VoiceOver shortcut reference

Overview

VoiceOver is a screen reader which can be used to browse web pages. VoiceOver comes bundled with all macOS software, including iOS.

VoiceOver operates on an operating system level, meaning it is not exclusively a screen reader for web pages but has the functionality to do so.

The VoiceOver User Guide is used as the source of reference for the below shortcuts. I've organised them here as a quick reference guide for myself.

Throughout this page the VO key will be referenced in shortcuts. By default, this is set to the Control + Option key but can be changed in the VoiceOver utility, which can be opened via VO + F8.

Shortcut reference

General

Command + F5

Turn VoiceOver on or off. Alternatively, on a MacBook hold Command while pressing TouchID five times to turn VoiceOver on or off.

VO + Arrow key

Move the VoiceOver cursor up, right, down or left.

Control

Pause or resume speech.

VO + Tab

Tell VoiceOver to ignore the next key or key combination that is pressed.

Interaction

VO + Shift + Down arrow

Start interacting with the item. Examples of usage include entering the browser viewport to begin navigating a web page, or to enter the DOM content of an iframe.

Help

VO + h

Open the VoiceOver help menu. Useful for finding the keyboard combination of a command by typing the name of a command.

VO + k

Toggle "Keyboard help". When enabled, this will interactively describe what an entered key combination does.

Configuration

VO + F8

Open VoiceOver Utility. This is used to change settings such as the VO key, speech rate and more.

VO + Shift + F11 or VO + Shift + fn + _

Toggle the screen curtain. This will hide or reveal your display while using VoiceOver. This is useful for those who do not need the display to be turned on when using VoiceOver (e.g. for privacy or for testing).

VO + Command + Shift + Arrow key

For the left and right arrow keys, this will cycle through settings such as pitch and volume. The up and down arrow keys will adjust the currently selected setting.

Navigation

VO + Command + u

Open the rotor. The rotor displays lists of headings, landmarks, links, form elements and other page content.

VO + Command + h

Move the VoiceOver cursor to the next heading on the page. Use with Shift to navigate to the previous heading.

VO + Command + g

Move the VoiceOver cursor to the next image on the page. Use with Shift to navigate to the previous image.

VO + Command + l

Move the VoiceOver cursor to the next link on the page. Use with Shift to navigate to the previous link.

VO + Command + x

Move the VoiceOver cursor to the next list on the page. Use with Shift to navigate to the previous list.

Miscellaneous

VO + } and VO + {

Magnify or demagnify the item under the VoiceOver cursor, respectively.