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Use the built-in screen reader on your Pixel Slate

Pixel Slate has a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which allows visually-impaired people to use the Chrome operating system.

Note: If you're using the ChromeVox screen reader, your Pixel Slate will automatically switch to the Android screen reader when using the Google Assistant and other compatible Android apps. It'll switch back to ChromeVox automatically too, so you don't need to do anything

Turn screen reader on or off

In laptop mode: You can turn ChromeVox on or off from any page by pressing Ctrl + Alt + z.

In tablet mode: Press and hold the Volume down + Volume up buttons for 5 seconds. While holding the buttons, you'll hear a sound to indicate it's working. Keep holding the buttons, then ChromeVox will start speaking.

Read a page

Tip: To hear a description of your cursor's current position on a page, press Search + k.

Move through a page with keyboard shortcuts

Next button Search + b
Next character Search + Shift + right arrow
Next checkbox Search + x
Next combo box Search + c
Next editable text area Search + e
Next focusable item Tab
Next form field Search + f
Next graphic Search + g
Next group Search + Ctrl + down arrow
Next heading Search + h
Next Level 1 Heading Search + 1
Next Level 2 Heading Search + 2
Next Level 3 Heading Search + 3
Next Level 4 Heading Search + 4
Next Level 5 Heading Search + 5
Next Level 6 Heading Search + 6
Next landmark Search + ; (semicolon)
Next line Search + down arrow
Next link Search + L
Next object Search + right arrow
Next table Search + t
Next visited link Search + v
Next word Search + Ctrl + Shift + right arrow
Previous button Search + Shift + b
Previous character Search + Shift + left arrow
Previous checkbox Search + Shift + x
Previous combo box Search + Shift + c
Previous editable text area Search + Shift + e
Previous focusable item Shift + Tab
Previous form field Search + Shift + f
Previous graphic Search + Shift + g
Previous group Search + Ctrl + up arrow
Previous heading Search + Shift + h
Previous Level 1 Heading Search + Shift + 1
Previous Level 2 Heading Search + Shift + 2
Previous Level 3 Heading Search + Shift + 3
Previous Level 4 Heading Search + Shift + 4
Previous Level 5 Heading Search + Shift + 5
Previous Level 6 Heading Search + Shift + 6
Previous landmark Search + Shift + ; (semicolon)
Previous line Search + up arrow
Previous link Search + Shift + L
Previous object Search + left arrow
Previous table Search + Shift + t
Previous visited link Search + Shift + v
Previous word Search + Ctrl + Shift + left arrow
Increase the level of detail Search + plus sign
Go to bottom of page Search + Ctrl + right arrow
Go to top of page Search + Ctrl + left arrow

Move through a page with your touchscreen

Previous word Two-finger swipe left
Next word Two-finger swipe right
Go to top of page Two-finger swipe up
Start reading from current location Two-finger swipe down
Click focused item Tap twice
Stop speech Two-finger tap
Previous line Swipe up
Next line Swipe down
Previous character Swipe left
Next character Swipe right
Previous word Two-finger swipe left
Next word Two-finger swipe right
Open most recently visited menu Four-finger tap
Previous menu item Swipe up within menus
Next menu item

Swipe down within menus

Next menu heading Swipe right within menus

Move to different cells in a table

You can move around tables using keyboard shortcuts. To start, make sure your cursor is in the table.

To move your cursor from its current location in a table, press Search + Ctrl + Alt and the arrow keys to move one cell up, down, left, or right.

To go to different cells:

  • First cell in the table: Search + Alt + Shift + left arrow
  • First cell in current row: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + left arrow
  • First cell in current column: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + up arrow
  • Last cell in the table: Search + Alt + Shift + right arrow
  • Last cell in current row: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + right arrow
  • Last cell in current column: Search + Alt + Shift + Ctrl + down arrow
Select and click
  • Move through selectable items, like links and tabs: Tab
  • Move backward through selectable items: Shift + Tab
  • Click: Enter, or press Search + Space
  • Select text: Search + s. At the end of your selection, press Search + s again
Get information about a page
  • Hear title of current page: Search + a, then w
  • Hear URL of current page: Search + a, then u
  • Hear current date & time: Search + a, then d

Change the voice or language

When you first turn on ChromeVox, it automatically chooses a voice based on the language you’ve chosen for your device. To learn how to change your language and voice settings, see Related articles.

Change language
  1. Press and hold Search, then press the letter o twice.
  2. In the Voices section, select Chrome OS. Your default language shows on the button label.
  3. Choose another language from the list. You’ll hear the new language you’ve selected.
  4. When you’re done, press Ctrl + w.
Slow down, speed up, or pause spoken feedback
  • Slow down: Search + Shift + [ (left square bracket)
  • Speed it up: Search + [ (left square bracket)
  • Pause speaking: Ctrl
Change pitch of the ChromeVox voice

On a keyboard:

  • Higher frequency: Search + ] (right square bracket)
  • Lower frequency: Search + Shift + ] (right square bracket)

On a touchscreen:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time to open the status area.
  2. Tap Settings Settings
  3. Scroll down and tap Advanced.
  4. Scroll down to “Accessibility” section and tap Manage accessibility features.
  5. Tap Text-to-speech voice settings.
  6. Next to "Pitch," move the slider to adjust to a higher or lower frequency.

Use ChromeVox keyboard shortcuts

If you're using a tablet, you can access shortcuts commands by using the ChromeVox menus and accessing the commands listed in the Jump menu.

Type shortcuts faster

To avoid pressing Search for each shortcut, quickly press Search twice. You'll know it's on when you hear "Sticky Mode enabled." It will stay on until you press it twice again.

To stop holding down Search, press Search again twice. ChromeVox will say "Sticky Mode disabled."

See lists of shortcuts, change settings, or learn about ChromeVox

See or hide shortcuts

See all possible ChromeVox shortcuts Search + . (period)
Hide shortcuts Esc
Show forms shortcuts Search + Ctrl + f
Show headings shortcuts Search + Ctrl + h
Show landmarks shortcuts Search + Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
Show links shortcuts Search + Ctrl + L
Show table shortcuts Search + Ctrl + t

 

Change spoken feedback settings

Open Search options Search + o, then o
Turn Braille captions on/off Search + a, then b
Find in page Search + / (forward slash)
Start reading from current location Search + r
Turn earcons on or off Search + a, then e
Hear punctuation marks as you type them Search + a, then p
Hear letters as you type them Search + a, then t
Ignore the next key press Search + Shift + Esc

 

Learn more about ChromeVox and your device

Open context menu Search + m
Open Search tutorial Search + o, then t
Hear the names of the keys on your keyboard ("Learn Mode") Search + o, then k. Your keyboard will say the name of any key or key combination you press, and explain what the keyboard shortcut does.
Turn off Learn Mode Ctrl + w
Open update notes Search + o, then n

Send feedback or get help using ChromeVox

  • Chat with other people: Join the ChromeVox-Discuss group
  • Send us feedback about ChromeVox
    In laptop mode: Turn on ChromeVox, press and hold Search, then press a + i.
    In tablet mode: Tap 4 fingers on the screen to open the ChromeVox menus. Then select Report an issue.

Get more help

Using ChromeVox on your Chromebook: Fundamentals

Related articles

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