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NVDA offers extensive configuration options to adapt to your preferences, workflow, and specific needs.

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Accessing Configuration

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NVDA Settings Dialog

The main configuration hub for NVDA. Open: NVDA+Control+G (General settings) or NVDA+N > Preferences > Settings
The settings dialog contains multiple categories. Press Control+Tab to move forward through categories, or Shift+Control+Tab to move backward.

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Quick Settings Shortcuts

Direct access to specific setting categories:
CategoryShortcutDescription
GeneralNVDA+Control+GInterface language, updates, exit options
SpeechNVDA+Control+VSynthesizer, voice, speech parameters
BrailleNVDA+Control+ADisplay selection, braille tables
KeyboardNVDA+Control+KKeyboard layout, typing options
MouseNVDA+Control+MMouse tracking, audio coordinates

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General Settings

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Language

Setting: Language combo box
Default: User Default, Windows Select the language for NVDA’s interface and messages.
NVDA must restart when changing language. You’ll be prompted to restart now or later.
Available languages include:
  • Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Aragonese
  • Bulgarian, Burmese, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional)
  • Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English
  • Finnish, French, Galician, Georgian, German
  • Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic
  • Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Mongolian
  • Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil/Portugal)
  • Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian
  • Spanish (Colombia/Spain), Swedish, Thai, Turkish
  • Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and many more…

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Save and Exit Options

Type: Checkbox
Default: EnabledWhen checked, NVDA automatically saves all settings when you exit.When to disable: Testing temporary settings or configurations
Type: Checkbox
Default: EnabledWhen checked, displays a dialog when exiting with options:
  • Exit NVDA
  • Restart NVDA
  • Restart with add-ons disabled
  • Restart with debug logging
  • Install pending updates
When to disable: For faster exit without confirmation
Type: Checkbox
Default: EnabledPlay startup and shutdown sounds as audio confirmation.

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Startup Behavior

1

Start after sign-in

Enable to launch NVDA automatically after logging into Windows.Requirement: Installed copy only (not portable)
2

Use during sign-in

Enable to run NVDA on the Windows login screen.Requirement: Administrator privileges
3

Copy settings to system

Click to apply current settings to secure screens (login, UAC).Important: Save configuration (Control+NVDA+C) before copying

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Updates

Default: EnabledNVDA periodically checks for new versions and notifies you.Information sent:
  • Current NVDA version
  • Operating system version
  • Processor architecture (x86/x64/ARM64)
Shows notification on startup if an update is ready to install.
Specify an alternative server for updates.Use when:
  • NV Access server is slow or blocked
  • Organization requires internal update server
  • Located in region with access restrictions
Set mirror: Click “Change” button and enter URL

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Keyboard Settings

Access: NVDA+Control+K

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Keyboard Layout

Choose between Desktop and Laptop layouts:
Best for: Full-size keyboards with numeric keypadFeatures:
  • Uses numpad extensively for navigation
  • More efficient for power users
  • Requires Num Lock off for NVDA commands
  • Clear spatial organization of commands
Best for: Laptops and keyboards without numpadFeatures:
  • Uses alternative key combinations
  • Works on any keyboard
  • No Num Lock dependency
  • More modifier key combinations

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Typing Feedback

Shortcut: NVDA+2NVDA speaks each character as you type it.Options:
  • Enabled: Speak all typed characters
  • Disabled: No character echo
Shortcut: NVDA+3NVDA speaks complete words when you press Space or Enter.Best for: Verifying word spelling without character-by-character feedback
Determines whether typing interrupts current speech.Enabled: Typing stops speech immediately
Disabled: Speech continues while typing
Shortcut: NVDA+4NVDA announces non-character keys:
  • Modifier keys (Control, Shift, Alt)
  • Function keys (F1-F12)
  • Navigation keys (arrows, Page Up/Down)
  • Special keys (Enter, Escape, Tab)
Best for: Learning keyboard commands and verifying input

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Special Key Handling

Allow NVDA to intercept keyboard shortcuts from other programs.Use case: Some applications like remote desktop need this enabled
Enable Caps Lock as an additional NVDA modifier key.Benefits:
  • Easier to reach than Insert
  • Better ergonomics for frequent commands
  • Works alongside Insert key
Note: Press Caps Lock twice quickly to toggle caps lock state

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Mouse Settings

Access: NVDA+Control+M

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Mouse Tracking

Shortcut: NVDA+MNVDA announces text under the mouse pointer as you move it.Reading modes:
  • Paragraph: Reads surrounding paragraph
  • Line: Reads only the current line
Best for: Exploring visual interfaces, finding screen elements
Announces the control type (button, link, edit field) under the mouse.Best for: Understanding interface layout without seeing the screen
Plays tones to indicate mouse position:
  • Pitch: Vertical position (higher = top, lower = bottom)
  • Stereo pan: Horizontal position (left/right speaker)
Brightness: Volume indicates proximity to centerBest for: Precise mouse positioning, screen exploration

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Mouse Settings Options

SettingDescription
ResolutionHow often NVDA reports mouse movement (lower = more frequent)
Shape indicationReport mouse cursor shape changes
Role announcementAnnounce control types under mouse

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Document Reading

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Document Formatting

Access: NVDA Settings > Document Formatting Control what formatting information NVDA reports:

Font Attributes

  • Font name
  • Font size
  • Bold, italic, underline
  • Strikethrough
  • Subscript/superscript

Text Properties

  • Color
  • Background color
  • Highlighting
  • Text style changes

Document Information

  • Headings
  • Lists
  • Block quotes
  • Groupings
  • Landmarks

Page Elements

  • Links
  • Tables
  • Comments
  • Editor revisions
  • Spelling errors
Quick toggle: Press NVDA+Control+D to temporarily toggle document formatting

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Table Reporting

Announce when entering and exiting tables.
Options:
  • Rows and Columns
  • Rows only
  • Columns only
  • Off
Announces header cells as you navigate table content.
Speaks cell position (e.g., “Row 3, Column 2”) when navigating tables.

