subtle window animations, a new Start menu, a new taskbar, and new
window border colors. For more information, see What is the Aero desktop experience? in
Windows Help.
Window border colors that are available with Aero

To learn how to change colors in Windows, see Change the colors on your computer in
Windows Help.
36
Sounds
You can change the sounds your computer makes when, for example, you receive email,
start Windows, or shut down your computer. For more information, see Change computer
sounds in Windows Help.
Desktop background
The desktop background, also called wallpaper, is a picture, color, or design on the desktop.
It provides a backdrop to your open windows. You can choose one picture to be your
desktop background or you can display a slide show of pictures. For more information, see
Create a desktop background slide show, and Change your desktop background (wallpaper).
Some of the desktop background choices in Windows
Screen saver
A screen saver is a picture or animation that appears on the screen when you haven't used
the mouse or keyboard for a set period of time. You can choose from a variety of Windows
screen savers. For more information, see Change screen saver in Windows Help.
Font size
You can make the text, icons, and other items on your screen larger by increasing the dots
per inch (DPI) scale. You can also decrease the DPI scale to make text and other items on
your screen smaller, to fit more on the screen. For more information, see Make the text on
your screen larger or smaller in Windows Help.
User account picture

A user account picture helps identify your account on a computer. The picture is displayed
on the Welcome screen and on the Start menu. You can change your user account picture to
one of the pictures included with Windows, or you can use your own. For more information,
see Choose a picture for your user account and Start menu in Windows Help.
37
Desktop gadgets
Desktop gadgets are customizable mini-programs that can display information, such as
continuously updated headlines or a picture slide show, without having to open a new
window. For more information, see Desktop gadgets: frequently asked questions and
Customize desktop gadgets in Windows Help.
Gadgets on a desktop
38
Tutorials
The following step by step tutorials show you how to
turn on and set some of the most commonly used
accessibility options in Windows 7.
The instructions show you how to use either the
mouse or keyboard to navigate, select options, and
change settings.
More Information
Microsoft Accessibility website

More Microsoft product tutorials
Windows 7 Help and How-To
online
This information is presented in a side by side

format so that you can see at a glance how to use the mouse, the keyboard, or a
combination of both to set options.
Turn on Narrator................................................................................................... 42
Turn on Audio Descriptions.....................................................................................43
Turn off all unnecessary animations.........................................................................44
How long should Windows notification dialog boxes stay open?...................................45
Choose a High Contrast theme................................................................................46
Turn on or off High Contrast when Left Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen is pressed...............47
Turn on Narrator...................................................................................................42
Turn on Audio Descriptions.....................................................................................43
Change the size of text and icons............................................................................48
Turn on Magnifier..................................................................................................49
Adjust the color and transparency of the window borders...........................................50
Fine tune display effects.........................................................................................52
Make the focus rectangle thicker.............................................................................53
Set the thickness of the blinking cursor....................................................................54
Remove background images...................................................................................66
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
Use On-Screen Keyboard........................................................................................55
Use Speech Recognition.........................................................................................57
39

Change the color and size of mouse pointers............................................................58
Turn on Mouse Keys...............................................................................................60
Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse................................................59
screen.....................................................................................................................63
Turn on Mouse Keys ..............................................................................................60
Turn on Sticky Keys...............................................................................................67
Turn on Toggle Keys...............................................................................................69
Turn on Filter Keys.................................................................................................70
Underline keyboard shortcuts and access keys .........................................................62
screen.....................................................................................................................63
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds
Turn on visual notifications for sounds......................................................................64
Turn on text captions for spoken dialog....................................................................65
Make it easier to focus on tasks
Turn on Narrator ...................................................................................................42
Remove background images ..................................................................................66
Turn on Sticky Keys...............................................................................................67
Turn on Toggle Keys...............................................................................................69
Turn on Filter Keys.................................................................................................70
screen.....................................................................................................................63
40
Tutorial: Open the Ease of Access Center

The Ease of Access Center is located in Ease of Access in Control Panel. You can open the
Ease of Access Center using either the mouse or keyboard.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
To open the Ease of Access Center, select:
To open the Ease of Access Center, press:
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key
+U
41
Tutorial: Turn on Narrator

There are two ways to start Narrator:
Start Narrator from Quick Access to common tools for use in the current
session, or
Turn on Narrator so that it starts automatically each time you log on.
Start Narrator for the current session
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Under Quick access to common tools,

select:
Start Narrator
Windows logo key
+U

select:
Start Narrator by pressing ALT+N
Turn on Narrator so that it starts automatically each time you log on

to your computer
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Under Explore all settings, select:
Use the computer without a

display, by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
Under Hear text read aloud, select:
Turn on Narrator
Select OK

display, by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
Turn on Narrator by pressing

ALT+U
Select OK by pressing ALT+O
42
Tutorial: Turn on Audio Description

Set your computer to describe what's happening in videos by hearing an audio description
(only available on some videos where video authors have provided this information).
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Windows logo key
+U
by pressing TAB, then ENTER

3
Turn on Audio Description

Select OK
Turn on Audio Description by
pressing ALT+I
43
Tutorial: Turn off all unnecessary animations

If you use your computer without a display, or prefer to block unnecessary animations, you
can turn them off in programs that support this option.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
To open the Ease of Access Center,

select:
Under Adjust time limits and flashing

visuals, select:
+U
display
Windows logo key
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Turn off all unnecessary

animations (when possible)
Select OK

display by pressing TAB, then
ENTER

visuals, select:
Turn off all unnecessary

animations (when possible) by
pressing ALT+W
44
Tutorial: How long should Windows notification dialog

boxes stay open?
You can adjust the time limits and flashing visuals including how long notification dialog
boxes stay open.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

display

visuals, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
An interval from the list for How

long should Windows
notification dialog boxes stay
open from 5 seconds to 5 minutes
Select OK

display by pressing TAB, then
ENTER

visuals, select:
An interval for How long should

Windows notification dialog
boxes stay open from 5 seconds to
5 minutes by pressing ALT+X and
the arrow keys
45
Tutorial: Choose a High Contrast theme

