This chapter provides information about how to use a braille display with Narrator. It includes info about how to install braille on your PC, navigate your PC, and read text.
Narrator supports braille displays from several manufacturers. To learn more about which braille displays are supported, including specific key commands for each display, refer to Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Note: As part of the Windows 11, version 22H2 release, we have added support for more braille displays and additional support for the use of your braille display with Narrator and with third-party screen readers. If you do not find these newly supported braille displays after upgrading the braille support, refer to February 28, 2023—KB5022913 (OS Build 22621.1343) Preview, which explains the delivery mechanism for these features.
Install braille for Narrator
Narrator works with braille displays that use a USB or serial port. Bluetooth support is not available when using your braille display with Narrator. Review the braille installation sections below fully before proceeding.
Prerequisites: Upgrade Narrator’s braille support
If braille has been installed for use with Narrator in the past on your device, follow these steps to remove the older braille support.
-
To open Settings, press Windows logo key + I.
-
Select Apps, and then go to Optional features > Installed features.
-
Search for Accessibility – Braille support.
-
Expand Accessibility – Braille support, and then uninstall the feature.
Install Narrator’s braille support
-
To open Narrator settings, press Windows logo key + Ctrl + N.
-
Select the Use a braille display with Narrator button to open Narrator’s braille page.
-
Select the Download and install Braille button to proceed with the installation. It might take some time to download braille.
-
When the download is complete, you will be prompted to restart your system. Restart, log back in to your device, and then return to Narrator settings.
Note: This is a requirement for braille to function on your device.
-
In the Braille section of Narrator settings, turn on the Turn on braille switch.
-
Add your braille display. Select Add a braille display and then choose your braille display manufacturer and connection type (USB or serial port).
-
If you are not using a third-party screen reader, the installation of Narrator’s braille support is now complete. If you are using a third-party screen reader with your braille display, such as JAWS for Windows or NVDA, proceed to the next section to finalize your installation of braille with Narrator.
Using your braille display with other screen readers
Note: If you have JAWS for Windows version 2022, check which 2022 build you have. If you have the April Update (JAWS 2022.2204.20) or later, including JAWS 2023, you can skip this procedure.
If you already use your braille display with another screen reader, you might need to change the driver Windows uses to communicate with your display.
-
Go to Narrator settings, select the Use a braille display with Narrator button, and then select an option under Braille display driver.
-
Select the braille display driver used by your third-party screen reader so that you can seamlessly switch between Narrator and your third-party screen reader with your braille display.
Note: You only need to change your driver if a different driver is installed for your braille display. If you’re not sure, contact your braille display manufacturer.
Uninstalling braille
To remove Narrator braille from your PC:
-
To open Settings, press Windows logo key + I.
-
Select Apps, and then go to Optional features > Installed features.
-
Search for Accessibility – Braille support.
-
Expand Accessibility – Braille support, and then uninstall the feature.
-
After braille support is removed, restart the device.
Change braille settings
Manage your braille preferences in Narrator settings.
-
In the Braille section of Narrator settings, select the Use a braille display with Narrator button to open the braille settings.
-
To turn on braille support, select the Turn on braille switch.
-
Choose from the following options to configure your braille display:
-
Use the "Show all settings" button on the right side of the Add a braille display button to check what braille displays and drivers are in use on your system.
-
Language for input and output
-
Table type for input and output (grade 1, grade 2, or 8 dot computer braille)
-
Notification timeout
-
How the cursor is displayed and if you want the cursor to blink on your braille display
-
Using braille at the login screen
If you want to use a serial braille display before you log in, to ensure that Narrator is aware of your braille display, do the following:
-
To open Narrator settings, press Windows logo key + Ctrl + N.
-
Go to the Manage data and services section of Narrator settings, and select the Sync Settings button.
This will promote Narrator settings for speech and braille so that these settings can be used before logging into your system.
Core Narrator commands
Most braille displays can perform 12 Narrator commands to navigate and interact with apps. And supported displays with a braille keyboard can use it for entering text, or performing familiar single-letter scan mode commands. These 12 core commands are listed in the table below.
Note: To quickly dismiss a flash message or notification using a braille display, pan the length of the message. And if you’d like to change the amount of time a notification or flash message is displayed, you can do that in Settings.
