Useful NVDA Keyboard Shortcuts

NVDA shortcut keys

Some keyboard shortcuts require using the NVDA modifier key. By default, both the " Numpad Insert key and the Extended Insert key " are set as NVDA modifier keys, but users can designate the Caps Lock key as an additional NVDA modifier key.
In the tables below, the assumption is that the Insert key is being used as the NVDA modifier key. If you have changed your settings, you may need to substitute the Caps Lock key in the place of the Insert key.
These keyboard shortcuts are for NVDA's desktop keyboard layout setting, some shortcuts are different when using NVDA's laptop keyboard layout setting.

The basics

Topic	Task	Command
On/Off	Turn NVDA on	Control + Alt + N
On/Off	Turn NVDA off	Insert + Q
Reading	Stop Reading	Control
	Start reading continuously from this point on	Insert + or Numpad +
	Read next item
	Read next focusable item (e.g. link, button)	Tab
Activate	Link	Enter
Activate	Button	Enter or Spacebar
Headings	Go to next heading	H
	Go to next heading of level [1-6]	1 - 6
	List all headings	Insert + F7
Landmarks	Go to next landmark/region	D
Elements list	Show list of all links, headings, form fields, buttons, and landmarks	Insert + F7
Tables	Go to the next table	T
Tables	Navigate table cells	Ctrl + Alt + or or or
Lists	Go to the next list	L
Lists	Go to the next list item	I
Graphics	Go to the next graphic	G
Links	List all links	Insert + F7
	Go to the next link	K
	Go to next unvisited link	U
	Go to next visited link	V
Navigate	Toggle between: Radio buttons,<select>list items, Tabs (ARIA widget), Tree view items (ARIA widget), Menu items (ARIA widget)	or or or
Go backward	To previous heading, landmark, table, focusable item, etc.	Shift + [H, D, T, Tab, etc.]

Topic	Task	Command
Line	Say prior line	or Numpad 7
	Say next line	or Numpad 9
	Say current line	Insert + or Numpad 8
	Start of line	Shift + Numpad 1
	End of line	Shift + Numpad 3
	Top of line	Shift + Numpad 7
	Bottom line	Shift + Numpad 9
Character	Say prior character	or Numpad 1
	Say the next character	or Numpad 3
	Say current character	Numpad 2
	Say character phonetically	Numpad 2 twice quickly
Word	Say prior word	Ctrl + or Numpad 4
	Say the next word	Ctrl + or Numpad 6
	Say the current word	Numpad 5
Sentence	Say prior sentence	Alt +
	Say next sentence	Alt +
	Say current sentence	Alt + Numpad 5
Paragraph	Next paragraph	Ctrl + or Q
Spelling	Spell word	Numpad 5 twice quickly
	Spell word phonetically	Numpad 5 thrice quickly
	Spell current line	Insert + twice quickly
	Spell current line phonetically	Insert + thrice quickly

Topic	Task	Command
List all	List all form elements	Insert + F7
Navigate	Next form field	F
	Next focusable item	Tab
	Next button	B
Checkboxes	Select and deselect	Spacebar
Checkboxes	Next checkbox	X
Combo boxes (<select>)	Open combo box	Alt +
	Browse/select options	or the First letter
	Select multiple options	Shift + (or )
	Next combo box	C
Radio buttons	Toggle selection	/
Radio buttons	Next radio button	R
Focus mode*	Toggle between focus mode and browse mode	Insert + Spacebar

Forms

* Focus mode allows you to enter data into form fields. The browse mode allows you to navigate the page using standard screen reader shortcuts.

Example: To navigate headings, landmarks, links, etc.

Task	Command
Search for a word or a phrase	NVDA + Ctrl + F
Keyboard help	Insert + 1
Next blockquote	Q
Next key you hit ignores NVDA and is a normal keystroke	Insert + F2
Speak characters typed	Insert + 2
Speak words typed	Insert + 3
Read entire foreground window (e.g. for dialogs)	Insert + B
Announce the title of the current foreground window	Insert + T