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To open the NVDA menu, press NVDA + N and then use ↑/ ↓/ ←/ → and Enter to navigate the menu. Once NVDA is running, we recommend making a few changes to the default settings. Uncheck "Show this dialog when NVDA starts".To toggle Caps Lock functionality while NVDA is running, press Caps Lock twice. This puts the NVDA key closer to the Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys, which are also used for many commands. Check "Use CapsLock as an NVDA modifier key" (a key used in many commands-we will call it the NVDA key).Some of the commands in this guide will not work in the laptop keyboard layout. Most of the commands that use the numeric keypad (which may not be present on a laptop) go beyond the basic commands required for screen reader testing. Choose the desktop (default) Keyboard Layout, even if you are using a laptop.When NVDA runs for the first time, a dialog appears with a few options. Once you have NVDA downloaded and installed, you can start running the program by holding Ctrl + Alt + N. During installation, keep the option to create a desktop shortcut selected but uncheck the option to start NVDA automatically when logging in to your computer. You can download NVDA for free (Windows only). Remember that many screen reader users do not use a mouse, so try using only the keyboard as you become more comfortable with NVDA. Slow down the reading speed and take your time.
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Don't get discouraged if things still seem confusing after only a few minutes.
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If you are new to screen readers, plan on spending some time (perhaps a few hours) becoming comfortable using NVDA. For a more detailed information on using NVDA, see our list of NVDA keyboard shortcuts or the NVDA User Guide. This article is designed to help new or novice NVDA users learn how to test web content. NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows computers. You are here: Home > Articles > Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility Article Contents WebAIM Training Using NVDA to Evaluate Web Accessibility
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