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NVDA provides multiple navigation methods to efficiently explore applications, documents, and the Windows interface.

System Focus

Standard keyboard navigation using Tab, Arrow keys, and shortcuts

Object Navigation

Navigate the hierarchical structure of interface elements

Text Review

Review text character by character, word by word, or line by line

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System Focus Navigation

The system focus is the interface element that receives keyboard input. NVDA automatically announces focused elements as you navigate.

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Basic Focus Navigation

ActionKeystrokeDescription
Next controlTabMove to the next interactive control
Previous controlShift+TabMove to the previous control
Menu accessAltAccess application menu bar
Menu navigationArrow keysNavigate menu items
Application switchAlt+TabSwitch between running applications

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Reporting Focus Information

Keystroke: NVDA+TabReports the current control with focus including:
  • Control name
  • Control type (button, edit field, checkbox, etc.)
  • Current value or state
  • Position information
Press twice to spell the information.
Desktop: Shift+Numpad 2
Laptop: NVDA+Control+Shift+PeriodReports the shortcut (accelerator) key for the focused control, if available.

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Object Navigation

Object navigation allows you to explore interface elements hierarchically, accessing elements that may not be keyboard accessible.

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Understanding Objects

Applications consist of objects organized in a hierarchy:
  • Containing objects: Parent elements (windows, toolbars, lists)
  • Contained objects: Child elements (buttons, list items)
  • Sibling objects: Elements at the same level

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Object Navigation Commands

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Desktop Layout (Numpad)

Requires Num Lock to be OFF.
CommandKeyDescription
Report current objectNumpad 5Announces the navigator object
Move to containing objectNumpad 8Move to parent object
Move to first contained objectNumpad 2Move to first child object
Move to previous objectNumpad 4Move to previous sibling
Move to next objectNumpad 6Move to next sibling
Move to focus objectNumpad MinusJump to the focused object
Activate objectNumpad EnterClick or activate the object

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Laptop Layout

CommandKeysDescription
Report current objectNVDA+Shift+OAnnounces the navigator object
Move to containing objectNVDA+Shift+UpMove to parent object
Move to first contained objectNVDA+Shift+DownMove to first child object
Move to previous objectNVDA+Shift+LeftMove to previous sibling
Move to next objectNVDA+Shift+RightMove to next sibling
Move to focus objectNVDA+BackspaceJump to the focused object
Activate objectNVDA+EnterClick or activate the object

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Flattened View Navigation

For linear navigation through all objects:
CommandDesktopLaptop
Next in flattened viewNumpad 9NVDA+Shift+]
Previous in flattened viewNumpad 3NVDA+Shift+[
Flattened view navigation automatically enters containers and navigates through all objects sequentially, making it easier to explore unfamiliar interfaces.

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Text Review

Text review allows you to read screen content by character, word, or line without moving the system cursor.

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Review Commands Grid (Desktop Layout)

Think of the numpad as a 3x3 grid:
PreviousCurrentNext
LineNumpad 7Numpad 8Numpad 9
WordNumpad 4Numpad 5Numpad 6
CharacterNumpad 1Numpad 2Numpad 3
Special commands:
  • Shift+Numpad 7: Move to top line
  • Shift+Numpad 9: Move to bottom line
  • Shift+Numpad 1: Move to start of line
  • Shift+Numpad 3: Move to end of line
  • Numpad Plus: Say all from current position

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Laptop Layout Text Review

CommandKeysDescription
Previous lineNVDA+UpMove up one line
Current lineNVDA+Shift+PeriodRead current line
Next lineNVDA+DownMove down one line
Previous wordNVDA+Control+LeftMove to previous word
Current wordNVDA+Control+PeriodRead current word
Next wordNVDA+Control+RightMove to next word
Previous characterNVDA+LeftMove to previous character
Current characterNVDA+PeriodRead current character
Next characterNVDA+RightMove to next character
Say all with reviewNVDA+Shift+ARead from current position

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Copy from Review Cursor

1

Set Start Marker

Navigate to the start position and press NVDA+F9
2

Set End Marker

Navigate to the end position and press NVDA+F10 once. Text is selected.
3

Copy to Clipboard

Press NVDA+F10 again to copy the selected text to the clipboard

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Review Modes

NVDA offers three review modes for different contexts:

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Object Review

Reviews content within the current navigator object only. Best for:
  • Reading text in specific controls
  • Examining individual interface elements
  • Reading list item content

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Document Review

Reviews the entire document or web page. Best for:
  • Reading web pages
  • Reviewing complete documents
  • Navigating complex content
NVDA automatically switches to document review when browsing web pages.

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Screen Review

Reviews text as it appears visually on screen. Best for:
  • Reading visually rendered text
  • Accessing legacy applications
  • Reading text that other methods miss
Screen review may not work with modern applications using newer graphics technologies.

