The NVDA screen reader is a free Windows program from NV Access that speaks what is on screen; to silence it for a moment press Ctrl, and to close it press Insert+Q and then Enter. Those two keys answer most of the panicked questions people type into a search box after NVDA starts talking unexpectedly.
The rest of this guide is for people who want to use it on purpose: blind users setting up a new laptop, and developers who need to hear how their pages behave. You will learn where to get it, how the NVDA key works, the commands worth learning first, and a short test routine.
Quick facts
Full form
NonVisual Desktop AccessRuns on
Windows only; there is no Mac versionCost
Free and open source; NV Access invites donationsStart
Ctrl+Alt+NMute right now
Ctrl stops the current speechQuit
Insert+Q, then Enter
What is NVDA screen reader software?
NVDA stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. A small charity in Australia, NV Access, started it so that blind people could use Windows without paying for a commercial product. It is open source, translated into dozens of languages, and widely used by blind people in every region, which is why accessibility testers treat it as a baseline.
It has almost no visual interface of its own. You see a small icon in the notification area of the taskbar and, when you press Insert+N, a plain menu with Preferences, Tools, Help and Exit. Everything else happens through speech or a braille display.
NVDA is not a browser add on. People search for an "NVDA Chrome extension", but the program runs across the whole of Windows and works with Chrome, Firefox and Edge once it is running. See screen readers and Chrome for more on this.
NVDA screen reader download and setup
Download only from nvaccess.org. Copies on file sharing sites can be old or bundled with unwanted software. The download page asks for an optional donation; you can skip it and still get the full product.
When you run the file, NVDA starts talking straight away and offers three choices:
- Install NVDA on this computer: the normal choice for a personal machine. It adds the desktop shortcut and can run at the Windows sign in screen.
- Create portable copy: puts NVDA in a folder or on a USB stick so you can carry it to other computers without installing.
- Continue running: a temporary session, handy for trying it once on a shared PC.
There is no NVDA for Mac. On a Mac the matching tool is VoiceOver, which comes with the system; the Mac and iPhone guide covers it.
The NVDA key and keyboard layouts
Most commands combine a modifier called the NVDA key with another key. By default that is Insert (both the main Insert key and the one on the number pad). Laptop users often switch it to Caps Lock, because many small keyboards hide Insert behind a function key.
Change it in NVDA menu, Preferences, Settings, Keyboard. In the same panel you choose the desktop layout (uses the number pad) or the laptop layout (uses letters instead). The commands below use the desktop layout. If you set Caps Lock as the NVDA key, press it twice quickly to toggle capitals as usual.
How to stop NVDA screen reader speech, mute it or turn it off
These are separate actions, and mixing them up is why people think NVDA "will not shut up".
| You want to | Press | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Stop the current sentence | Ctrl | Speech stops until the next thing changes |
| Pause and resume | Shift | Speech pauses; press again to carry on |
| Mute but keep running | Insert+S | Cycles speech modes such as talk, beeps and off |
| Close NVDA | Insert+Q, then Enter | The exit dialog appears; Enter confirms Exit |
| Stop it starting with Windows | Settings | Untick the start after sign in option in General settings |
If speech is off and you forget, the computer will seem silent while NVDA is still active. Press Insert+S again until it talks. To disable automatic start, open NVDA menu, Preferences, Settings, General and clear the box for starting after you sign in.
Ending NVDA from Task Manager works but skips saving settings. Use the exit dialog when you can.
Browse mode and focus mode
On web pages NVDA has two modes. In browse mode, single letters are shortcuts: H for headings, K for links, F for form fields, D for landmarks. In focus mode, keys go straight to the page so you can type into a text box.
NVDA switches to focus mode on its own when you land in an edit field, and you hear a soft click sound. You can flip modes yourself with Insert+Space. If typing a word in a search box makes NVDA jump around the page, you are still in browse mode.
For developers this matters: custom widgets that need arrow keys (tabs, menus, grids) must have the right ARIA role so NVDA enters focus mode. W3C publishes example patterns in its ARIA guide for authors.
NVDA screen reader shortcut keys to learn first
| Command | Keys |
|---|---|
| Open the NVDA menu | Insert+N |
| Read everything from the cursor | Insert+Down |
| Elements list (headings, links, landmarks) | Insert+F7 |
| Say the window title | Insert+T |
| Report the focused item | Insert+Tab |
| Input help (say what any key does) | Insert+1 |
| Next or previous heading | H and Shift+H |
| Next table, list, button | T, L, B |
Input help is the best tutor: turn it on, press keys, and NVDA tells you what each one would do without doing it. The NV Access user guide under NVDA menu, Help lists every command.
A ten minute testing routine for developers
Pair NVDA with Firefox or Chrome, the combinations most real users run. Then open the Speech Viewer under NVDA menu, Tools, Speech viewer so you can read what was spoken and paste it into bug reports.
- Load the page and press Insert+F7. Check the headings list reads like a table of contents.
- Switch the list to landmarks. Expect at least banner, navigation, main and content info.
- Switch to links. Every link name should make sense on its own.
- Tab through the main task, for example search or checkout. Each control should say its name, role and state.
- Submit a form with an error and listen for the error message without moving your eyes.
- Trigger a dynamic update such as adding to cart and confirm NVDA announces it.
Write down what you heard, not what you saw. Our screen reader testing guide turns this into a full checklist.
NVDA compared with JAWS
Both run on Windows and share many key commands, because NVDA copied popular conventions on purpose. JAWS is a paid product with deep support for office software and a long history in workplaces; NVDA is free and updates often. Many blind people keep both installed. For testing, NVDA alone catches most issues, and teams with a contract that names JAWS add it later. The JAWS guide covers its demo mode and commands.
Questions people ask
How to turn off NVDA screen reader on Windows?
Press the NVDA key with Q (Insert+Q by default), then press Enter to confirm Exit. If you set Caps Lock as the NVDA key, use Caps Lock+Q instead. To stop it starting by itself, clear the start after sign in box in the General settings.
How do I make NVDA stop talking without closing it?
Press Ctrl to cut off the current sentence. For a longer break press Insert+S to switch speech mode to off or beeps, and press it again later to bring speech back.
Is there an NVDA screen reader for Mac?
No. NVDA runs only on Windows. Mac users have VoiceOver built in, and it is the right tool for testing Safari on a Mac.
Is NVDA really free?
Yes. It is open source and the full version costs nothing. NV Access asks for donations to fund development, but you can download without giving anything.
What is the NVDA key?
It is the modifier you hold with other keys to give NVDA commands. Insert is the default, and you can add Caps Lock in the keyboard settings, which suits most laptops.
How do I start NVDA?
After installing, press Ctrl+Alt+N, which the installer sets up as a desktop shortcut. You can also open it from the Start menu, or set it to launch every time you sign in.