Windows7

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/en-us.mspx).
www.microsoft.com/enable/ 2

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 +U and
the Ease of Access Center will open. The Ease of Access Center includes:
• 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

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.

Figure 4: Ease of Access Center: Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard

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.

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

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.

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

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).

Figure 7: Ease of Access Center: Use text or visual alternatives for sounds

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.

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

Use Accessibility Tools
Windows 7 introduces significant improvements to
the Microsoft accessibility tools Magnifier, On-Screen
Keyboard, and Narrator.
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
View Online Video Demos
 Magnifier
 On-Screen Keyboard

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
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 choose where Magnifier focuses
• To change the zoom level
• To set the zoom increment
• To set the lens size
• To turn on color inversion
• To 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.
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 +Plus sign
Zoom out Click Zoom out or press the Windows logo key +Minus
sign
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.
To display the Magnifier toolbar
2. Click the magnifying glass icon or click Magnifier on the taskbar.

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 change how information is entered into On-Screen Keyboard
• 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

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 On-
Screen 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.

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.

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 doesn’t read what I expect it to
• I can’t 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 don’t 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

Use this keyboard shortcut To do this
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.
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.
Insert+R 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+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.
• 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 screen-
reading capabilities that allow you to use Windows when you don't have a more full-
featured 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.

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 doesn’t 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 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.
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 screen—even 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.

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 word-
processing programs or to fill out online forms in a web browser. You can also use

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.

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.

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.

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

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.
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.
Use the computer without a display
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
Make the computer easier to see
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
More Information
 Microsoft Accessibility website
 More Microsoft product tutorials
 Windows 7 Help and How-To
online

Make the mouse easier to use
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
Prevent windows from being automatically arranged when moved to the edge of the
screen.....................................................................................................................63
Make the keyboard easier to use
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

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
1 To open the Ease of Access Center, select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
• Ease of Access Center
To open the Ease of Access Center, press:
• Windows logo key +U

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
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
2 Under Quick access to common tools,
select:
• Start Narrator
Under Quick access to common tools,
select:
• Start Narrator by pressing ALT+N
Turn on Narrator so that it starts automatically each time you log on
to your computer
1 Under Explore all settings, select:
• Use the computer without a
display, by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
Under Explore all settings, select:
display, by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
2 Under Hear text read aloud, select:
• Turn on Narrator
• Select OK
Under Hear text read aloud, select:
• Turn on Narrator by pressing
ALT+U

• Select OK by pressing ALT+O

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).
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
Windows logo key +U
• Use the computer without a display
• Use the computer without a display
by pressing TAB, then ENTER
3 Under Hear text read aloud, select:
• Turn on Audio Description
• Select OK
Under Hear text read aloud, select:
• Turn on Audio Description by
pressing ALT+I

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.
1 To open the Ease of Access Center,
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
To open the Ease of Access Center,
press:
display
display by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
3 Under Adjust time limits and flashing
visuals, select:
• Turn off all unnecessary
animations (when possible)
• Select OK
Under Adjust time limits and flashing
visuals, select:
• Turn off all unnecessary
animations (when possible) by
pressing ALT+W

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
display
display by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
3 Under Adjust time limits and flashing
visuals, select:
• An interval from the list for How
long should Windows
notification dialog boxes stay
open from 5 seconds to 5 minutes
• Select OK
Under Adjust time limits and flashing
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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
• Make the computer easier to see
by using TAB, then ENTER
3 Under High Contrast, select:
• Choose a High Contrast theme
Under High Contrast, select:
• Choose a High Contrast theme by
pressing ALT+R
4 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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
by using TAB, then ENTER
3 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.

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
• Change the size of text and icons
Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
• Change the size of text and icons
by pressing ALT+Z
4 Select the size you want (from the available
options):
• Smaller - 100% (default)
• Medium - 125%
• Larger – 150%
• Select Apply
Select the size you want (from the available
options):
• 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).
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
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
select:
• 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
• Make the computer easier to see,

2 Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
• Turn on Magnifier
• Select OK
Under Make things on the screen larger,
select:
• Turn on Magnifier by pressing
ALT+N
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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Make things on the screen easier
to see, select:
• Adjust the color and
transparency of the window
borders
Note: If the Adjust the color and
transparency of the window borders
link is not active, your computer does not
support this setting.
Under Make things on the screen easier
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.

4 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
Under Change the color of your window
borders, Start menu, and taskbar,
select:
• 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
5 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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
2 Under Explore all settings:
• Select Make the computer easier
to see
to see, select:
• Fine tune display effects
to see, select:
• Fine tune display effects, by
pressing ALT+C

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
to see, select:
• Make the focus rectangle thicker
• Select OK
to see select:
• Make the focus rectangle thicker
by pressing ALT+K

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
to see, select:
• A number from 1 to 20 from the
drop-down list to Set the thickness
of the blinking cursor
Note: You can preview your selection in the
Preview box.
• Select OK
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
Preview box.

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
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
select:
• 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 or keyboard
mouse or keyboard by pressing
TAB, then ENTER
2 Under Type using a pointing device, Under Type using a pointing device,

select:
• Use On-Screen Keyboard
• Select OK
select:
• Use On-Screen Keyboard by
pressing ALT+K

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.
1 On the Start menu, select:
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
• Speech Recognition
Display the Start menu by pressing the
Windows logo key , then select.
• 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
2 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.
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.