Tip: The Narrator key is a modifier key in the Narrator commands. Both the Caps lock key and the Insert key serve as your Narrator key by default. For more info on the Narrator key, go to Chapter 2: Narrator basics or Appendix B: Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures.
|
Narrator command |
Keyboard equivalent |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary action |
Narrator + Enter |
Often described as “click.” |
|
Secondary action |
Shift + Enter in scan mode |
Often “select” or “expand” depending on the control. |
|
Display context menu |
Shift + F10 or the Windows Menu key |
Shows a menu of additional actions. |
|
Pan braille right |
N/A |
Displays the next set of characters from the current line. At end, performs Braille next. |
|
Pan braille left |
N/A |
Displays the previous set of characters from the current line. At beginning, performs Braille previous. |
|
Braille Next* |
Narrator + Right |
Displays the next item in the current navigation mode. |
|
Braille Previous* |
Narrator + Left |
Displays the previous item in the current navigation mode. |
|
Braille home* |
Home in scan mode |
Go to beginning of line. |
|
Braille end* |
End in scan mode |
Go to end of line. |
|
Braille first* |
Ctrl + Home in scan mode |
Go to first line. |
|
Braille last* |
Ctrl + End in scan mode |
Go to last line. |
|
Select navigation mode |
Narrator + Page Up/Page Down |
Perform this command, then use braille next/previous to choose a new navigation mode and perform primary action to select the new mode. |
Note that braille next, previous, home, end, first, and last all change with the current navigation mode. For example, with a navigation mode of paragraph:
-
Next/previous will navigate to the next/previous paragraph
-
Home/end will navigate to the beginning/end of the current paragraph
-
First/last will navigate to the first/last paragraph.
You can find the mapping for a specific braille display in Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Braille keyboard commands
If your braille display has a braille keyboard, you can use it to enter text or do the following commands. The command to toggle the keyboard is Space + Dots 1-3.
Use the following commands for keyboard input.
|
Braille dots |
Narrator command |
|---|---|
|
1-2-3-4 or 1-2-3-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous paragraph |
|
1-2-5 or 1-2-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading |
|
2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous table |
|
1-3 or 1-3-7 |
Go to the next or previous link |
|
2-4 or 2-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous item |
|
1-4-5 or 1-4-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous landmark |
|
1-2-4 or 1-2-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous form field |
|
1-2 or 1-2-7 |
Go to the next or previous button |
|
1-4 or 1-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous combo box |
|
1-5 or 1-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous edit field |
|
1-2-3-5 or 1-2-3-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous radio button |
|
1-3-4-6 or 1-3-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous checkbox |
|
1-6 or 1-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 1 |
|
1-2-6 or 1-2-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 2 |
|
1-4-6 or 1-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 3 |
|
1-4-5-6 or 1-4-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 4 |
|
1-5-6 or 1-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 5 |
|
1-2-4-6 or 1-2-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 6 |
|
1-2-4-5-6 or 1-2-4-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 7 |
|
1-2-5-6 or 1-2-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 8 |
|
2-4-6 or 2-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 9 |
|
Space + 1-2-3 |
Turn on input learning, press twice to turn off |
|
2-3-4 or 2-3-4-7 |
Read by sentence |
Use the following commands for keyboard input.
|
Braille dots |
Keyboard input |
|---|---|
|
Space + 4-5 |
Tab key |
|
Space + 1-2 |
Shift + Tab key |
|
Space + 2-3-4-5 |
Alt + Tab key |
|
Space + 2-4-5-6 |
Windows logo key |
|
Space + 1-2-3-5 |
Windows logo key + Tab key |
|
Space + Routing Key 1 through 12 |
F1 through F12 keys |
|
7 |
Backspace key |
|
8 |
Enter key |
|
Space + 2-6 |
Escape key |
|
Space + 3 |
Cursor left key |
|
Space + 6 |
Cursor right key |
|
Space + 1 |
Cursor up key |
|
Space + 4 |
Cursor down key |
|
Space + 2-3 |
Page up key |
|
Space + 5-6 |
Page down key |
|
Space + 2 |
Home key |
|
Space + 5 |
End key |
|
Space + 3-5 |
Insert key |
|
Space + 2-5-6 |
Delete key |
The following commands allow you to enter and hold a modifier key followed by another letter or key.
|
Braille dots |
Keyboard input |
|---|---|
|
Space + 1-8 |
Hold Windows logo key |
|
Space + 2-8 |
Hold Alt key |
|
Space + 3-8 |
Hold Ctrl key |
|
Space + 4-8 |
Hold Shift key |
|
Space + 5-8 |
Hold AltGr key |
|
Space + 6-8 |
Hold Narrator key |
|
Space + 7-8 |
Release all modifier keys |
Using touch cursors on your braille display
If your braille display has touch cursors you can use them to do certain actions.
Working with interactive elements
When the displayed content is an interactive element, tap any touch cursor above that content to do its primary action. Tap two adjacent touch cursors above the content to do its secondary action if one is available.
