JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a screen reader for the Windows operating system. JAWS helps people with visual impairments interact with computers by helping them navigate applications, read documents, and browse the web.

According to WebAIM, JAWS is the most popular screen reader on the market as of 2023.

In this article, you'll find step-by-step instructions for installing JAWS and a practical set of keystrokes and features to start using it effectively.

How to Install JAWS on Windows

JAWS has several subscription plans and also offers a time-limited trial. You can download the installer from the Freedom Scientific website and then activate with a license if needed.

  1. Download the JAWS installer from the Freedom Scientific site.

  2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to choose your language and installation options.

  3. Restart your computer when prompted.

Note for developers: Assistive Labs is a tool that remotely connects developers to screen readers like JAWS on any device. Assistive Labs offers an end-to-end accessibility testing service that automates UI step validation to meet WCAG standards.

Their benefits include reliable test suites, direct integration with issue tracking systems, early detection of issues through root cause analysis, and reduced reliance on external audits. This service is crucial for organizations dedicated to ensuring that digital products are accessible to all users.

Getting Started with JAWS (Basic Commands)

You can launch JAWS by double-clicking the desktop icon or selecting it from the Start menu. After running JAWS, you can use your keyboard shortcuts to interact with your computer. Below are some basic commands you can familiarize yourself with to get started using JAWS:

A note on context: On the web and in “virtual” documents, JAWS uses a Virtual PC Cursor that lets you navigate content efficiently. Many of the “quick navigation” keys below assume that virtual cursor is active (it usually is in browsers and PDFs).

Help and Command Discovery

  • JAWS Help for the current application: INSERT+F1 (pressed twice quickly). This opens context help about the application or web page you’re using.

  • Command Search: INSERT+SPACE, J. This opens Command Search so you can look up JAWS commands.

Reading and Navigation (JAWS quick navigation and reading keys)

  • Headings:

    • Next heading: H

    • Previous heading: SHIFT+H

  • Arrow keys in web/virtual documents:

    • Left/Right Arrow: move by character

    • Up/Down Arrow: move by line (through the JAWS virtual buffer)

  • Read current line: INSERT+UP ARROW

  • Read from current position to the end of the window: INSERT+DOWN ARROW

  • JAWS Find (virtual buffer find): CTRL+F. This opens JAWS’s Find dialog for virtual documents (this differs from the browser’s built-in find).

    • Find next/previous: F3 / SHIFT+F3

Tip: To move among interactive elements without reading every character/line, use quick navigation keys (for example, B for buttons, F for form fields, K for links) or TAB/SHIFT+TAB for focusable items.

Useful Windows keystrokes (not JAWS-specific)

These are standard Windows shortcuts that many JAWS users rely on:

  • TAB / SHIFT+TAB: move focus forward/backward among focusable controls

  • ALT+TAB: switch among open applications

  • WINDOWS+M: minimize all windows to show the desktop

Advanced JAWS Features

JAWS is a powerful screen reader that has many advanced features you can explore. On top of providing a really effective screen reader experience, below are some advanced features you can use to customize JAWS.

Opening JAWS and Customizing Settings

  • Open the JAWS application window: INSERT+J. From the JAWS window, you can access Utilities and various managers.

  • Settings Center (global or app-specific settings):

    • From the JAWS window: go to Utilities and then Settings Center (then choose Default or the current application)

    • Keystroke (common default): INSERT+6 (number row)

  • Quick Settings (per-app): INSERT+V. This lets you quickly adjust common options for the current application.

Verbosity

JAWS includes several verbosity-related options that control how much additional UI information (like control types, formatting cues, hints, etc.) is announced. These do not directly change how plain text is read.

Punctuation

Punctuation settings control which symbols are spoken (All/Most/Some/None). They don’t change pronunciation rules or add pauses.

Convenient OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

  • Start the OCR layer: INSERT+SPACE, O. Then press an additional key to specify what to OCR, for example:

    • W: OCR the current window

    • R: OCR a region (you’ll be prompted)

You can check out JAWS help for the full list of OCR layer keystrokes.

This is helpful for reading text in images or image-based PDFs.

About “Virtualizing” / Working with Apps

INSERT+SPACE, V does not invoke “virtualizing” features. When applications aren’t fully accessible, common JAWS strategies include making sure that the Virtual PC Cursor is appropriately toggled (INSERT+Z) when in web/virtual content vs. native controls and using the JAWS Cursor or OCR to access otherwise unreachable text.

You can consult the JAWS help for details on cursors and when to toggle them.

JAWS for Developers

It’s important for developers to test their website to make sure it's accessible. Understanding how people using JAWS can interact with your website is extremely important. Below are some basic key controls to consider.

Use Semantic HTML

It’s important to use correct semantic HTML for accessibility. Semantic HTML gives JAWS and other screen readers information, for example:

  • Proper heading elements (<h1>…<h6>) let users navigate by heading (H / SHIFT+H).

  • The <nav> element creates a navigation landmark, which screen readers can announce and let users jump to. (It doesn’t create a “navigation field.”)

Navigating Interactive Elements

You can make sure that buttons, links, and controls are keyboard focusable and operable with Enter/Space.

You can also check focus order with TAB/SHIFT+TAB to verify logical navigation.

Navigating Tables

Users can navigate table cells using CTRL+ALT+ARROW keys in virtual documents.

Make sure you provide proper header markup (for example, <th scope="col">) to convey structure.

Open Source Alternatives

JAWS is a paid product. Below are some free screen reader alternatives:

  • Apple VoiceOver: One of the benefits of VoiceOver is that it’s already built into Apple devices, saving users from having to download or purchase additional software. VoiceOver also features defined keyboard commands to further simplify web navigation.

  • NVDA: NVDA is a full-functioning advanced screen reader with text-to-speech and braille display capabilities. It’s free and one of the best options for Windows.

  • ChromeVox: ChromeVox is a built-in screen reader integrated with Google apps and Chrome OS. It has customizable settings that allow users to magnify selected text and get voice feedback. Additional features include keyboard shortcuts, changing the voice or language, and increasing or decreasing volume.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can install JAWS and start navigating applications, reading documents, and browsing the web. Begin with the essential reading and navigation commands, then explore settings (Settings Center and Quick Settings), OCR for image-based text, and cursor modes to handle trickier applications.

JAWS is a powerful tool that opens up digital experiences to people with visual impairments – and thoughtful, semantic development helps ensure those experiences are accessible to everyone.