High Contrast heightens the color contrast of some text and images on your computer
screen, making those items more distinct and easier to identify. Increasing the contrast in
colors reduces eyestrain and makes things easier to read for many people.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

press:
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Windows logo key
+U

by using TAB, then ENTER
Under High Contrast, select:
Choose a High Contrast theme
Under High Contrast, select:
Choose a High Contrast theme by

pressing ALT+R
On the Change the visuals and sounds

on your computer screen, under Basic
and High Contrast Themes, select:
A High Contrast theme
On the Change the visuals and sounds

on your computer screen, under Basic
and High Contrast Themes, select:
A High Contrast theme by pressing

the arrow keys, then ENTER
Close the dialog box by pressing
CTRL+W
46
Tutorial: Turn on or off High Contrast when Left Alt+Left

Shift+Print Screen is pressed
This option allows you to toggle a high-contrast theme on or off by pressing the Left
Alt+Left Shift+Print Screen keys.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

press:
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Windows logo key
+U

by using TAB, then ENTER
Under High Contrast, to use the shortcut

to turn High Contrast on or off, select:
Turn on High Contrast when left

ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT
SCREEN is pressed
Select OK
Under High Contrast, to use the shortcut

to turn High Contrast on or off, select:
Turn on High Contrast when left

ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT
SCREEN is pressed by pressing
ALT+L.
47
Tutorial: Change the size of text and icons

Now you can make things larger and easier to see without losing graphic quality. You can
change the text size by choosing high DPI (dots per inch). Machines should be configured to
use native resolution, thus providing the highest resolution and monitor quality.
Now, users can change resolution on a per user basis, so if you share a machine with your
spouse, and both of you have different resolution preferences, you can set up your
computer such that each user has their preferred resolution settings applied.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access

Under Make things on the screen larger, Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
select:
Change the size of text and icons
Change the size of text and icons

by pressing ALT+Z
Select the size you want (from the available Select the size you want (from the available
options):
options):
Smaller - 100% (default)

Medium - 125%
Larger 150%
Select Apply
Smaller - 100% (default) by

pressing ALT+S
Medium - 125% by pressing
ALT+M
Larger 150% by pressing ALT+L
Select Apply by pressing ALT+A
Note: This option requires administrator privileges on your computer. If you are authorized
to change settings, when the User Account Control dialog box appears, select Continue
(ALT+C).
48
Tutorial: Turn on Magnifier

There are two ways to start Magnifier:
Start Magnifier from Quick Access to common tools for use in the current
session, or
Turn on Magnifier so that it automatically starts each time you log on.
Start Magnifier for the current session
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Start Magnifier

select:
Start Magnifier by pressing ALT+G
Turn on Magnifier so that it starts automatically each time you log on

to your computer
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Make the computer easier to see,

Under Make things on the screen larger, Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
select:
Turn on Magnifier
Select OK
Turn on Magnifier by pressing

ALT+N
49
Tutorial: Adjust the color and transparency of the window

borders
You can change the color of windows, the Start menu, and the taskbar. Pick a color or make
your own.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access

Under Make things on the screen easier

to see, select:
Adjust the color and

transparency of the window
borders

to see, select:
Adjust the color and

transparency of the window
borders, by pressing ALT+J
Note: If the Adjust the color and

transparency of the window borders
link is not active, your computer does not
support this setting.
Note: If the Adjust the color and

transparency of the window borders
link is not active, your computer does not
support this setting.
Under Change the color of your window

borders, Start menu, and taskbar,
select:
Under Change the color of your window

borders, Start menu, and taskbar,
select:
A color scheme from the available

options
Enable transparency to apply that
effect
Adjust Transparency by moving
the slider to the desired level
A color scheme from the available

options by pressing TAB and the
arrow keys
Enable transparency to apply that
effect by pressing ALT+N
Adjust Transparency by moving the
slider to the desired level by
pressing ALT+I, then the arrow keys
50
If you want to adjust hue, saturation, and

brightness, select:
Show color mixer, and move the

sliders to the desired levels
Select the Save changes button
If you want to adjust hue, saturation, and

brightness, select:
Show color mixer, by pressing

ALT+X
Move the sliders to the desired levels
by pressing TAB to select, and then
the arrow keys
Select the Save changes button by
pressing TAB, then ENTER
51
Tutorial: Fine tune display effects

You can change the visual appearance of windows, the Start menu, and the taskbar, and
you can fine tune effects such as how the edges of screen fonts are smoothed, show
shadows under menus and the contents of windows while dragging.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Under Explore all settings:
Select Make the computer easier

to see

to see, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Fine tune display effects


to see, select:
Fine tune display effects, by

pressing ALT+C
52
Tutorial: Make the focus rectangle thicker

You can change the size of the focus rectangle to make it easier to see which item on screen
has focus.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access


to see, select:
Make the focus rectangle thicker

Select OK

to see select:
Make the focus rectangle thicker

by pressing ALT+K
53
Tutorial: Set the thickness of the blinking cursor

You can set the thickness of the blinking cursor to make it easier to see where your cursor is
located on screen.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access


to see, select:
A number from 1 to 20 from the

drop-down list to Set the thickness
of the blinking cursor

to see, select:
A number from 1 to 20 from the

drop-down list to Set the thickness
of the blinking cursor by pressing
ALT+B, and then the arrow keys
Note: You can preview your selection in the Note: You can preview your selection in the
Preview box.
Preview box.
Select OK
54
Tutorial: Use On-Screen Keyboard

There are two ways to start On-Screen Keyboard:
Start On-Screen Keyboard from Quick Access to common tools for use in
the current session, or
Turn on On-Screen Keyboard so that it automatically starts each time you
log on.
Start On-Screen Keyboard for the current session
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Start On-Screen Keyboard

select:
Start On-Screen Keyboard by

pressing ALT+K
Turn on On-Screen Keyboard so that it starts automatically each

time you log on to your computer
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

mouse or keyboard
Under Type using a pointing device,

select:
Under Type using a pointing device,

select:

mouse or keyboard by pressing
TAB, then ENTER
Use On-Screen Keyboard by
55
Use On-Screen Keyboard

Select OK
pressing ALT+K
56
Tutorial: Use Speech Recognition

Speech Recognition allows you to control your computer by voice. Using only your voice,
you can start programs, open menus, click buttons and other objects on the screen, dictate
text into documents, and write and send emails. Just about everything you do with your
keyboard and mouse can be done with only your voice.
This tutorial shows you how to Start Speech Recognition the first time you use Speech
Recognition, and to set it to turn on each time you log on.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
On the Start menu, select:
Display the Start menu by pressing the

Windows logo key , then select.
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Speech Recognition
In Configure your Speech Recognition

experience, select:
Start Speech Recognition
The first time you select Start Speech

Recognition you'll be taken through
setting up your microphone and the Speech
Tutorial. You'll also be given the option to
set Speech Recognition to start each time
you log on to your computer.
Control Panel by pressing the

arrow keys, then ENTER
Ease of Access by pressing the
arrow keys, then ENTER
Speech Recognition by pressing
the arrow keys, then ENTER
In Configure your Speech Recognition

experience, select:
Start Speech Recognition by

pressing ALT+S
The first time you select Start Speech

Recognition you'll be taken through
setting up your microphone and the Speech
Tutorial. You'll also be given the option to
set Speech Recognition to start each time
you log on to your computer.
57
Tutorial: Change the color and size of mouse pointers

You can choose a mouse pointer scheme to increase visibility of the mouse pointer on your
screen.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Make the mouse easier to use by

Under Mouse pointers:
Select a cursor and pointer

combination
Select OK
Under Mouse pointers, select a

cursor/pointer combination by pressing:
ALT+R for Regular White

ALT+U for Regular Black
ALT+G for Regular Inverting
ALT+L for Large White
ALT+B for Large Black
ALT+I for Large Inverting
ALT+X for Extra Large White
ALT+K for Extra Large Black
ALT+N for Extra Large Inverting
58
Tutorial: Activate a window by hovering over it with the

mouse
You can make it easier to switch between windows by choosing to activate windows by
hovering over them with the mouse pointer, rather than clicking the mouse button.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access

Under Make it easier to manage

windows, select:
Activate a window by hovering

over it with the mouse
Select OK

windows, select:
Activate a window by hovering

over it with the mouse by
pressing ALT+W
59
Tutorial: Turn on Mouse Keys

Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard or the numeric
keypad to move the mouse.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Under Control the mouse with the

keyboard, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Turn on Mouse Keys


keyboard, select:
Turn on Mouse Keys by pressing

ALT+M
To set up Mouse Keys
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

keyboard, select:

keyboard, select:
Set up Mouse Keys
Under Set up Mouse Keys select:
Turn on Mouse Keys
Then, select from the following setting

options:
Set up Mouse Keys by pressing

ALT+Y
Under Set up Mouse Keys select:
Turn on Mouse Keys by pressing

ALT+M
Then, select from the following setting

options:
60
6 Under Keyboard shortcut:
Under Pointer speed:
Turn on Mouse Keys with left

ALT + left SHIFT + NUMLOCK if
you want to turn Mouse Keys on and
off by using this shortcut
Display a warning message
when turning a setting on if you
want a visual alert when Mouse Keys
is turned on or off
Make a sound when turning a
setting on or off if you want an
audio alert when Mouse Keys is
turned on or off
Top Speed of the pointer by moving

the slider bar to the left (for low), or
to the right (for high)
Acceleration of the mouse pointer
by moving the slider bar to the left
(for slow), or the right (for fast)
Hold down CTRL to speed up and
SHIFT to slow down if you want to
use the CTRL and SHIFT keys to
control the pointer speed
Under Other settings, select:
To use Mouse Keys when NUM

LOCK is On, or Off
Display the Mouse Keys icon on
the taskbar if you want a visual
reminder when Mouse Keys is turned
on
Select OK
Under Keyboard shortcut:
Turn on Mouse Keys with left

ALT + left SHIFT + NUMLOCK if
you want to turn Mouse Keys on and
off by using this shortcut, by
pressing ALT+K
want a visual alert when Mouse Keys
is turned on or off, by pressing
ALT+A
setting on or off if you want an
audio alert when Mouse Keys is
turned on or off, by pressing ALT+U
Under Pointer speed:
Top Speed of the pointer by moving

the slider bar to the left (for low), or
to the right (for high), by pressing
TAB to select the bar, then the arrow
keys
Acceleration of the mouse pointer
by moving the slider bar to the left
(for slow), or the right (for fast), by
pressing TAB to select the bar, then
the arrow keys
Hold down CTRL to speed up and
SHIFT to slow down if you want to
use the CTRL and SHIFT keys to
control the pointer speed, by
pressing ALT+W
Under Other settings:
To use Mouse Keys when NUM