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Switching Review Modes

CommandDesktopLaptop
Next review modeNVDA+Numpad 7NVDA+Page Up
Previous review modeNVDA+Numpad 1NVDA+Page Down

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Browse Mode

Browse mode presents complex documents as flat, navigable text. It’s used for:
  • Web pages (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer)
  • Email messages (Outlook, Thunderbird)
  • PDF documents (Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader)
  • Microsoft Word documents (optional)
  • Kindle books

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Browse vs Focus Mode

Purpose: Navigate and read content efficientlyFeatures:
  • Cursor keys move through text like a document
  • Single letter navigation for quick jumping
  • All text review commands available
  • Virtual representation optimized for reading
Indicator: NVDA announces “Browse mode”
Purpose: Interact with form controls and editable fieldsFeatures:
  • Keys pass directly to the application
  • Type in edit fields
  • Use form controls normally
  • Select items from combo boxes
Indicator: NVDA announces “Focus mode” with a rising tone

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Mode Switching

ActionKeystrokeDescription
Toggle modesNVDA+SpaceManually switch between browse and focus mode
Exit focus modeEscapeReturn to browse mode
Refresh documentNVDA+F5Reload browse mode document
NVDA automatically switches to focus mode when you tab to editable controls, and back to browse mode for non-editable content.

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Single Letter Navigation

Quickly jump to elements in browse mode:
KeyElementExample Use
HHeadingNavigate page structure
1-6Heading levelsJump to specific heading levels
KLinkFind clickable links
FForm fieldLocate edit boxes, buttons
TTableNavigate to data tables
LListFind bulleted or numbered lists
DLandmarkJump to ARIA landmarks
EEdit fieldLocate text input fields
BButtonFind clickable buttons
XCheckboxLocate checkboxes
CCombo boxFind dropdown menus
RRadio buttonLocate radio buttons
GGraphicNavigate to images
Add Shift to any single letter key to navigate backwards (e.g., Shift+H for previous heading).

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Elements List

Access a searchable list of page elements: Open Elements List: NVDA+F7 Available lists:
  • Links
  • Headings
  • Form fields
  • Buttons
  • Landmarks
1

Open List

Press NVDA+F7 to open the elements list
2

Choose Type

Use radio buttons to select element type (links, headings, etc.)
3

Filter (Optional)

Type in the search field to filter the list
4

Navigate

Select an item and press Enter to jump to it, or Activate to click it

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Table Navigation

Special commands for navigating data tables:
CommandDesktopLaptopDescription
Next columnControl+Alt+RightControl+Alt+RightMove right in same row
Previous columnControl+Alt+LeftControl+Alt+LeftMove left in same row
Next rowControl+Alt+DownControl+Alt+DownMove down in same column
Previous rowControl+Alt+UpControl+Alt+UpMove up in same column
First columnControl+Alt+HomeControl+Alt+HomeJump to first column
Last columnControl+Alt+EndControl+Alt+EndJump to last column
First rowControl+Alt+Page UpControl+Alt+Page UpJump to first row
Last rowControl+Alt+Page DownControl+Alt+Page DownJump to last row
Say all in columnNVDA+Control+Alt+DownNVDA+Control+Alt+DownRead column downward
Say all in rowNVDA+Control+Alt+RightNVDA+Control+Alt+RightRead row rightward
Read entire columnNVDA+Control+Alt+UpNVDA+Control+Alt+UpRead full column without moving
Read entire rowNVDA+Control+Alt+LeftNVDA+Control+Alt+LeftRead full row without moving

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Mouse Navigation

NVDA can report text under the mouse pointer and provide audio coordinates.

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Mouse Tracking

Enable/Disable: NVDA+M When enabled, NVDA announces:
  • Text under the mouse pointer
  • Object type (optional, enable in settings)
  • Audio coordinates (optional, enable in settings)

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Mouse Emulation

ActionDesktopLaptopDescription
Left clickNumpad DivideNVDA+[Click left button
Left lockShift+Numpad DivideNVDA+Control+[Lock left button for dragging
Right clickNumpad MultiplyNVDA+]Open context menu
Right lockShift+Numpad MultiplyNVDA+Control+]Lock right button
Move to navigator objectNVDA+Numpad DivideNVDA+Shift+MMove mouse to object
Navigate to mouse positionNVDA+Numpad MultiplyNVDA+Shift+NSet navigator to object under mouse

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Touch Gestures

On touchscreen devices, NVDA supports touch navigation:

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Basic Touch Gestures

GestureAction
Single tapAnnounce item under finger
Double tapActivate item
Flick rightNext item
Flick leftPrevious item
Flick downNext line (text mode)
Flick upPrevious line (text mode)
2-finger tapStop speech
2-finger double tapOpen NVDA menu
3-finger tapToggle touch modes

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Touch Modes

Navigate and read text:
  • Flick up/down: Previous/next line
  • Flick left/right: Previous/next character
  • 2-finger flick left/right: Previous/next word
Navigate objects:
  • Flick up: Containing object
  • Flick down: First contained object
  • Flick left/right: Previous/next object in flattened view
Toggle touch support: NVDA+Control+Alt+T

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Search Functions

Find text in documents and web pages:
1

Open Find Dialog

Press NVDA+Control+F
2

Enter Search Text

Type the text you want to find
3

Find Next

Press NVDA+F3 to find the next occurrence
4

Find Previous

Press NVDA+Shift+F3 to find the previous occurrence
Check “Case sensitive” to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters in searches.

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Tips for Efficient Navigation

Learn Single Letters

Master single letter navigation for fastest web browsing

Use Elements List

Press NVDA+F7 to quickly find links and headings

Try Review Modes

Experiment with different review modes for stubborn content

Combine Techniques

Use object navigation to reach areas, then text review to read

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