Use a braille device with your Pixelbook

You can use most refreshable braille displays with your Pixelbook.

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 Chrome OS device. After a few seconds, your Chrome OS device will automatically detect the braille device, and turn on ChromeVox if it's not already on.
• Pair with Bluetooth: To set up Bluetooth with ChromeVox, press the Launcher key + O + O (again). Follow the on-screen instructions. To learn more about pairing Bluetooth devices, see Related articles.

Change settings

Switch between 6-dot (literary) & 8-dot (computer) braille

ChromeVox automatically chooses a type of braille based on your device's language setting, but you can change the type.

On a keyboard:

1. Press Search + o + o.
2. Press and hold Search.
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Switch to 6-dot braille" or "Switch to 8-dot braille."
4. Press Enter.
5. 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 you want, press Enter.
6. To close, press Ctrl + w.

On a touchscreen

1. Tap the screen with 4 fingers at once.
2. Swipe one finger left to right until you hear "Chromevox menu."
3. Swipe one finger down until you hear "Open options page,"" and then double-tap to activate.
4. Swipe right until you hear "switch to 6 dot braille" or "switch to 8 dot braille."
5. Double-tap to activate

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, like your email address or phone number

Turn captions on or off

When ChromeVox is on, speech captions are on automatically. To turn braille captions on or off, press Search + a + b.

Change how captions and braille show

1. Press Search + o + o.
2. Press and hold Search.
3. 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.
4. To close, press Ctrl + w.

Change number of rows or columns in captions

1. Press Search + o + o.
2. Press and hold Search.
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Virtual braille display."
4. Enter the number of rows and columns you'd like to show.
5. To close, press Ctrl + w.

Turn word wrapping on or off

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:

1. Press Search + o + o.
2. Press and hold Search.
3. Press the right arrow key until you hear "Enable word wrap."
4. Check or uncheck the box.
5. To close, press Ctrl + w.

Use commands on your braille keyboard

Tip: To see braille commands:

1. Press Search + a + b to turn on braille captions.
2. Press Search + . (period) to open the screen reader (ChromeVox) menu.
3. You'll see braille keyboard commands, as well as keyboard shortcuts and jump commands for your physical keyboard.

Move around a page

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

Type an email address

If you're using U.S. English, you can type the @ sign by pressing dots 4-7 together.

Note: When you type in an email or URL text field, your braille device will use 8-dot (computer) braille automatically.

Use traditional keyboard shortcuts

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

All other shortcuts

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 the time is)	Space + dots 3-6-7, then dots 2-3-4
Quiet/unquiet speech	Space + dots 1-2-3-4-5

Troubleshoot problems with your braille device

My braille device isn't working

Try these steps on the device:

• Make sure USB support is turned on.
• If you're using a braille notetaker, make sure 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 device and operating system, like a Mac or PC. If it works with the second device but not your Chrome OS device, try using a different braille device with your Chrome OS device.
• Reset your braille device to factory settings.
  Caution: This step will erase all settings on the device, so make sure you save important information first.

For more info, check the device's manual or contact the manufacturer.

ChromeVox doesn't turn on automatically

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:
  • On a keyboard: Press Ctrl + Alt + z
  • On a touchscreen: On the side of your device, press both ends of the volume button for 5 seconds.

To see if your braille device is compatible with Chrome OS devices, check your device's manual or contact the manufacturer.

Related articles

• Use the on-screen keyboard