LOCK is On, press ALT+N
Display the Mouse Keys icon on
reminder when Mouse Keys is turned
on, by pressing ALT+Y
Tutorial: Underline keyboard shortcuts and access keys
61
By pressing keys that correspond to the underlined letters in menus, commands, or dialog
box options, you can quickly select options using the keyboard, rather than the mouse. If
they are not already showing, you can choose to show underlined letters for keyboard
navigation and input indicators (the dotted rectangles around objects) to navigate in
Windows, generally with the ALT, TAB or arrow keys.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Under Make it easier to use keyboard

shortcuts, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Underline keyboard shortcuts

and access keys
Select OK

Under Make it easier to use keyboard

shortcuts, select:
Underline keyboard shortcuts

and access keys, by pressing
ALT+N
62
Tutorial: Prevent windows from being automatically

arranged when moved to the edge of the screen
This option prevents windows from automatically resizing and docking along the sides of
your screen when you move them there.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

press:
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Windows logo key
+U


windows, select:
Prevent windows from being

automatically arranged when
moved to the edge of the screen
4 To save your selection:
Select OK

windows, select:
Prevent windows from being

automatically arranged when
moved to the edge of the screen
by pressing TAB, then Spacebar
To save your selection:
Press ALT+O
63
Tutorial: Turn on visual notifications for sounds

This option sets sound notifications to run when you log on to Windows. Sound notifications
replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so that system alerts
are noticeable even when theyre not heard. You can also choose how you want sound
notifications to warn you.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Use text or visual alternatives

for sounds
Under Use visual cues instead of

sounds, select:
Turn on visual notifications for

sounds (Sound Sentry)
Under Choose visual warning, select one

of the following options:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
None
Flash active caption bar
Flash active window
Flash desktop
Select OK

for sounds by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
Under Use visual cues instead of

sounds, select:
Turn on visual notifications for

sounds (Sound Sentry) by
pressing ALT+R
Under Choose visual warning, select one

of the following options:
None by pressing ALT+N

Flash active caption bar by
pressing ALT+B
Flash active window by pressing
ALT+W
Flash desktop by pressing ALT+K
64
Tutorial: Turn on text captions for spoken dialog

This option causes Windows to display text captions in place of sounds to indicate that
activity is happening on your computer (for example, when a document starts or finishes
printing.)
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access

for sounds

for sounds by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
Under Use visual cues instead of sounds Under Use visual cues instead of
select:
sounds, select:
Turn on text captions for spoken

dialog (when available)
Select OK
Turn on text captions for spoken

dialog (when available) by
pressing ALT+U
65
Tutorial: Remove background images

If you find background images make your screen difficult to see, or if they are otherwise
bothersome or undesirable, you can remove them (where available).
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:

to see, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Remove background images

(where available)
Select OK


to see, select:
Remove background images

(where available) by pressing
ALT+G
66
Tutorial: Turn on Sticky Keys

Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT,
and DELETE keys together to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time by
turning on Sticky Keys. Then, you can press a modifier key (such as CTRL) and have it
remain active until another key is pressed.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Under Explore all settings select:
Under Make it easier to type, select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Turn on Sticky Keys

Turn on Sticky Keys by pressing

ALT+R
To set up Sticky Keys
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Then, select:
Then, select:
Set up Sticky Keys
In Set up Sticky Keys select:
Turn on Sticky Keys
Set up Sticky Keys by pressing

TAB, then ENTER
In Set up Sticky Keys select:
Turn on Sticky Keys by pressing

ALT+R
67
Under Keyboard shortcut, select:
Turn on Sticky Keys when SHIFT

is pressed five times by pressing
ALT+K, if you want to use the
shortcut to turn Sticky Keys on and
off
Under When using keyboard shortcuts

Under When using keyboard shortcuts
to turn Ease of Access settings on select to turn Ease of Access settings on
from these options:
choose from these options:
Turn on Sticky Keys when SHIFT

is pressed five times if you want
to use the shortcut to turn Sticky
Keys on and off
Under Keyboard shortcut, select:

when turning a setting on
setting on or off
Under Options and Feedback you can

choose to:
Display a warning message when

turning a setting on by pressing
ALT+A
setting on or off by pressing
ALT+M
Under Options and Feedback you can

choose to:
Lock modifier keys when pressed

twice in a row
Turn off Sticky Keys when two
keys are pressed at once
Play a sound when keys are
pressed
Display the Sticky Keys icon on
the task bar
Select OK
Lock modifier keys when pressed

twice in a row by pressing ALT+L
Turn off Sticky Keys when two
keys are pressed at once by
pressing ALT+U
Play a sound when keys are
pressed by pressing ALT+Y
Display the Sticky Keys icon on
the task bar by pressing ALT+I
68
Tutorial: Turn on Toggle Keys

Toggle Keys can play an alert each time you press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock
keys. These alerts can help prevent the frustration of inadvertently pressing a key and not
realizing it.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Under Make it easier to type select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Turn on Toggle Keys

Turn on Toggle Keys by holding
down the NUM LOCK key for 5
seconds if you want to use the
shortcut to turn Toggle Keys on and
off
Select OK

Turn on Toggle Keys by pressing

ALT+K
Turn on Toggle Keys by holding
down the NUM LOCK key for 5
seconds if you want to use the
shortcut to turn Toggle Keys on and
off, by pressing ALT+5
69
Tutorial: Turn on Filter Keys

You can set Windows to ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession, or keystrokes that
are held down for several seconds unintentionally.
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions

select:
Windows logo key
+U
Start
Control Panel
Ease of Access
Turn on Filter Keys

Turn on Filter Keys by pressing

ALT+I
Set up Filter Keys
Mouse actions
Keyboard actions
Set up Filter Keys
In Set up Filter Keys, be sure Turn on

