You can use most refreshable braille displays with your Chromebook.
Set up your braille device
You can set up your braille device by plugging it in or pairing with Bluetooth.
-
Plug in: Plug your braille device into a USB port on your Chromebook. After a few seconds, your Chromebook automatically detects the device and turns on ChromeVox if it’s not already on.
- Pair with Bluetooth: To set up Bluetooth with Chromevox, press Search
+ o + o. Or press Launcher
+ o + o. Follow the on-screen instructions. Learn how to pair your device with your Chromebook.
Change settings
ChromeVox automatically chooses a type of braille based on your Chromebook’s language setting, but you can change the type.
- Press Search
- Press and hold the Search key
- Press the right arrow key until you hear 'Switch to 6-dot braille' or 'Switch to 8-dot braille'.
- Press Enter.
- Optional: You’ll hear your braille language, and sometimes also your grade level. To change it, press Enter, then use the arrow keys to move through the list. When you hear the option that you want, press Enter.
- To close, press Ctrl + w.
Tip: Use 8-dot braille to enter text if:
- You’re using uncontracted braille, and your cursor is inside a word
- You’re entering text into a web form, such as your email address or phone number
When ChromeVox is on, speech captions are on automatically. To turn braille captions on or off, press Search 
- Press Search
- Press and hold the Search key
- Press the right arrow key until you hear 'Current display style is interleave' or 'Current display style is side by side'.
- To show captions first, then braille, press the right arrow key until you hear "Change display style to side by side." Then press Enter.
- To alternate captions and braille, press the right arrow key until you hear "Change display style to interleave." Then press Enter.
- To close, press Ctrl + w.
- Press Search
- Press and hold the Search key
- Press the right arrow key until you hear 'Virtual braille display'.
- Enter the number of rows and columns that you’d like to show.
- To close, press Ctrl + w.
If a word doesn’t fit on your refreshable braille display, word wrapping moves the word to the next line. To turn word wrapping on or off:
- Press Search
- Press and hold the Search key
- Press the right arrow key until you hear 'Enable word wrap'.
- Tick or untick the box.
- To close, press Ctrl + w.
Use commands on your braille keyboard
To see braille commands:
- To turn on braille captions, press Search
- To open the screen reader (ChromeVox) menu, press Search
- You’ll see braille keyboard commands, as well as keyboard shortcuts and jump commands for your physical keyboard.
| Jump to the bottom of the page | Space + dots 4-5-6 |
| Jump to the top of the page | Space + dots 1-2-3 |
| Next button | Space + dots 1-2 |
| Next character | Space + dot 6 |
| Next editable text area | Space + dots 1-5 |
| Next form field | Space + dots 1-2-4 |
| Next group | Space + dots 5-6 |
| Next heading | Space + dots 1-2-5 |
| Next link | Space + dots 4-5 |
| Next object | Space + dot 4 |
| Next table | Space + dots 2-3-4-5 |
| Next word | Space + dot 5 |
| Previous button | Space + dots 1-2-7 |
| Previous character | Space + dot 3 |
| Previous editable text area | Space + dots 1-5-7 |
| Previous form field | Space + dots 1-2-4-7 |
| Previous group | Space + dots 2-3 |
| Previous heading | Space + dots 1-2-5-7 |
| Previous link | Space + dots 4-5-7 |
| Previous object | Space + dot 1 |
| Previous table | Space + dots 2-3-4-5-7 |
| Previous word | Space + dot 2 |
| Quiet/unquiet | Space + 1-2-3-4-5 |
Note: When you type in an email or URL text field, your braille device will use 8-dot (computer) braille automatically.
You can enter keyboard shortcuts with your braille device by entering a sequence of dots that mimic some keys on your keyboard.
| Ctrl | Space + dots 2-5 |
| Alt | Space + dots 3-6 |
| Shift | Space + dots 3-7 |
| Ctrl + Shift | Space + dots 2-5-7 |
| Alt + Shift | Space + dots 3-6-7 |
| Backspace | Space + dot 7 |
| Tab | Space + dots 3-5 |
| Escape | Space + dots 1-3-5-6 |
| Enter | Space + dots 4-6 |
| Click current item | Space + dot 8 |
| Open context menu | Space + dots 1-3-4 |
| Start/end selection | Space + dots 2-3-4 |
| Find in page | Space + dots 3-4 |
| Complete description of current position | Space + dots 1-4 |
| Open ChromeVox menus | Space + dots 1-4-5-6 |
| Open the status area (where your account photo is) | Space + dots 3-6-7, then dots 2-3-4 |
Troubleshoot problems with your braille device
Try these steps on the device:
- Make sure that USB support is turned on.
- If you’re using a braille note taker, make sure that it’s in terminal mode.
- Check for and apply any firmware updates.
- Try using a different emulation mode or protocol.
- Try using your braille device with a different computer and operating system, like a Mac or PC. If it works with the second computer but not your Chromebook, try using a different braille device with your Chromebook.
- Reset your braille device to factory settings.
Caution: This step will erase all settings on the device, so make sure that you save important information first.
For more info, check the device’s manual or contact the manufacturer.
If you plug in a braille device and ChromeVox doesn’t turn on automatically:
- Unplug the braille device, then plug it back in.
- Turn on ChromeVox by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.
To see if your braille device is compatible with Chromebooks, check your device’s manual or contact the manufacturer.