JAWS Keyboard Shortcuts

Q: Why does K not move to links in JAWS?

Because Freedom Scientific assigns K to PlaceMarkers. Link movement in JAWS is Tab and Shift + Tab; U and V pick out unvisited and visited links. Cheat sheets showing K as the link key have copied NVDA’s layout by mistake — this page did too, and it is now fixed.

Q: What is the JAWS key, and what if my keyboard has no Insert?

In desktop layout the JAWS key is Insert. Laptop layout uses Caps Lock instead and remaps the numpad reading commands onto letters, which is the practical choice on keyboards without a numeric keypad.

Q: How do JAWS layered keystrokes work?

Press and release Insert + Space, then press one more key: S for speech mode, H for speech history, O for the OCR layer, F11 for Screen Shade. Inside a layer, ? lists everything available. Layers exist so JAWS can add commands without colliding with application shortcuts.

Q: What is the difference between the PC cursor and the JAWS cursor?

NumPad Plus activates the PC cursor — the ordinary system caret that types and selects. NumPad Minus activates the JAWS cursor, which rides the mouse pointer and can read screen areas the caret cannot reach; NumPad Slash then clicks wherever it sits.

Q: How do I read a table without losing my place?

Move cell by cell with Alt + Ctrl plus the arrow keys — row and column context is announced as you go. Windows + , reads the whole current row and Windows + . the whole column, and Ctrl + Windows + J jumps straight to a cell address.

Q: Can JAWS read text inside images or inaccessible PDFs?

Yes — Convenient OCR. Press Insert + Space, then O, then choose: W recognises the application window, S the whole screen, D the current PDF. Recognised text opens in a window the virtual cursor can read normally.

104 commands in 9 groups, from Freedom Scientific’s official hotkeys page (desktop layout).

Essentials (21)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl`	Interrupt speech	Instantly silences JAWS. The single most-pressed key of any session.
`Insert` + `Down`	Say All	Reads continuously from the cursor. Insert is the JAWS key in desktop layout; laptop layout uses Caps Lock + A.
`Insert` + `Up`	Say line	Speaks the current line; pressing it twice quickly spells it.
`Insert` + `T`	Say window title	Speaks the title of the active window.
`Insert` + `B`	Read window	Reads the current window top to bottom — the fastest way to hear a whole dialog.
`Insert` + `Tab`	Say window prompt and text	Speaks the focused control with its label; also announces progress-bar status.
`Insert` + `Shift` + `Down`	Say selected text	Reads whatever is currently selected.
`Insert` + `F12`	Say system time	Speaks the current time.
`Insert` + `F`	Say font	Speaks font and formatting at the cursor.
`Insert` + `5`	Say color	Speaks the text and background colour. Uses the 5 on the number row, not the numpad.
`Insert` + `Esc`	Refresh screen	Re-draws JAWS's view of the screen when speech seems out of sync.
`Insert` + `V`	Quick Settings	Opens per-application Quick Settings.
`Insert` + `F2`	Run JAWS Manager	Lists JAWS managers such as Settings Center and Dictionary Manager.
`Insert` + `F4`	Shut down JAWS	Exits JAWS with a confirmation dialog.
`Insert` + `J`	JAWS window	Brings up the main JAWS application window.
`Insert` + `1`	Keyboard help	Toggles keyboard-help mode: every key you press is described instead of executed. Number-row 1.
`Insert` + `H`	Hot key help	Lists JAWS hotkeys for the application in focus.
`Insert` + `W`	Windows key help	Lists useful Windows shortcuts for the current context.
`Insert` + `F1`	Context-sensitive help	Describes the focused control; twice quickly opens JAWS help for the application.
`Insert` + `3`	Pass key through	Sends the next keystroke straight to the application even if JAWS normally intercepts it. Number-row 3.
`Insert` + `Space, S`	Toggle speech mode	Layered command: press and release Insert + Space, then S — cycles Full Speech, Speech On Demand and Mute.

