ChromeVox Keyboard Commands
The ChromeVox screen reader uses the "search" or "launcher" key in combination with other key to complete many actions. These are called ChromeVox specific commands. The "search" key is located in the left most column of keys on the keyboard, and is above the shift key, to the left of the a key.
There are also a number of keyboard commands that work regardless of ChromeVox is on or off. These are called ChromeOS keyboard commands.
Together, ChromeVox commands and Chrome OS commands allow full non-visual access of the Chromebook.
General Commands
| Action | Command |
|---|---|
| Toggle on and off ChromeVox | Control + alt + z |
| Turn on learn mode (hear names of keys and functions of different key combinations on your keyboard) | Search + o, then press k |
| Turn off learn mode | control + w |
| Open the launcher drawer | Alt + shift + l |
| Go to the status bar | Alt + shift + s |
| Hear a description of your current location | Search + k |
| Change rate of speech | Search + left bracket to increase, or search + shift + left bracket to decrease |
| Change pitch of voice | Search + right bracket to Increase pitch; search + shift + right bracket to decrease pitch |
Navigation Commands
Note: For the following commands, you can turn on something called "Sticky Mode" and avoid pressing search key for each shortcut. Quickly press the search key twice. You'll know it's on when you hear "sticky mode enabled." It will stay on until you press it again twice. Sticky Mode mimics if you were holding down the search key yourself.
Caution: When Sticky mode is enabled, commands specific to Google applications will not work. You will need to toggle Sticky mode off if you wish to use commands specific to Google applications. Additionally, to enter text into an edit field, you will also need to turn off Sticky Mode.
| Element | Command (previous) | Command (Next) |
|---|---|---|
| Object | Search key + left arrow | Search key + right arrow |
| Item | Shift + tab | Tab |
| Line (does not apply within a text edit fields) | Search + up arrow | Search + down arrow |
| Navigate by character (does not apply within a text edit field) | Search + shift + left arrow | Search + shift + right arrow |
| Navigate by word (does not apply within a text edit field) | Search + control + shift + left arrow) | Search + shift + control + right arrow |
| Button | Search + shift + b | Search + b |
| Checkbox | search + shift + x | Search + x |
| Combo box | Search + shift + c | Search + c |
| Editable text area | Search + shift + e | Search + e |
| Form field | Search + shift + f | Search + f |
| Graphic | Search + shift + g | Search + g |
| Heading | Search + shift + h | Search + h |
| Link | Search + shift + l | Search + l |
| Visited link | Search + shift + v | Search + v |
| Table | Search + shift + t | Search + t |
| Go to top or bottom of page | Top: Search + control + left arrow | Bottom: Search + control + right arrow |
| Start reading from current location | Search + r | _____ |
Navigation in a Text Edit Field
For line, word, and character, when in a text edit field, (such as composing a Google doc or email), perform the following:
| Element | Previous | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Line | Up arrow | Down arrow |
| Word | Control + left arrow | Control + right arrow |
| Letter | Left arrow | Right arrow |
Grouping Elements
- Heading: list of headings on the web page. [search + control + h]
- landmark: list of landmarks on the web page. [search + control + ;].
- Link: list of links on the web page. [Search + control + l]
- Form controls: list of buttons or forms on a web page. [search + control + f]
- Table: list of tables on the web page. [search + control + t]
Web Interaction
| Action | Command |
|---|---|
| Open a new window | Control + n |
| Open a new tab | Control + t |
| Close current tab | Control + w |
| Close current window | Shift + control + w |
| Open file in browser | Control + o |
| Reopen the last window or tab you closed | Shift + control + t |
| Go to address bar | control + l |
| Go to next or previous tab | Control tab, or control + shift tab |
| Go to previous or next page in your browsing history | Alt + left arrow or alt + right arrow |
| Click | Enter |
Informational Commands
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open ChromeVox Options | Search + O, then press o again |
| Here title of current page | Search + a, then press w |
| Here url of current page | Search + a, then press u |
| Here the current date and time | Search + a, then press d |
| Here current battery level | Search + o, then press b |
| Acces the status bar | Shift + alt + s |
| Open the ChromeVox context menu | Search + m |
ChromeVox Menu
To activate the ChromeVox Menu press search + period. Use left and right arrows to move between the menus. Use up and down arrows to navigate options in each menu.
- Search: type into the bar to find a list of results from any of the ChromeVox menus.
- Jump: list of all of the ChromeVox shortcuts.
- Speech: list of speech shortcuts that includes how to increase or decrease the speech rate and pitch.
- Tabs: List of all of your open tabs.
- ChromeVox: list of several ChromeVox shortcuts that includes the ChromeVox tutorial and learn mode.
- Actions: List of touch-specific options.