This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off math reading in 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.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26340.9354 (Experimental 26H2) for Insiders, Microsoft is adding math reading and navigation support in Narrator, bringing clearer and more natural math experiences to users who are blind or have low vision. Math is at the heart of STEM education and learning, and this update helps students and professionals independently read, understand, and explore equations, formulas, and scientific notation with confidence.
With this update, Narrator can read math equations aloud in supported Microsoft 365 apps, including Word and PowerPoint. Instead of announcing every symbol individually, Narrator reads equations in a structured, natural way that reflects how they're meant to be understood. For example, when Narrator reaches a fraction, it reads the numerator and denominator together so you can understand the relationship between them.
You can also explore equations in more detail with a dedicated math navigation mode. Press Narrator key + Alt + N to turn on math navigation, then use the arrow keys to move through different parts of the equation, such as fractions, exponents, and roots. This mode lets you move through an equation one part at a time instead of hearing the full expression all at once. Press Esc to exit math navigation mode.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Math Reading for Narrator in Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Math Reading for Narrator using REG file
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)
Open Narrator settings (Win+Ctrl+N)
3 Under the Math section, click/tap on Math reading. (see screenshot below)
4 Turn on (default) or off Enable math reading for what you want. (see screenshot 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.
2 Turn On Math Reading for Narrator
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_Math_Reading_in_Narrator.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Narrator]
"MathReadingEnabled"=dword:000000013 Turn Off Math Reading for Narrator
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_Math_Reading_in_Narrator.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Narrator]
"MathReadingEnabled"=dword:000000004 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