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
• Make the mouse easier to use
• Make the mouse easier to use by
3 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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Make it easier to manage
windows, select:
• Activate a window by hovering
over it with the mouse
• Select OK
Under Make it easier to manage
windows, select:
• Activate a window by hovering
over it with the mouse by
pressing ALT+W

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Control the mouse with the
keyboard, select:
• Turn on Mouse Keys
Under Control the mouse with the
keyboard, select:
• Turn on Mouse Keys by pressing
ALT+M
To set up Mouse Keys
4 Under Control the mouse with the
keyboard, select:
• Set up Mouse Keys
Under Control the mouse with the
keyboard, select:
• Set up Mouse Keys by pressing
ALT+Y
5 Under Set up Mouse Keys select:
• Turn on Mouse Keys
Under Set up Mouse Keys select:
• Turn on Mouse Keys by pressing
ALT+M

Then, select from the following setting
options:
Then, select from the following setting
options:
6 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
• 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
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
7 Under Pointer speed:
• 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 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
8 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
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
• Select OK
on, by pressing ALT+Y
Tutorial: Underline keyboard shortcuts and access keys
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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
• Make the keyboard easier to use
3 Under Make it easier to use keyboard
shortcuts, select:
• 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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Make it easier to manage
windows, select:
• Prevent windows from being
automatically arranged when
moved to the edge of the screen
Under Make it easier to manage
windows, select:
• Prevent windows from being
automatically arranged when
moved to the edge of the screen
by pressing TAB, then Spacebar
4 To save your selection:
• Select OK
To save your selection:
• Press ALT+O

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 they’re not heard. You can also choose how you want sound
notifications to warn you.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
• Use text or visual alternatives
for sounds
for sounds by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
3 Under Use visual cues instead of
sounds, select:
• Turn on visual notifications for
sounds (Sound Sentry)
Under Use visual cues instead of
sounds, select:
• Turn on visual notifications for
sounds (Sound Sentry) by
pressing ALT+R
4 Under Choose visual warning, select one
of the following options:
• None
• Flash active caption bar
• Flash active window
• Flash desktop
• Select OK
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

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.)
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
for sounds
for sounds by pressing TAB, then
ENTER
3 Under Use visual cues instead of sounds
select:
• Turn on text captions for spoken
dialog (when available)
• Select OK
Under Use visual cues instead of
sounds, select:
• Turn on text captions for spoken
dialog (when available) by
pressing ALT+U

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).
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
to see, select:
• Remove background images
(where available)
• Select OK
to see, select:
• Remove background images
(where available) by pressing
ALT+G

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
2 Under Explore all settings select:
3 Under Make it easier to type, select:
• Turn on Sticky Keys
Under Make it easier to type, select:
• Turn on Sticky Keys by pressing
ALT+R
To set up Sticky Keys
1 Then, select:
• Set up Sticky Keys
Then, select:
• Set up Sticky Keys by pressing
TAB, then ENTER
2 In Set up Sticky Keys select:
• Turn on Sticky Keys
In Set up Sticky Keys select:
• Turn on Sticky Keys by pressing
ALT+R

3 Under Keyboard shortcut, select:
• 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:
• 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
4 Under When using keyboard shortcuts
to turn Ease of Access settings on select
from these options:
when turning a setting on
setting on or off
Under When using keyboard shortcuts
to turn Ease of Access settings on
choose from these options:
• Display a warning message when
turning a setting on by pressing
ALT+A
setting on or off by pressing
ALT+M
5 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
Under Options and Feedback you can
choose to:
• 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
6
• Select OK • Select OK by pressing ALT+O

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
3 Under Make it easier to type select:
• 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

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.
select:
• Start
• Control Panel
• Ease of Access
press:
• Turn on Filter Keys
• Turn on Filter Keys by pressing
ALT+I
Set up Filter Keys
• Set up Filter Keys
• Set up Filter Keys by pressing
ALT+L
2 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
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

turn Filter Keys on and off
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
by pressing ALT+K, if you want to
use the shortcut key to turn Filter
Keys on and off
• 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
3 Under Type text here to test settings:
• Test your settings by typing within
the box before saving your settings
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.
• Select OK
Save your settings and close the dialog box.
• Select OK by pressing TAB, then
ENTER

Keyboard Shortcuts
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.
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
More Information
 Keyboard shortcuts online
 Microsoft Accessibility website

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 +U Open the Ease of Access Center
General keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts.
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

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 +Tab Cycle through programs on the taskbar by
using Aero Flip 3-D
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
Alt+underlined letter 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

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 right-
to-left reading languages
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.
Ctrl+Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl+Shift+Tab Move back through tabs
Tab Move forward through options
Shift+Tab Move back through options
Alt+underlined letter 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
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key .
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.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +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 Start a new instance of the program pinned
to the taskbar in the position indicated by
the number.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +number Switch to the last active window of the
program pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the number.
Alt+Windows logo key +number Open the Jump List for the program pinned
to the taskbar in the position indicated by
the number.
Windows logo key +Tab Cycle through programs on the taskbar by
using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +Tab Use the arrow keys to cycle through
programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip
3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +B Switch to the program that displayed a
message in the notification area.

Windows logo key +Spacebar Preview the desktop.
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 +Shift+Left Arrow or
Right Arrow
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.
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
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.
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

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.
Windows logo key + Plus Sign or Minus
Sign
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.
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

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.
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

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