When the displayed content isn’t text, tap two nonadjacent touch cursors above the content to display a context menu if one is available.
Editing text
Use the following touch cursor commands when editing text:
-
To move the text insertion point to a specific character, tap the touch cursor above the corresponding cell. You can also tap the touch cursor above a cell representing a character or its preceding modifier (such as a capital or a number). Caret representation will be on the cell after the modifier.
-
To move the text insertion point to the last character on the display, tap the touch cursor above a blank cell at the end of the display.
-
To do a secondary action, tap on two adjacent touch cursors on a corresponding character.
-
To show a context menu, tap two nonadjacent touch cursors above the character closest to the center of the two nonadjacent touch cursors.
Note: Some displays don’t support simultaneous pressing of two touch cursors. Therefore, there are additional commands for each display. To learn more about specific key commands for each display, refer to Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Next: Appendix A: Supported languages and voices
Go back to the Table of Contents
This chapter provides information about how to use a braille display with Narrator. It includes info about how to install braille on your PC, navigate your PC, and read text.
Narrator supports braille displays from several manufacturers. To learn more about which braille displays are supported, including specific key commands for each display, refer to Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Install braille
Narrator works with braille displays that use a USB or serial port. To use your braille display with Narrator, download and install braille:
-
Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + N to open Narrator settings.
-
Under Use braille, select Download and install braille. (This will take some time. Windows will also ask if you’re sure that you want to allow Windows to make changes to your PC.)
-
When download and installation is complete, select Turn on braille .
-
Next, add your braille display. Select Add a braille display and then choose your braille display manufacturer and connection type (USB or serial port ).
Using your braille display with other screen readers
If you already use your braille display with another screen reader, or Narrator doesn’t work immediately with your braille display, you may need to change the driver Windows uses to communicate with your display. To do this, go to Narrator settings and select an option under Change your braille display driver. The driver used by Narrator is preceded by "(Narrator)."
Note: You only need to change your driver if a different driver is installed for your braille display. If you’re not sure, contact your braille display manufacturer.
Uninstalling braille
To remove Narrator braille from your PC:
-
Press Windows logo key + I to open Settings.
-
Select Apps, choose Apps & features, and then select Optional features.
-
Select Accessibility – Braille support, and then choose Uninstall.
Change braille settings
Manage your braille preferences in Narrator settings. Under Use braille choose from the following options:
-
Language for input and output
-
Table type for input and output (grade 1, grade 2, or 8 dot computer braille)
-
Notification timeout
-
How the cursor is displayed and if you want the cursor to blink on your braille display
If you want to use a serial braille display before you sign-in to your PC, select Use current settings before sign-in after choosing your preferred settings.
Core Narrator commands
Most braille displays can perform 12 Narrator commands to navigate and interact with apps. And supported displays with a braille keyboard can use it for entering text, or performing familiar single-letter scan mode commands. These 12 core commands are listed in the table below.
Note: To quickly dismiss a flash message or notification using a braille display, pan the length of the message. And if you’d like to change the amount of time a notification or flash message is displayed, you can do that in Settings.
Tip: The Narrator key is a modifier key in the Narrator commands. Both the Caps lock key and the Insert key serve as your Narrator key by default. For more info on the Narrator key, go to Chapter 2: Narrator basics or Appendix B: Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures.
|
Narrator command |
Keyboard equivalent |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary action |
Narrator + Enter |
Often described as “click.” |
|
Secondary action |
Shift + Enter in scan mode |
Often “select” or “expand” depending on the control. |
|
Display context menu |
Shift + F10 |
Shows a menu of additional actions. |
|
Pan braille right |
N/A |
Displays the next set of characters from the current line. At end, performs Braille next. |
|
Pan braille left |
N/A |
Displays the previous set of characters from the current line. At beginning, performs Braille previous. |
|
Braille Next* |
Narrator + Right |
Displays the next item in the current navigation mode. |
|
Braille Previous* |
Narrator + Left |
Displays the previous item in the current navigation mode. |
|
Braille home* |
Home in scan mode |
Go to beginning of line. |
|
Braille end* |
End in scan mode |
Go to end of line. |
|
Braille first* |
Ctrl + Home in scan mode |
Go to first line. |
|
Braille last* |
Ctrl + End in scan mode |
Go to last line. |
|
Select navigation mode |
Narrator + Page Up/Page Down |
Perform this command, then use braille next/previous to choose a new navigation mode and perform primary action to select the new mode. |
Note that braille next, previous, home, end, first, and last all change with the current navigation mode. For example, with a navigation mode of paragraph:
-
Next/previous will navigate to the next/previous paragraph
-
Home/end will navigate to the beginning/end of the current paragraph
-
First/last will navigate to the first/last paragraph.
