# Getting started with Orca screen reader on Gnome desktop environment on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

DevFeed: [Getting started with Orca screen reader on Gnome desktop environment on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/getting-started-with-orca-screen-reader-on-gnome-desktop-environment-on-ubuntu-20-04-lts-9388.md>)

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

Author: Joseph Mawa

Published: 2021-09-03T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

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

Topics: [Ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ubuntu.md>), [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/terminal.md>), [GUI](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/gui.md>), [dialog](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/dialog.md>)

Tags: [article](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/article.md>), [desktop](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/desktop.md>), [dialog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/dialog.md>), [distribution](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/distribution.md>), [documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/documentation.md>), [feature](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/feature.md>), [free](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/free.md>), [getting-started](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/getting-started.md>), [laptop](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/laptop.md>), [launch](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/launch.md>), [learn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learn.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [lts](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/lts.md>), [open](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terminal.md>), [third-party](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/third-party.md>), [ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial introduces the Orca screen reader on the GNOME desktop environment in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It explains several ways to launch Orca, discusses accessibility of applications, describes its desktop and laptop keyboard layouts and modifier keys, and introduces Learn Mode for discovering commands and documentation.

## Source excerpt

Introduction to Orca Orca is a free, open-source screen reader developed under the GNOME project. Several Linux distributions have it installed by default. This article will introduce you to the basics of Orca on Gnome desktop environment on Ubuntu version 20.04 LTS. There might be some slight variations if you are using a different desktop environment or using GNOME on a different Linux distribution. You need to consult the manual for your Linux distribution or desktop environment. Launching Orca There are three ways you can launch Orca on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Below are the descriptions of these three methods. Use the keyboard shortcut Super + Alt + S. Type orca on a terminal window and then press the Return key. Alternatively, you can type orca in the Run dialog and press the Return key. You can use the key combination Alt + F2 to open the Run dialog and the ESC key to close it. If you launch Orca using the Run dialog, you can close it by typing the command pkill orca or killall orca on the terminal or in the the Run dialog and then pressing the Return key. Open the Settings dialog and then select Universal access. You can then toggle the screen reader on or off. After launching Orca, it will immediately announce the title of the topmost open application window if it is accessible to Orca. Though most applications that come pre-installed with the Gnome desktop environment are accessible, some third-party applications installed by you may not be accessible to Orca. The Orca Modifier keys The modifier key used by Orca depends on the keyboard layout. Orca has two keyboard layouts, namely: Desktop keyboard layout Laptop keyboard layout The Desktop keyboard layout is the default keyboard layout. Its Modifier key is the key combination Insert + KP_Insert. KP_Insert is the same as KP_0. If it is your first time using Orca, most likely you are in the Desktop keyboard layout. The modifier key for the Laptop layout is CapsLock . You can change the keyboard layout from the pref