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Reading Preferences

Switch synthesizer language based on document language metadata.Requires: Synthesizer voices in multiple languages
Present document content spatially as it appears visually.Effects:
  • Preserves column layout
  • Maintains visual spacing
  • Shows aligned elements
Best for: Forms, tables, formatted documents

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Vision Settings

Even for screen reader users, visual highlighting can help sighted collaborators:

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Visual Highlight

Access: NVDA Settings > Vision
Draws a colored rectangle around:
  • System focus
  • Navigator object
  • Browse mode cursor
Colors configurable for each element
Blacks out the screen for privacy:Toggle: NVDA+Control+EscapeUse cases:
  • Privacy in public spaces
  • Presentations about screen readers
  • Testing true non-visual workflow
Screen curtain disables all visual output. Ensure you can navigate by sound before enabling!

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Input Gestures

Access: NVDA Menu > Preferences > Input Gestures Customize or add keyboard shortcuts for any NVDA command.
1

Find Command

Browse the tree view or use the search field to find the command you want to customize.
2

Add Gesture

Select the command and click “Add”. Press the key combination you want to assign.
3

Remove Gesture

Select an existing gesture and click “Remove” to delete the assignment.
4

Save Changes

Click “OK” to save your custom gestures.
Command categories:
  • Browse mode
  • Global commands
  • Input
  • Object navigation
  • Speech
  • System caret
  • Text review
  • Vision
  • Application-specific
You can assign multiple gestures to the same command, or leave commands unassigned until you need them.

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Configuration Profiles

Create different configurations for different situations:

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Profile Types

Active: Always (unless overridden)Your default settings used in most applications.
Active: When specific application has focusExamples:
  • Different speech rate for web browsers
  • Specific braille settings for text editors
  • Custom keyboard commands for particular apps
Active: When explicitly enabledExamples:
  • “Presentation mode” with slower speech
  • “Quiet mode” with minimal verbosity
  • “Braille only” mode for library use

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Managing Profiles

1

Open Profile Manager

Press NVDA+N > Preferences > Configuration Profiles
2

Create Profile

Click “New” and choose:
  • Profile name
  • Activation type (manual/application)
  • Application to trigger (if application profile)
3

Edit Profile

Select profile, click “Edit”. All setting changes apply only to this profile.
4

Use Profile

For manual profiles, select and click “Manual activate”
Profile settings override normal configuration. Changes to settings while a profile is active modify that profile, not your normal configuration.

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Advanced Settings

Advanced settings should only be changed if you understand their implications. Incorrect settings may cause instability.

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Notable Advanced Options

Use UI Automation to access Microsoft Word documents: Enabled by default on Windows 11Provides better performance and accessibility in modern Office versions.
Maximum characters per page: Controls memory vs. responsiveness trade-offHigher values = more memory, faster navigation
Lower values = less memory, more loading pauses
Enable logging levels:
  • Info
  • Debug
  • Input/Output
Use for: Troubleshooting, bug reporting
Debug logging significantly impacts performance and generates large log files.
Play sound when NVDA encounters an error.Best for: Developers, troubleshooting

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Saving and Restoring Configuration

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Save Configuration

Save current settings: Control+NVDA+C Also accessible via NVDA Menu > Preferences > Save Configuration
Some settings like window position and certain states are always saved on exit regardless of this setting.

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Revert Configuration

Revert to saved: NVDA+Control+R (press three times) Restores settings to last saved state, discarding all changes since then.

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Reset to Defaults

From NVDA menu:
1

Open Preferences

Press NVDA+N, then P for Preferences
2

Reset to Defaults

Select “Reset to Factory Defaults”
3

Confirm Reset

Confirm that you want to delete all custom settings
4

Restart NVDA

NVDA restarts with default settings
Resetting to defaults permanently deletes all customizations, including profiles, dictionaries, and custom gestures. This cannot be undone.

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Configuration Files Location

NVDA stores settings in: Installed version:
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\nvda\ Portable version:
[NVDA folder]\userConfig\ Important files:
  • nvda.ini - Main configuration
  • profiles/ - Configuration profiles
  • speechDicts/ - Speech dictionaries
  • gestures.ini - Custom input gestures
  • addons/ - Installed add-ons
Backup the userConfig folder regularly to preserve your customizations.

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Import and Export Settings

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Export Configuration

1

Create Portable Copy

NVDA Menu > Tools > Create Portable Copy
2

Include Current Config

Check “Copy current user configuration” option
3

Save Location

Choose destination folder (USB drive, network location, etc.)

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Import Configuration

1

Install NVDA

Run installer or launch portable copy
2

Copy Config Files

Manually copy files from backup to userConfig folder
3

Restart NVDA

Restart to apply imported settings

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Tips for Effective Configuration

Start Simple

Begin with defaults, then customize gradually as you discover needs

Use Profiles

Create profiles for different tasks rather than constantly changing settings

Backup Regularly

Export configuration before major changes or system updates

Test Thoroughly

Try new settings in non-critical situations before committing

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Next Steps

Keyboard Commands

Learn all available keyboard shortcuts

Add-ons

Extend NVDA with community add-ons

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