Filter Keys is selected, then select from
the following options:
Turn on Filter Keys when right

SHIFT is pressed for 8 seconds if
you want to use the shortcut key to
turn Filter Keys on and off
Set up Filter Keys by pressing

ALT+L
In Set up Filter Keys, be sure Turn on

Filter Keys is selected (if not, press
ALT+I), then select from the following
options:
Turn on Filter Keys when right

SHIFT is pressed for 8 seconds
by pressing ALT+K, if you want to
use the shortcut key to turn Filter
Keys on and off
70
want to see a visual message when

turning Filter Keys on and off
setting on and off if you want an
audible message when turning Filter
Keys on and off
Beep when keys are pressed or
accepted if you want to hear a beep
when keystrokes are accepted
Display the Filter Keys icon on
reminder that Filter Keys is on.
Save to save your settings and close
the dialog box
Under Type text here to test settings:
Test your settings by typing within

the box before saving your settings
Display a warning message when

turning a setting on by pressing
ALT+A, if you want to see a visual
message when turning Filter Keys on
and off
setting on and off by pressing
ALT+M, if you want an audible
message when turning Filter Keys on
and off
Beep when keys are pressed or
accepted by pressing ALT+W, if you
want to hear a beep when
keystrokes are accepted
Display the Filter Keys icon on
the taskbar by pressing ALT+Y, if
you want a visual reminder that
Filter Keys is on
Move to:
Type text here to test settings,

by pressing ALT+N
Test your settings by typing within the box

before saving your settings
4
Save your settings and close the dialog box. Save your settings and close the dialog box.
Select OK
Select OK by pressing TAB, then

ENTER
71
Keyboard Shortcuts
More Information
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more
keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a
task that would typically require a mouse or other

pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier
to interact with your computer, saving you time and
effort as you work with Windows and other programs.
Keyboard shortcuts online

Microsoft Accessibility website
Most programs also provide accelerator keys that can make it easier to work with menus
and other commands. Check the menus of programs for accelerator keys. If a letter is
underlined in a menu it usually means that pressing the Alt key in combination with the
underlined key will have the same effect as clicking that menu item.
Pressing the Alt key in some programs, such as Paint and WordPad, shows commands that
are labeled with additional keys that you can press to use them.
You can also create new keyboard shortcuts to open programs. For more information, see
Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs.
A complete list of keyboard shortcuts is available in Windows Help, and following:
Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts........................................................................... 73
General keyboard shortcuts.....................................................................................73
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts.................................................................................75
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts.......................................................................76
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts.......................................................................77
Taskbar Keyboard shortcuts.....................................................................................78
Magnifier keyboard shortcuts...................................................................................79
Remote Desktop Connection keyboard shortcuts.........................................................79
Paint keyboard shortcuts.........................................................................................80
WordPad keyboard shortcuts....................................................................................81
Calculator keyboard shortcuts..................................................................................83
Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts.........................................................................86
Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts..................................................................87
Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs.............................................................87
72
Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your computer easier to
use.
Press this key
To do this
Right Shift for eight seconds
Turn Filter Keys on and off
Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn (or PrtScn)
Turn High Contrast on or off
Left Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock
Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Shift five times
Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Num Lock for five seconds
Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Windows logo key
Open the Ease of Access Center
+U
General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts.
Press this key
To do this
F1
Display Help
Ctrl+C
Copy the selected item
Ctrl+X
Cut the selected item
Ctrl+V
Paste the selected item
Ctrl+Z
Undo an action
Ctrl+Y
Redo an action
Delete (or Ctrl+D)
Delete the selected item and move it to the

Recycle Bin
Shift+Delete
Delete the selected item without moving it to

the Recycle Bin first
F2
Rename the selected item
Ctrl+Right Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next

word
Ctrl+Left Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the

previous word
Ctrl+Down Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next

paragraph
Ctrl+Up Arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the

previous paragraph
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key
Select a block of text
73
Press this key
To do this
Shift with any arrow key
Select more than one item in a window or on

the desktop, or select text within a
document
Ctrl with any arrow key+Spacebar
Select multiple individual items in a window

or on the desktop
Ctrl+A
Select all items in a document or window
F3
Search for a file or folder
Alt+Enter
Display properties for the selected item
Alt+F4
Close the active item, or exit the active

program
Alt+Spacebar
Open the shortcut menu for the active

window
Ctrl+F4
Close the active document (in programs that

allow you to have multiple documents open
simultaneously)
Alt+Tab
Switch between open items
Ctrl+Alt+Tab
Use the arrow keys to switch between open

items
Ctrl+Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size of icons on the desktop
Windows logo key
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by

using Aero Flip 3-D
+Tab
Ctrl+Windows logo key
+Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through

programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip
3-D
Alt+Esc
Cycle through items in the order in which

they were opened
F6
Cycle through screen elements in a window

or on the desktop
F4
Display the address bar list in Windows

Explorer
Shift+F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected

item
Ctrl+Esc
Open the Start menu
Alt+underlined letter
Display the corresponding menu
Perform the menu command (or other

underlined command)
F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program
Right Arrow
Open the next menu to the right, or open a
74
Press this key
To do this
submenu
Left Arrow
Open the next menu to the left, or close a

submenu
F5
Refresh the active window
Alt+Up Arrow
View the folder one level up in Windows

