Quick guide
VoiceOver Keyboard Shortcuts
For web accessibility testing on macOS.
VoiceOver is the screen reader built into every Mac. Testing with it shows you how your site works for people who use a screen reader. These are the shortcuts you will use most when testing web pages.
What is the VO key?
VO stands for the VoiceOver modifier keys. By default, that is Control + Option held together, so VO + A means Control + Option + A. You can also use Caps Lock as the VO key if you turn that option on in VoiceOver Utility.
Basic commands
| Task | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Turn VoiceOver on or off | Command + F5 |
| Open VoiceOver Utility | VO + Fn + F8 (while VoiceOver is on) |
| Open VoiceOver tutorial | VO + Fn + Command + F8 |
| Stop current speech | Control |
| Repeat last phrase | VO + Z |
Navigation
| Task | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move in and out of levels in a group | VO + Shift + Up Arrow / Down Arrow |
| Next item in that group level | VO + Right Arrow |
| Previous item in that group level | VO + Left Arrow |
| Next heading | VO + Command + H |
| Next link | VO + Command + L |
| Next form control | VO + Command + J |
| Next table | VO + Command + T |
| Next landmark | VO + U, then Right Arrow to the Landmarks list |
| Move focus to top of group | VO + Home (Fn + Left Arrow on a laptop) |
| Move focus to bottom of group | VO + End (Fn + Right Arrow on a laptop) |
Pro tip: Quick Nav
Press Left Arrow and Right Arrow at the same time to turn Quick Nav on or off. With Quick Nav on, you can move through the page with the arrow keys alone, without holding VO, and use single-key shortcuts like H for next heading or L for next link. Turn it off when typing in form fields.
Reading and information
| Task | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Start reading | VO + A |
| Website statistics | VO + Shift + I |
| Read next line in group level | VO + Right Arrow |
| Read previous line in group level | VO + Left Arrow |
| Show VoiceOver Help menu | VO + H |
Windows and dialogs
| Task | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open selected item | VO + Space |
| Close window or dialog | Escape |
| Move to next or previous browser tab | Command + Shift + ] or [ |
| Switch applications | Command + Tab |
Rotor controls
| Task | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open web rotor | VO + U |
| Choose rotor category | Left Arrow / Right Arrow |
| Hide rotor | Escape |
Get started with VoiceOver
New to VoiceOver? This video walks you through turning it on and testing your first page.
Next step: full manual testing
This guide shows the process: what to check, in what order.
Printable version
Print this quick guide and keep it next to your keyboard while you test.
Opens in a new tab: VoiceOver Shortcuts Printable Version (PDF)
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