Controlling VoiceOver with the Keyboard


Welcome to the VoiceOver with the Keyboard Lesson

This is the place to learn how to use your device with a keyboard.

Materials Needed

A bluetooth or wired keyboard. The keyboard does not have to have a number pad.

Let's Get Started

Everything you can do with a mouse on the computer, can be done with the keyboard.

There are special commands used only by VoiceOver which are used to make the computer accessible to you.

These commands always start with the VoiceOver, or VO, modifier.

The VO modifier tells VoiceOver when you are giving it a command. The next key or keys pressed, tell VoiceOver what to do. For example, VO + M takes you to the menu bar.

In order for you to find and use the VO modifier, we need to talk about the keyboard.

The standard keyboard in use today is a QWERTY style keyboard, with or without a number pad. The term QWERTY is used because the top left letter row of the keyboard begins with that pattern, q, w, e, r, t, y.

Depending on what type of keyboard you have, it may or may not have a number pad. It is just fine if you don't have a number pad, but if you do, the NumPad Controller becomes available to you. Please see the NumPad Controller lesson in the iOS Lesson List.

The VO Modifier

The VO modifier is a key or set of keys you press with other keys to enter VoiceOver commands.

You can set the modifier to be the Caps Lock, or the Control and Option keys pressed at the same time.

Go to Settings / Accessibility / VoiceOver / Typing / Modifier Keys, then choose the Caps Lock key, or the Control and Option keys.

Common VoiceOver Commands

Action Command
Turn on VoiceOver Help VO + K
Turn off VoiceOver Help Escape
Select the next or previous item VO + Left or Right Arrows
Activate the Selected Item VO + SPACEBAR
Touch and hold the selected item VO + Shift + M
Read from Current Position VO + A
Read from the top VO + B
Pause or Resume Reading Control key
Copy the last spoken text to the clipboard VO + Shift + C
Scroll up, down, left, or right Option-Up Arrow, Option-Down Arrow, Option-Left Arrow, or Option-Right Arrow
Search for Text VO + F
Mute or Unmute VoiceOver VO + S
Go To Home Screen VO + H
Go to Status Bar VO + M
Open the notifications screen VO + M, then Option + Up Arrow
Open the Control Center VO + M, then Option + Down Arrow
Open Search Option + Up Arrow
Open the App Switcher VO + H + H
Open Item Chooser VO + I
Change the label of the selected item VO + /
Start, stop, or pause an action VO + Hyphen
Swipe Up or Down VO + Up or VO + Down
Adjust Rotor VO + Command + Left Arrow or Right Arrow
Adjust the setting specified by the rotor VO-Command-Up Arrow or VO-Command-Down Arrow
Turn on or off Screen Curtain VO + Shift + F11 (you may need to press the Fn Key)
Dismiss a popup Escape Key
Adjust the rotor VO + Shift + CMD + Left or Right Arrow
Move by Rotor Selection Up or Down Arrow

Using QuickNav to Navigate Using the Arrow Keys

Turn on Quick Nav by pressing the Left and Right arrows at the same time.

Action Command
Turn Quick Nav on or off Left Arrow + Right Arrow
Select the next or previous item Right Arrow or Left Arrow
Tap an item Up Arrow-Down Arrow
Select the next or previous item specified by the rotor Up Arrow or Down Arrow
Select the first or last item Control-Up Arrow or Control-Down Arrow
Scroll up, down, left, or right Option-Up Arrow, Option-Down Arrow, Option-Left Arrow, or Option-Right Arrow

Single-key QuickNav for web browsing

To navigate a webpage quickly, turn on QuicksNav (VO-Q), then press keys on the keyboard to navigate to specific item types, such as headings or links. To move to the previous item, hold the Shift key as you press a key for the item type.

Action Command Key
Heading H
Link L
Text Field R
Button B
Form Control C
Image I
Table T
Static Text S
AIRA Landmark W
List X
Item of the Same Type M
Level 1 heading 1
Level 2 heading 2
Level 3 heading 3
Level 4 heading 4
Level 5 heading 5
Level 6 heading 6