Accessibility Enable or Disable Braille Support for Narrator in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off braille display support for Narrator for your account in Windows 11.

Narrator is a screen reader included with Windows 11 that describes what's on your screen. Narrator lets you use your PC without a mouse to complete common tasks if you’re blind or have low vision. It reads and interacts with things on the screen, like text and buttons. Use Narrator to read and write email, browse the internet, and work with documents.

Narrator supports braille displays from several manufacturers that use a USB or serial port.

Starting with Windows 11 build 262100.6725 (24H2), Narrator now includes Braille viewer that allows you to see on-screen textual and Braille representation of the output shown on a refreshable Braille display. This is a helpful tool for sighted teachers, AT trainers, developers, and testers who do not read Braille or who have limited to no access to a Braille display.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26300.8497 (Experimental) for Insiders, Microsoft is making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard — an open industry standard for braille displays. If your display supports HID, simply connect it via USB and start reading — true plug-and-play with no additional setup required. For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices just like any other accessory, and you can work wirelessly without being tethered to your PC. Compatible HID displays include models like the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40. HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB — meaning users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently, right from the first screen. You can customize braille input and output options anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

Turning on Braille display and Braille viewer support in Narrator requires installing the Braille software package.

Reference:








1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accessibility on the left side, and click/tap on Narrator on the right side. (see screenshot below)



3 Under Braille, click/tap on Use a braille display with Narrator or Configure braille displays. (see screenshots below)


4 Turn on (default with braille installed) or off Turn on braille or Use braille displays with USB or Bluetooth (HID) for what you want. (see screenshots below)


5 You can now close Settings if you like.





1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.

This is the default setting with braille installed.

(Contents of REG file for reference)





(Contents of REG file for reference)

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink