How to use Narrator in Windows 10

admin July 25, 2019

0 318 5 minutes read

Windows 10, much the same as its ancestor, offers Narrator feature. The feature helps those needing help with vision, hearing, or aptitude debilitations. It can support older folks or the individuals who have skill and versatility disabilities by birth. In this guide, I will share how you can use the Narrator in Windows 10.

How to use the Narrator in Windows 10

The Narrator is a worked in apparatus that can be used to read text aloud. It is a built-in accessibility feature. It can peruse out content on the PC, reports, settings, occasions that occur on the PC, i.e., when you mood killer the volume or snap on catch more data about it is stood up. It is valuable for the individuals who have an issue with their vision and can assist them with using the PC.

How to start Narrator in Windows
How to turn off Narrator in Windows
What is the Narrator key
Narrator Settings
- Start-up Options
- Personalize Narrators Voice
- Choose what Narrator can read
- Choose what you hear while typing
- Create your commands using Keyboard Settings
Windows 10 Narrator keyboard shortcuts

1] How to start Narrator in Windows

If you need Narrator often, it is best to set it to launch right when Windows Start. It will make sure there is no need to launch it every time you log in to the computer. However, if its the first time, use Win+Ctrl+Enter to launch narrator instantly, and choose to Start Narrator after sign-in.

2] How to turn off Narrator in Windows

To exit the narrator press Caps Lock+Esc. If you only wanted to pause the reading, you can press Ctrl and resume back reading with Caps Lock+M.

3] What is the Narrator Key?

In Windows 10, Caps Lock key or INSERT key is the Narrator key.

4] Narrator Settings

That said, since you will be using the Narrator, it is best to set it up, so it meets your requirements. The first thing you should do is to make sure the Narrator starts minimized. The option is available right up front in the Narrator windows—uncheck the box which says, “Show Narrator home when the narrator starts.”

Then click on Settings icon or use Windows Key + Control + N to open it directly. Then follow these to setup:

a] Start-up Options

Enable disable the Narrator shortcut
Start of Narrator after sign-in for logged-in user or all of them
Show or Hide the Narrator home
Minimize the Narrator to the system tray

b] Personalize Narrators Voice

The settings here allow you to configure the Narrator to be effective. You can change the default voice, speed, voice pitch, and volume. You can choose to lower the volume of other apps.

If you have multiple audio devices, you can choose the output of the device. To control the volume of the Narrator use Caps Lock+Page Up to increase or Caps Lock+Page Down to decrease voice volume.

c] Choose what Narrator can read

Narrator by default reads everything you click, press on the keyboard, or move using the keyboard. While it is good to have all options turned on, but as you get used to it, make sure to turn off what you do not need.

There are five levels from which you can choose.

Text only
Some control details
All control details
Some text details
All text details

You can switch between them using Narrator key + V to switch between them. Then you can make choices for emphasis for formatted text, phonetics, punctuation pause, hear advanced details, and so on.

Similarly, you can change the level of contextual provider buttons, gear hints on how to interact with certain things on Windows and audio cues.

d] Choose what you hear while typing

The narrator keeps prompting as you type. It can be annoying. If you are good with the keyboard, you can remove some of the features.

I would suggest turning off the option to speak out every word and keep it to the only function keys, such as Function keys, Shift, Alt, and so on.

Create your commands using Keyboard Settings

Use these settings you can change keyboard layout, lock the narrator key, and lastly create your commands. The last two options are very useful if you find multiple key combinations challenging to remember. Click on Create your commands link, and then change accordingly.

Lastly, you can use Braille with Narrator. You need to install the software that lets the computer communicate with it.