Turn on and use Narrator in Windows XP

 Narrator is a text-to-speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Narrator reads what is displayed on the screen—the contents of the active window, menu options, or text that has been typed. This procedure tells you how to turn on and use Narrator.

Turn on and use Text-to-Speech Narrator in Windows XP

Mouse actions


On the Start menu:

Point to All Programs.

Point to Accessories.

Point to Accessibility.

Select Narrator.

Notes A message box with a link to more information about Narrator may appear. To close the box, select OK.
To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

Keyboard actions


Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC or the Windows logo key.

Press R.

Type narrator.

Press ENTER.

Notes A message box with a link to more information about Narrator may appear. To close the box, press ENTER.
To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, press ALT+X, Y.
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Set Narrator to Announce Events on the Screen

 In the Narrator window:

Ensure that the Announce events on screen check box is selected.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

In the Narrator window:



Ensure that the Announce events on screen check box is selected. If it is not, press ALT+A.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

Set Narrator to Read Typed Characters

In the Narrator window:

Ensure that the Read typed characters check box is selected.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

In the Narrator window:

Ensure that the Read typed characters check box is selected. If it is not, press SPACEBAR to select it.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, press ALT+X, Y.

Set Narrator to Move Mouse Pointer to the Active Item

In the Narrator window:

Select the Mouse mouse pointer to the active item check box.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

In the Narrator window:

Select the Move mouse pointer to the active item check box by pressing ALT+M.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, press ALT+X, Y.


Start Narrator Minimized

In the Narrator windows:

Select the Start Narrator minimized check box.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

In the Narrator windows:

Select the Start Narrator minimized check box by pressing ALT+M.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, press ALT+X, Y.

Set Narrator Voice Options

In the Narrator window:

Select the Voice button.

Then In the Voice Settings dialog box:

Select the Speed you want by using the arrow buttons.

Select the Volume you want by using the arrow buttons.

Select the Pitch you want by using the arrow buttons.

Select OK.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select the Minimize button.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, select the Exit button.

OR

In the Narrator window:

Select the Voice button by pressing V.

Then In the Voice Settings dialog box:

Select the Speed you want by pressing ALT+S, and then using the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to adjust the setting

Select the Volume you want by pressing ALT+O, and then using the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to adjust the setting.

Select the Pitch you want by pressing ALT+P, and then using the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to adjust the setting.

Press ENTER.

Notes To use Narrator but hide the Narrator dialog box, select Minimize by pressing ALT+SPACEBAR, N.
To turn off Narrator, in the Narrator dialog box, press ALT+X, Y.