Reading Text (Desktop Layout) (12)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`NumPad 5`	Say character	Speaks the character at the cursor; twice quickly says it phonetically.
`Insert` + `NumPad 5`	Say word	Speaks the current word; twice quickly spells it.
`Insert` + `Left`	Say prior word	Moves back one word and speaks it.
`Insert` + `Right`	Say next word	Moves forward one word and speaks it.
`Alt` + `NumPad 5`	Say sentence	Speaks the current sentence.
`Ctrl` + `NumPad 5`	Say paragraph	Speaks the current paragraph.
`Insert` + `Home`	Say to cursor	Reads from the start of the line to the cursor.
`Insert` + `Page Up`	Say from cursor	Reads from the cursor to the end of the line.
`Insert` + `End`	Say top line of window	Speaks the top line — usually the title or menu bar.
`Insert` + `Page Down`	Say bottom line of window	Speaks the bottom line — usually the status bar.
`Ctrl` + `Insert` + `Down`	Start skim reading	Reads the first line or sentence of each paragraph to survey a long document.
`Page Up`	Faster during Say All	Raises the voice rate while Say All is running; Page Down lowers it.

Navigation Quick Keys (Virtual Cursor) (34)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`H`	Next heading	All Navigation Quick Keys move to the next instance; add Shift for the previous one.
`1–6`	Heading at level	Jumps to the next heading of that level.
`P`	Next paragraph	Moves to the next paragraph.
`T`	Next table	Moves to the next table.
`L`	Next list	Moves to the next list.
`I`	Next item in a list	Moves to the next list item.
`F`	Next form control	Moves to the next form control.
`B`	Next button	Moves to the next button.
`E`	Next edit box	Moves to the next edit box.
`C`	Next combo box	Moves to the next combo box, list box, or tree view.
`A`	Next radio button	Moves to the next radio button — note this differs from NVDA, where the radio key is R.
`X`	Next check box	Moves to the next check box.
`R`	Next region	Moves to the next ARIA region or landmark.
`Q`	Move to main region	Jumps straight to the page's main landmark.
`G`	Next graphic	Moves to the next graphic.
`M`	Next frame	Moves to the next frame.
`O`	Next article	Moves to the next article element.
`U`	Next unvisited link	Moves to the next link you have not opened.
`V`	Next visited link	Moves to the next link you have opened before.
`N`	Skip past links	Jumps to the next block of text that is not a link — the fast way past a navigation menu.
`K`	Next PlaceMarker	Moves to the next PlaceMarker. In JAWS, K is not the link key — links are Tab and Shift + Tab.
`S`	Next same element	Moves to the next element of the same type as the current one.
`D`	Next different element	Moves to the next element of a different type.
`Z`	Next division	Moves to the next div.
`-`	Next separator	Moves to the next separator.
`/`	Next clickable element	Moves to the next element with a click handler.
`;`	Next mouse-over element	Moves to the next element that reacts to hovering.
`'`	Next tab control	Moves to the next tab control.
`Shift` + `.`	Next element	Moves to the very next element of any type; Shift + Comma goes back.
`Tab`	Next link	Moves to the next link; Shift + Tab moves to the previous one.
`Enter`	Open link	Activates the current link, or enters forms mode on a form control.
`Insert` + `A`	Read address bar	Speaks the browser's address bar.
`Backspace`	Go back a page	Navigates back. Alt + Left does the same; Alt + Right goes forward.
`Insert` + `X`	Toggle Smart Navigation	Temporarily toggles Smart Navigation on or off.

Element Lists (6)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Insert` + `F7`	List links	Opens a dialog listing every link on the page.
`Insert` + `F6`	List headings	Opens a dialog listing every heading.
`Insert` + `F5`	List form fields	Opens a dialog listing every form field.
`Insert` + `F9`	List frames	Opens a dialog listing every frame.
`Insert` + `F3`	Virtual HTML features	Lists every element type JAWS found, in one dialog.
`Ctrl` + `Insert` + `A`	List radio buttons	The Ctrl + Insert prefix turns most Navigation Quick Keys into a list — the same works with B, C, E, X and others.

Forms Mode (2)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Insert` + `Ctrl` + `Home`	First form field	Jumps to the first field on the page. Enter on a control starts forms mode; NumPad Plus (the PC-cursor key) leaves it.
`Insert` + `Ctrl` + `End`	Last form field	Jumps to the last field on the page.

