Narrator is a screen-reading app that's built into Windows 11, so there's nothing you need to download or install.
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.
Specific commands let you navigate Windows, the web, and apps. Navigation is available using headings, links, landmarks, and more. You can read text (including punctuation) by page, paragraph, line, sentence, word, and character, as well as determine characteristics like font and text color. Efficiently review tables with row and column navigation.
Narrator also has a navigation and reading mode called scan mode. Use it to get around Windows 11 using just the up and down arrows on your keyboard. You can also use a braille display to navigate your PC and read text.
You can also customize the speaking rate, pitch, and volume of the voice that Narrator uses, and install other text-to-speech voices.
Every time you turn on Narrator you’ll go to Narrator Home, which gives you one place where you can open everything you need, whether you want to change your Narrator settings or learn basics with QuickStart. The links at Narrator Home include QuickStart, Narrator guide, What’s New, Settings, and Feedback. You can also control whether Narrator Home opens when Narrator starts in Narrator settings or by using the checkbox on Narrator home.
See also:
Complete guide to Narrator - Microsoft Support
Learn how to use Narrator, a screen-reading app built into Windows, with this complete guide and how-to articles.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Narrator for your account in Windows 11.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Narrator on Sign-in Screen
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Narrator using Keyboard Shortcut
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Narrator in Quick Settings
- Option Four: Turn On or Off Narrator in Settings
- Option Five: Turn On Narrator in Control Panel
- Option Six: Turn On Narrator in Windows Search
- Option Seven: Turn On Narrator in Run
- Option Eight: Turn Off Narrator from Notification Icon on Taskbar Corner
- Option Nine: Turn Off Narrator from Narrator Home
EXAMPLE: Narrator Home
1 While on the Sign-in screen with your account selected, click/tap on the Accessibility icon. (see screenshot below)
2 Turn On or Off (default) Narrator for what you want.
1 Press the Win + Ctrl + Enter keys to toggle Narrator on and off.
OR
2 Press the Caps lock + Esc keys to turn off Narrator.
1 Open Quick Settings (Win+A).
2 Click/tap on the Accessibility button. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn On or Off (default) Narrator for what you want. (see screenshot below)
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 Turn On or Off (default) Narrator for what you want. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Ease of Access Center icon.
2 Click/tap on Start Narrator. (see screenshot below)
3 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.
1 Open Windows Search (Win+S). (see screenshot below)
2 Type Narrator into the search box.
3 Either press Enter or click/tap on Open.
1 Open Run (Win+R). (see screenshot below)
2 Type Narrator into Run.
3 Either press Enter or click/tap on OK.
1 Click/tap on the Narrator notification icon on the taskbar corner. (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on the Turn off Narrator.
1 Perform one of the following actions: (see screenshot below)
- Close Narrator Home.
- Click/tap on Exit Narrator in Narrator Home.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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