Explorer
Esc
Cancel the current task
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Open Task Manager
Shift when you insert a CD
Prevent the CD from automatically playing
Left Alt+Shift
Switch the input language when multiple

input languages are enabled
Ctrl+Shift
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple

keyboard layouts are enabled
Right or Left Ctrl+Shift
Change the reading direction of text in rightto-left reading languages
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+Tab
Move forward through tabs
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Move back through tabs
Tab
Move forward through options
Shift+Tab
Move back through options
Perform the command (or select the option)

that goes with that letter
Enter
Replaces clicking the mouse for many

selected commands
Spacebar
Select or clear the check box if the active

option is a check box
Arrow keys
Select a button if the active option is a group

of option buttons
F1
Display Help
F4
Display the items in the active list
Backspace
Open a folder one level up if a folder is

selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
75
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key
Press this key
To do this
Windows logo key
Open or close the Start menu.
Windows logo key
+Pause
Display the System Properties dialog box.
Windows logo key
+D
Display the desktop.
Windows logo key
+M
Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key
+Shift+M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
Windows logo key
+E
Open Computer.
Windows logo key
+F
Search for a file or folder.
+F
Search for computers (if you're on a

network).
Windows logo key
+L
Lock your computer or switch users.
Windows logo key
+R
Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key
+T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar.
Windows logo key
+number
Start the program pinned to the taskbar in

the position indicated by the number. If the
program is already running, switch to that
program.
Shift+Windows logo key
+number
Alt+Windows logo key
Windows logo key
+number
+number
Start a new instance of the program pinned

to the taskbar in the position indicated by
the number.
Switch to the last active window of the
program pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the number.
Open the Jump List for the program pinned
to the taskbar in the position indicated by
the number.
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by
using Aero Flip 3-D.
+Tab
+Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through

programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip
3-D.
+B
Switch to the program that displayed a

message in the notification area.
Windows logo key
+Spacebar
Preview the desktop.
76
Press this key
To do this
Windows logo key
+Up Arrow
Maximize the window.
Windows logo key
+Left Arrow
Maximize the window to the left side of the

screen.
Windows logo key
+Right Arrow
Maximize the window to the right side of the

screen.
Windows logo key
+Down Arrow
Minimize the window.
Windows logo key
+Home
Minimize all but the active window.
Windows logo key
+Shift+Up Arrow
Stretch the window to the top and bottom of

the screen.
Windows logo key

Right Arrow
+Shift+Left Arrow or
Move a window from one monitor to another.
Windows logo key
+P
Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key
+G
Cycle through gadgets.
Windows logo key
+U
Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key
+X
Open Windows Mobility Center.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Explorer windows
or folders.
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+N
Open a new window
Ctrl+W
Close the current window
Ctrl+Shift+N
Create a new folder
End
Display the bottom of the active window
Home
Display the top of the active window
F11
Maximize or minimize the active window
Ctrl+Period (.)
Rotate a picture clockwise
Ctrl+Comma (,)
Rotate a picture counterclockwise
Num Lock+Asterisk (*) on numeric keypad
Display all subfolders under the selected

folder
Num Lock+Plus Sign (+) on numeric keypad
Display the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock+Minus Sign (-) on numeric

keypad
Collapse the selected folder
Left Arrow
Collapse the current selection (if it's
77
Press this key
To do this
expanded), or select the parent folder
Alt+Enter
Open the Properties dialog box for the

selected item
Alt+P
Display the preview pane
Alt+Left Arrow
View the previous folder
Right Arrow
Display the current selection (if it's

collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Alt+Right Arrow
View the next folder
Alt+Up Arrow
View the parent folder
Ctrl+Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size and appearance of file and

folder icons
Alt+D
Select the address bar
Ctrl+E
Select the search box
Ctrl+F
Select the search box
Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the taskbar.
Press this key
To do this
Shift+Click on a taskbar button
Open a program or quickly open another

instance of a program
Ctrl+Shift+Click on a taskbar button
Open a program as an administrator
Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button
Show the window menu for the program
Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar

button
Show the window menu for the group
Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button
Cycle through the windows of the group
78
Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.
Press this key
Windows logo key
Sign
To do this
+ Plus Sign or Minus
Zoom in or out
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar
Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+F
Switch to full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+L
Switch to lens mode
Ctrl+Alt+D
Switch to docked mode
Ctrl+Alt+I
Invert colors
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys
Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
Ctrl+Alt+R
Resize the lens
Windows logo key
+ Esc
Exit Magnifier
Remote Desktop Connection keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Remote Desktop
Connection.
Press this key
To do this
Alt+Page Up
Move between programs from left to right.
Alt+Page Down
Move between programs from right to left.
Alt+Insert
Cycle through programs in the order that

they were started in.
Alt+Home
Display the Start menu.
Ctrl+Alt+Break
Switch between a window and full screen.
Ctrl+Alt+End
Display the Windows Security dialog box.
Alt+Delete
Display the system menu.
Ctrl+Alt+Minus Sign (-) on the numeric

keypad
Place a copy of the active window, within the

client, on the Terminal server clipboard
(provides the same functionality as pressing
Alt+PrtScn on a local computer).
Ctrl+Alt+Plus Sign (+) on the numeric

keypad
Place a copy of the entire client window area

on the Terminal server clipboard (provides
the same functionality as pressing PrtScn on
a local computer).
Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow
Tab out of the Remote Desktop controls to
79
Press this key
To do this
a control in the host program (for example, a
button or a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are embedded in
another (host) program.
Ctrl+Alt+Left Arrow
Tab out of the Remote Desktop controls to

a control in the host program (for example, a
button or a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are embedded in
another (host) program.
Note Ctrl+Alt+Break and Ctrl+Alt+End are available in all Remote Desktop sessions, even
when you've set up the remote computer to recognize Windows keyboard shortcuts.
Paint keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint.
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+N
Create a new picture
Ctrl+O
Open an existing picture
Ctrl+S
Save changes to a picture
F12
Save the picture as a new file
Ctrl+P
Print a picture
Alt+F4
Close a picture and its Paint window
Ctrl+Z
Undo a change
Ctrl+Y
Redo a change
Ctrl+A
Select the entire picture
Ctrl+X
Cut a selection
Ctrl+C
Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Ctrl+V
Paste a selection from the Clipboard
Right Arrow
Move the selection or active shape right by