You can find the mapping for a specific braille display in Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Braille keyboard commands
If your braille display has a braille keyboard, you can use it to enter text or do the following commands. The command to toggle the keyboard is Space + Dots 1-3.
Use the following commands for keyboard input.
|
Braille dots |
Narrator command |
|---|---|
|
1-2-3-4 or 1-2-3-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous paragraph |
|
1-2-5 or 1-2-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading |
|
2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous table |
|
1-3 or 1-3-7 |
Go to the next or previous link |
|
2-4 or 2-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous item |
|
1-4-5 or 1-4-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous landmark |
|
1-2-4 or 1-2-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous form field |
|
1-2 or 1-2-7 |
Go to the next or previous button |
|
1-4 or 1-4-7 |
Go to the next or previous combo box |
|
1-5 or 1-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous edit field |
|
1-2-3-5 or 1-2-3-5-7 |
Go to the next or previous radio button |
|
1-3-4-6 or 1-3-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous checkbox |
|
1-6 or 1-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 1 |
|
1-2-6 or 1-2-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 2 |
|
1-4-6 or 1-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 3 |
|
1-4-5-6 or 1-4-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 4 |
|
1-5-6 or 1-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 5 |
|
1-2-4-6 or 1-2-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 6 |
|
1-2-4-5-6 or 1-2-4-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 7 |
|
1-2-5-6 or 1-2-5-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 8 |
|
2-4-6 or 2-4-6-7 |
Go to the next or previous heading level 9 |
|
Space + 1-2-3 |
Turn on input learning, press twice to turn off |
|
2-3-4 or 2-3-4-7 |
Read by sentence |
Use the following commands for keyboard input.
|
Braille dots |
Keyboard input |
|---|---|
|
Space + 4-5 |
Tab key |
|
Space + 1-2 |
Shift + Tab key |
|
Space + 2-3-4-5 |
Alt + Tab key |
|
Space + 2-4-5-6 |
Windows logo key |
|
Space + 1-2-3-5 |
Windows logo key + Tab key |
|
Space + Routing Key 1 through 12 |
F1 through F12 keys |
|
7 |
Backspace key |
|
8 |
Enter key |
|
Space + 2-6 |
Escape key |
|
Space + 3 |
Cursor left key |
|
Space + 6 |
Cursor right key |
|
Space + 1 |
Cursor up key |
|
Space + 4 |
Cursor down key |
|
Space + 2-3 |
Page up key |
|
Space + 5-6 |
Page down key |
|
Space + 2 |
Home key |
|
Space + 5 |
End key |
|
Space + 3-5 |
Insert key |
|
Space + 2-5-6 |
Delete key |
The following commands allow you to enter and hold a modifier key followed by another letter or key.
|
Braille dots |
Keyboard input |
|---|---|
|
Space + 1-8 |
Hold Windows logo key |
|
Space + 2-8 |
Hold Alt key |
|
Space + 3-8 |
Hold Ctrl key |
|
Space + 4-8 |
Hold Shift key |
|
Space + 5-8 |
Hold AltGr key |
|
Space + 6-8 |
Hold Narrator key |
|
Space + 7-8 |
Release all modifier keys |
Using touch cursors on your braille display
If your braille display has touch cursors you can use them to do certain actions.
Working with interactive elements
When the displayed content is an interactive element, tap any touch cursor above that content to do its primary action. Tap two adjacent touch cursors above the content to do its secondary action if one is available.
When the displayed content isn’t text, tap two nonadjacent touch cursors above the content to display a context menu if one is available.
Editing text
Use the following touch cursor commands when editing text:
-
To move the text insertion point to a specific character, tap the touch cursor above the corresponding cell. You can also tap the touch cursor above a cell representing a character or its preceding modifier (such as a capital or a number). Caret representation will be on the cell after the modifier.
-
To move the text insertion point to the last character on the display, tap the touch cursor above a blank cell at the end of the display.
-
To do a secondary action, tap on two adjacent touch cursors on a corresponding character.
-
To show a context menu, tap two nonadjacent touch cursors above the character closest to the center of the two nonadjacent touch cursors.
Note: Some displays don’t support simultaneous pressing of two touch cursors. Therefore, there are additional commands for each display. To learn more about specific key commands for each display, refer to Appendix C: Supported braille displays.
Next: Appendix A: Supported languages and voices
Go back to the Table of Contents
