The following list of JAWS keyboard commands or keyboard shortcuts help anyone working in the area of digital accessibility as a reference document. This document also helps developers to check for screen reader conflicts while implementing access keys. These JAWS keyboard commands should work on all Windows based browsers. See the Maxability recommended screen reader Vs browser combination for accessibility.
This document is not an exhaustive list of JAWS keyboard commands. You may want to read the help document supplied with the software for complete information.
JAWS is a commercial screen reader by FreedomScientific. If you have not already downloaded the JAWS screen reader for windows, Go to JAWS download page, however read the Freedom scientific terms and conditions of using the software.
Basic JAWS Commands
| Action | Key command |
|---|---|
| Turn on JAWS | Type JAWS with version in run (Windows key + r) |
| Turn off JAWS | Insert + F4 |
| Open JAWS settings menu | Insert + J, then alt key |
| Stop JAWS from speaking | Control |
| Pause or resume JAWS from speaking | Shift |
| Decrease JAWS rate of speaking | Control + Alt + Page Down |
| Increase JAWS rate of speaking | Control + Alt + Page Up |
| Refresh JAWS buffer | Insert + Escape |
JAWS commands for web
| Action | Key Command |
| Read title of the page | Innsert + T |
| Go to top of the page | Control + Home |
| Go to bottom of the page | Control + End |
| Read from current position to end of the page | Insert + Down arrow |
| Read next line | Down arrow |
| Read previous line | Up arrow |
| Switch mode from browse to forms and vice versa | Insert + Z |
| Go to next actionable control | Tab |
| Go to previous actionable control | Shift + Tab |
| Go to next heading | H (only in browse mode) |
| Go to previous heading | Shift + H (only in browse mode) |
| Go to specific level of heading | 1 to 6 (only in browse mode, alphabet keyboard) |
| Open the headings list dialog | Insert + F6 |
| Go to next form control | F (only in browse mode) |
| Go to previous form control | Shift + F (only in browse mode) |
| Open the forms list dialog | Insert + F5 |
| Go to next landmark or region | R (only in browse mode) |
| Go to previous landmark or region | Shift + R (only in browse mode) |
| Go to next list | L (only in brose mode) |
| Go to previous list | Shift + L (only in browse mode) |
| Go to next table | T (only in browse mode) |
| Go to previous table | Shift + T (only in browse mode) |
| Navigate between the cells in a table | Control + Alt + Directional keys. |
| Go to first cell in the table | Control + Alt + Home |
| Go to last cell in the table | Control + Alt + End |
| Open the links list dialog | Insert + F7 |
| Select or deselect checkbox | Space Key |
| Open dropdown, autocomplete | Alt + Down arrow |
| Select radio button or options in dropdown | Up and Down arrow when the focus is in the control |
Few other JAWS keyboard commands
All the following keyboard commands only work in browse mode. Adding shift with the command executes the previous occurrence of the UI control. For example, letter ‘b’ navigates to the next button on the page, shift + b navigates to previous button on the page.
| Action | Keyboard Command |
|---|---|
| Next image | G |
| Next list item | I |
| Next edit box | E |
| Next radio button | A |
| Next checkbox | X |
| Next combo box | C |
| Next button | B |
| Next visited link | V |
| Next unvisited Link | U |