one pixel
Left Arrow
Move the selection or active shape left by

one pixel
Down Arrow
Move the selection or active shape down by

one pixel
Up Arrow
Move the selection or active shape up by one

pixel
Esc
Cancel a selection
80
Press this key
To do this
Delete
Delete a selection
Ctrl+B
Bold selected text
Ctrl++
Increase the width of a brush, line, or shape

outline by one pixel
Ctrl+-
Decrease the width of a brush, line, or shape

outline by one pixel
Ctrl+I
Italicize selected text
Ctrl+U
Underline selected text
Ctrl+E
Open the Properties dialog box
Ctrl+W
Open the Resize and Skew dialog box
Ctrl+Page Up
Zoom in
Ctrl+Page Down
Zoom out
F11
View a picture in full-screen mode
Ctrl+R
Show or hide the ruler
Ctrl+G
Show or hide gridlines
F10 or Alt
Display keytips
Shift+F10
Show the current shortcut menu
F1
Open Paint Help
WordPad keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with WordPad.
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+N
Create a new document
Ctrl+O
Open an existing document
Ctrl+S
Save changes to a document
F12
Save the document as a new file
Ctrl+P
Print a document
Alt+F4
Close WordPad
Ctrl+Z
Undo a change
Ctrl+Y
Redo a change
Ctrl+A
Select the entire document
Ctrl+X
Cut a selection
81
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Ctrl+B
Make selected text bold
Ctrl+I
Italicize selected text
Ctrl+U
Underline selected text
Ctrl+=
Make selected text subscript
Ctrl+Shift+=
Make selected text superscript
Ctrl+L
Align text left
Ctrl+E
Align text center
Ctrl+R
Align text right
Ctrl+J
Justify text
Ctrl+1
Set single line spacing
Ctrl+2
Set double line spacing
Ctrl+5
Set line spacing to 1.5
Ctrl+Shift+>
Increase the font size
Ctrl+Shift+<
Decrease the font size
Ctrl+Shift+A
Change characters to all capitals
Ctrl+Shift+L
Change the bullet style
Ctrl+D
Insert a Microsoft Paint drawing
Ctrl+F
Find text in a document
F3
Find the next instance of the text in the Find

dialog box
Ctrl+H
Replace text in a document
Ctrl+Left Arrow
Move the cursor one word to the left
Ctrl+Right Arrow
Move the cursor one word to the right
Ctrl+Up Arrow
Move the cursor to the line above
Ctrl+Down Arrow
Move the cursor to the line below
Ctrl+Home
Move to the beginning of the document
Ctrl+End
Move to the end of the document
Ctrl+Page Up
Move up one page
Ctrl+Page Down
Move down one page
Ctrl+Delete
Delete the next word
82
Press this key
To do this
F10
Display keytips
Shift+F10
Show the current shortcut menu
F1
Open WordPad Help
Calculator keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Calculator.
Press this key
To do this
Atl+1
Switch to Standard mode
Alt+2
Switch to Scientific mode
Alt+3
Switch to Programmer mode
Alt+4
Switch to Statistics mode
Ctrl+E
Open date calculations
Ctrl+H
Turn calculation history on or off
Ctrl+U
Open unit conversion
Alt+C
Calculate or solve date calculations and

worksheets
F1
Open Calculator Help
Ctrl+Q
Press the M- button
Ctrl+P
Press the M+ button
Ctrl+M
Press the MS button
Ctrl+R
Press the MR button
Ctrl+L
Press the MC button
Press the % button
F9
Press the +/ button
Press the / button
Press the * button
Press the + button
Press the button
Press the 1/ button
Press the square root button
0-9
Press the number buttons (0-9)
83
Press this key
To do this
Press the = button
Press the . (decimal point) button
Backspace
Press the backspace button
Esc
Press the C button
Del
Press the CE button
Ctrl+Shift+D
Clear the calculation history
F2
Edit the calculation history
Up Arrow key
Navigate up in the calculation history
Down Arrow key
Navigate down in the calculation history
Esc
Cancel editing the calculation history
Enter
Recalculate the calculation history after

editing
F3
Select Degrees in Scientific mode
F4
Select Radians in Scientific mode
F5
Select Grads in Scientific mode
Press the Inv button in Scientific mode
Press the Mod button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+S
Press the sinh button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+O
Press the cosh button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+T
Press the tanh button in Scientific mode
Press the ( button in Scientific mode
Press the ) button in Scientific mode
Press the ln button in Scientific mode
Press the Int button in Scientific mode
Press the sin button in Scientific mode
Press the cos button in Scientific mode
Press the tan button in Scientific mode
Press the dms button in Scientific mode
Press the pi button in Scientific mode
Press the F-E button in Scientific mode
Press the Exp button in Scientific mode
Press the x^2 button in Scientific mode
Press the x^y button in Scientific mode
84
Press this key
To do this
Press the x^3 button in Scientific mode
Press the log button in Scientific mode
Press the n! button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+Y
Press the yx button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+B
Press the 3x button in Scientific mode
Ctrl+G
Press the 10x button in Scientific mode
F5
Select Hex in Programmer mode
F6
Select Dec in Programmer mode
F7
Select Oct in Programmer mode
F8
Select Bin in Programmer mode
F12
Select Qword in Programmer mode
F2
Select Dword in Programmer mode
F3
Select Word in Programmer mode
F4
Select Byte in Programmer mode
Press the RoR button in Programmer mode
Press the RoL button in Programmer mode
<
Press the Lsh button in Programmer mode
>
Press the Rsh button in Programmer mode
Press the Mod button in Programmer mode
Press the ( button in Programmer mode
Press the ) button in Programmer mode
Press the Or button in Programmer mode
Press the Xor button in Programmer mode
Press the Not button in Programmer mode
&
Press the And button in Programmer mode
A-F
Press the A-F buttons in Programmer mode
Spacebar
Toggles the bit value in Programmer mode
Press the Average button in Statistics mode
Ctrl+A
Press the Average Sq button in Statistics

