# Getting started with NVDA

DevFeed: [Getting started with NVDA](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/getting-started-with-nvda-9387.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://a11yproject.com/posts/getting-started-with-nvda/>)

Author: Scott Vinkle

Published: 2015-05-29T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [The A11Y Project](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-a11y-project.md>)

Topics: [Windows](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/windows.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Firefox](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/firefox.md>), [Chrome](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/chrome.md>), [web browsers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/web-browsers.md>)

Tags: [browsers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/browsers.md>), [chrome](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chrome.md>), [firefox](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/firefox.md>), [getting-started](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/getting-started.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [testing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/testing.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial introduces NVDA, a free and open source screen reader for Windows. It explains installation, startup and exit commands, the modifier key, text-reading shortcuts, element navigation, advanced navigation with NVDA + F7, descriptive output, and styling considerations for visible focus indicators.

## Source excerpt

NVDA is a free and open source screen reader from NVAccess. It is available for the Windows operating system and officially supports Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome web browsers. There is also a ton of braille display support! NVDA is available for download here: nvaccess.org/download After everything is installed you can press Ctrl + Alt + n to start NVDA. Quitting NVDA is done by pressing NVDA + q, then Enter at the prompt. The NVDA modifier key Each screen reader has a special key or key combination to perform tasks. NVDA's default keyboard modifier key is the Insert key. So, for example, to start reading a web page, you could press Insert + Down Arrow. As an option, if you are using a laptop you can also use the caps lock key as a modifier. This can be set in the Preferences > Keyboard settings... menu. Reading text Here are some basic shortcuts to read text using NVDA. Command Description Ctrl Stop reading NVDA + Down arrow Start reading from current position NVDA + Up arrow Read current line Ctrl + Left/right arrow Read previous/next word Ctrl + Up/down arrow Read previous/next paragraph Up / Down arrow Read previous/next line Left / Right arrow Read previous/next character Shortcut keys These shortcut keys can be used to quickly jump between specific elements on a page. Elements can be cycled through backwards by holding shift, then press the shortcut key. Key Description Tab Move to next focusable element d Navigate through landmarks k Navigate through links h Navigate through headings 1 - 6 Navigate through headings level 1 to 6 f Navigate through forms t Navigate through tables Ctrl + Alt + Up / Down / Left / Right arrow Navigate table content b Navigate through buttons l Navigate through lists i Navigate through list items g Navigate through graphics / images Advanced navigation By pressing NVDA + F7, NVDA displays a listing of all elements on the page. This is helpful to quickly skip to a specific area or element on the page. It also helps with te