The JAWS screen reader is a paid Windows program from Freedom Scientific, and without a licence it runs in a 40 minute demo mode that you can use again after restarting the computer. Its name stands for Job Access With Speech, and it has been a standard in offices, schools and government jobs for a very long time.
If you are a developer, the demo is usually enough to check a page. If you are a user or buying for staff, the licence section below explains the options in plain words. Prices change and vary by country, so this page does not list them.
Quick facts
Full form
Job Access With SpeechPlatform
Windows only, no Mac editionWithout a licence
40 minute sessions; restart Windows to get anotherJAWS key
Insert (Caps Lock in the laptop layout)Quit
Insert+F4Best browser pairing
Chrome or Edge
What is the JAWS screen reader?
JAWS reads Windows, web pages and office documents aloud and drives braille displays. It is known for detailed support in spreadsheets, word processors and older business software, and for a scripting language that lets trained staff adapt it to unusual programs. Large employers and government agencies often standardise on it, so a site used at work by blind staff will very likely be opened with it.
Its interface is small: a window with Utilities, Options, Tools and Help menus that you open with Insert+J. A settings center inside that window controls verbosity, voices and punctuation.
JAWS screen reader download for Windows 11 and 10
Get the installer from the official JAWS product page. Current releases support Windows 11 and Windows 10; older releases stay available for people tied to older systems. Avoid mirror sites, since a screen reader runs with wide access to your machine.
There is no download for Mac. People who search for JAWS on a Mac usually want VoiceOver, which is built in; see the Mac screen reader guide. Running Windows in a virtual machine on a Mac works for testing, though speech can lag.
How the 40 minute demo mode works
JAWS is not free, but you can install the full product and run it without a licence key. In that state each session lasts 40 minutes. When time is up it stops speaking, and you must restart Windows before it will run again. There is no limit on how many times you restart.
The licence terms say demo mode is for evaluation. A blind user who depends on JAWS daily, or a company testing as a paid service, should check with the maker that their use is covered.
For a developer checking one form or a component, 40 minutes is plenty. Plan the test before you start so the timer is spent listening, not reading menus.
Licence types in plain words
The maker sells JAWS in several ways, and the names differ by country. Common patterns:
| Licence | Who it suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home edition | Personal, non commercial use | Some regions offer it as a yearly subscription |
| Professional edition | Work and business use | Allows commercial use and office networks |
| Maintenance or upgrade plan | Anyone who bought a lasting licence | Gives the next versions as they come out |
| Multi user or site licence | Schools, agencies, large employers | Covers many machines under one agreement |
| Funded licence | Students and job seekers | Many disability and rehabilitation programs pay for it |
What pushes the cost up is the edition, the number of computers and whether you want upgrades included. If cost is the obstacle, the free options on the free screen readers page are mature and widely used.
JAWS screen reader shortcut keys
The JAWS key is Insert. In the laptop keyboard layout, Caps Lock plays that role. On web pages JAWS uses a virtual cursor, and single letters act as quick keys.
| Task | Keys |
|---|---|
| Stop speech | Ctrl |
| Say all from here | Insert+Down |
| Headings list | Insert+F6 |
| Links list | Insert+F7 |
| Form fields list | Insert+F5 |
| Next heading, region, form field | H, R, F |
| Hotkey help for the current app | Insert+H |
| Open the JAWS window | Insert+J |
| Quit JAWS | Insert+F4 |
When you reach an edit box, JAWS switches into forms mode so your typing goes into the field, and it plays a short sound. Press Num Pad Plus or Escape to return to the virtual cursor.
How JAWS differs from NVDA
The two share many quick keys, so skills move across easily. The differences that matter in practice:
- Cost: JAWS needs a licence for full time use; NVDA is free.
- Guessing: JAWS tries harder to fill gaps, for example guessing a label for an unlabelled field from nearby text. That is kind to users but can hide bugs from testers.
- Office work: JAWS has deeper support for complex spreadsheets and some line of business tools.
- Updates: NVDA ships often and is open source; JAWS has a yearly major release.
Because of that guessing, test with NVDA first, then confirm with JAWS if your users or contract require it. Fixing the code is always better than relying on a screen reader to work around it.
Using JAWS to check a web page
- Open the page in Chrome or Edge and start JAWS.
- Press Insert+F6 and scan the headings list for a clear outline.
- Press R a few times to visit each region and confirm the main content is marked.
- Tab through forms and note any field that is read without its label.
- Open a menu or dialog and check JAWS says it is expanded and where focus went.
Note the JAWS version and browser version in every bug report. Behavior changes between releases, and developers need both numbers to reproduce a problem. A wider plan is on our screen reader testing page, and the code side is covered under ARIA labels.
Questions people ask
Is the JAWS screen reader free?
No, it is a paid product. You can run it without a licence for 40 minutes at a time, and restart Windows to get another session. For daily use without cost, NVDA or Narrator are the usual choices.
How do I quit JAWS?
Press Insert+F4. JAWS asks you to confirm, and Enter closes it. In the laptop layout you can use Caps Lock+F4.
Is there a JAWS screen reader for Mac?
No. JAWS runs only on Windows. On a Mac, use VoiceOver, which is built into macOS.
What does JAWS stand for?
Job Access With Speech. The name reflects its original goal of helping blind people work on computers in offices.
Where is the safest JAWS screen reader download?
Use the product page on freedomscientific.com. It lists the current release and older versions with the Windows versions each one supports.
Do I need JAWS if I already test with NVDA?
Not always. NVDA finds most problems, but JAWS behaves differently in places, and some clients or government buyers ask for JAWS results. Add it when your audience or contract calls for it.