mode
Press the Sum button in Statistics mode
Ctrl+S
Press the Sum Sq button in Statistics mode
85
Press this key
To do this
Press the S.D. button in Statistics mode
Ctrl+T
Press the Inv S.D. button in Statistics mode
Press the CAD button in Statistics mode
Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Journal.
Press this key
To do this
Ctrl+N
Start a new note
Ctrl+O
Open a recently used note
Ctrl+S
Save changes to a note
Ctrl+Shift+V
Move a note to a specific folder
Ctrl+P
Print a note
Alt+F4
Close a note and its Journal window
Ctrl+Z
Undo a change
Ctrl+Y
Redo a change
Ctrl+A
Select all items on a page
Ctrl+X
Cut a selection
Ctrl+C
Ctrl+V
Esc
Cancel a selection
Delete
Delete a selection
Ctrl+F
Start a basic find
Ctrl+G
Go to page
F5
Refresh find results
F5
Refresh the note list
F6
Toggle between a note list and a note
Ctrl+Shift+C
Display a shortcut menu for column headings

in a note list
F11
View a note in full-screen mode
F1
Open Journal Help
86
Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.
Press this key
To do this
Alt+C
Display the Table of Contents
Alt+N
Display the Connection Settings menu
F10
Display the Options menu
Alt+Left Arrow
Move back to the previously viewed topic
Alt+Right Arrow
Move forward to the next (previously

viewed) topic
Alt+A
Display the customer support page
Alt+Home
Display the Help and Support home page
Home
Move to the beginning of a topic
End
Move to the end of a topic
Ctrl+F
Search the current topic
Ctrl+P
Print a topic
F3
Move the cursor to the search box
Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs

You can create keyboard shortcuts to open programs. Opening programs this way is often
simpler than opening them using your mouse or other pointing device. Before you get
started, you need to create a shortcut for the program to which you want to assign a
keyboard shortcut. To do this, open the folder that contains the program, right-click the
program's executable file, and then click Create Shortcut. For more information about
creating shortcuts to programs, see Create or delete a shortcut, in Help.
Locate the shortcut to the program that you want to create a keyboard shortcut for.
Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
In the Shortcut Properties dialog box,
Click the Shortcut tab.

Click in the Shortcut key box,
Press the key on your keyboard that you want to use in combination with Ctrl+Alt
(keyboard shortcuts automatically start with Ctrl+Alt), and then click OK.
You can now use this keyboard shortcut to open the program.
Notes
87
The word None appears in the Shortcut key box until you press a key; then it's replaced
with Ctrl+Alt+the key that you pressed.
The new shortcut might not work for programs that have their own keyboard shortcuts.
You cannot use the Esc, Enter, Tab, Spacebar, PrtScn, Shift, or Backspace keys to create a
keyboard shortcut.
You can also create keyboard shortcuts to open files and folders.
88

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Accessibility in

Published by Microsoft Corporation

Make Your Computer Easier to Use (Ease of

Figure 1: Ease of Access Center:

Make your computer easier to use

, clicking Control Panel, clicking Ease of Access, and then

Quick access to common tools

Quick access to common tools

Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use

Explore All Settings

Make it easier to focus on tasks...............................................................................19

Use the computer without a display

Figure 2: Ease of Access Center: Use the computer without a display

Make the computer easier to see

Figure 3: Ease of Access Center: Make the computer easier to see

Use the computer without the mouse or keyboard

Make the mouse easier to use

Figure 5: Ease of Access Center: Make the mouse easier to use

Make the keyboard easier to use

Figure 6: Ease of Access Center: Make the keyboard easier to use

Use text or visual alternatives to sounds

Make it easier to focus on tasks

Figure 8: Ease of Access Center: Make it easier to focus on tasks

Use Accessibility Tools

In this section learn how to:

Make items on the screen appear bigger (Magnifier)

then have Magnifier follow the mouse pointer.

Figure 9: Image of Magnifier magnifying a portion of the screen

To exit Magnifier, press the Windows logo key

choose where Magnifier focuses

To choose where Magnifier focuses

Follow the mouse pointer

Displays the area around the mouse pointer in the Magnifier

Follow the keyboard focus

Have Magnifier follow the

Displays the area around the text that you're typing.

To change the zoom level

Click Zoom in or press the Windows logo key

Click Zoom out or press the Windows logo key

To set the zoom increment

To set the lens size

To turn on color inversion

To display the Magnifier toolbar

Type without using the keyboard (On-Screen

Figure 10: Image of On-Screen Keyboard on computer screen

On-Screen Topics in this section:

change how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard

To change how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard

In clicking mode, you click the on-screen keys to type

Hover over keys

In hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to

Scan through keys

In scanning mode, On-Screen Keyboard continually scans

To set On-Screen Keyboard to use audible clicks

To use a numeric key pad in On-Screen Keyboard

To enable text prediction in On-Screen Keyboard

Hear text read aloud with Narrator

Narrator Keyboard Shortcuts

Narrator Keyboard Shortcuts

Get information about the current item

Read the entire selected window

Read the items that are selected in the current window

Read a description of the items that appear next to the

Stop Narrator from reading text