Tables (8)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`F8`	Select table	Selects the whole table the cursor is inside.
`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `Right`	Next cell in row	Moves one cell right; Alt + Ctrl + Left moves one cell left.
`Alt` + `Ctrl` + `Down`	Cell below	Moves one cell down the column; Alt + Ctrl + Up moves one cell up.
`Windows` + `Alt` + `Down`	Next row	Moves to and reads the next row; Windows + Alt + Up for the prior row.
`Windows` + `Alt` + `Right`	Next column	Moves to the next column; Windows + Alt + Left for the prior one.
`Windows` + `,`	Read row	Reads the current row across.
`Windows` + `.`	Read column	Reads the current column down.
`Ctrl` + `Windows` + `J`	Jump to table cell	Prompts for a cell address and jumps there; add Shift to return.

PlaceMarkers (3)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Windows` + `K`	Set temporary PlaceMarker	Drops a marker at the cursor (permanent in Word).
`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `K`	Manage PlaceMarkers	Adds, deletes, edits, or renames permanent PlaceMarkers.
`7–0`	Read PlaceMarkers 1–4	Number-row 7 through 0 read the text at your first four markers; add Shift to move there instead.

Cursors & Mouse (Desktop Layout) (9)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`NumPad Plus`	PC cursor	Switches to the PC cursor — the ordinary system caret. This is also how you leave forms mode.
`NumPad Minus`	JAWS cursor	Switches to the JAWS cursor, which follows the mouse pointer and can reach places the caret cannot.
`Shift` + `NumPad Plus`	Touch cursor	Switches to the touch cursor for object-by-object navigation.
`Insert` + `NumPad Plus`	Route PC to JAWS cursor	Pulls the PC cursor to where the JAWS cursor is.
`Insert` + `NumPad Minus`	Route JAWS to PC cursor	Pulls the JAWS cursor to where the PC cursor is.
`NumPad Slash`	Left mouse click	Clicks the left button at the JAWS cursor; twice quickly double-clicks.
`NumPad Star`	Right mouse click	Clicks the right button at the JAWS cursor.
`Ctrl` + `Insert` + `NumPad Slash`	Drag and drop	Starts a drag from the JAWS cursor position.
`Insert` + `R`	Restrict JAWS cursor	Confines the JAWS cursor to the active window or control.

Search & Tools (9)

Shortcut	Action	What it does
`Ctrl` + `Insert` + `F`	JAWS Find	Searches the current window or page with JAWS's own find. Outside the browser, Insert + F3 repeats it — on a web page that key opens the features list instead.
`F3`	Find next on web	On a web page, F3 and Shift + F3 repeat the search without the Insert key.
`Insert` + `Space, H`	Speech history	Layered command: shows what JAWS said recently, in a reviewable window.
`Insert` + `Space, D`	Toggle audio ducking	Lowers other applications' volume while JAWS speaks.
`Insert` + `Space, F11`	Toggle Screen Shade	Blanks the display for privacy while JAWS keeps working.
`Insert` + `Space, O, W`	OCR the current window	Layered OCR: recognises the application window. O then S does the whole screen; O then D the current PDF.
`Insert` + `Windows` + `C`	Copy to FSClipboard	Appends the selection to JAWS's cumulative clipboard.
`Windows` + `Insert` + `X`	Read clipboard contents	Speaks what is on the Windows clipboard.
`Insert` + `G`	Graphics labeler	Labels the graphic under the cursor; Ctrl + Insert + G labels automatically.

📜 Source: Freedom Scientific — JAWS Hotkeys. Every shortcut below comes from Freedom Scientific’s own hotkeys page, desktop keyboard layout, with laptop-layout equivalents noted where they differ most. One long-standing error from an earlier version of this page — K listed as the link key — is corrected: in JAWS, K moves to PlaceMarkers. Checked 2026-08-02.

📄 View Printable Cheat Sheet — Download as PDF or print · 🧩 Combine with other tools

Related Shortcut Pages

NVDA VoiceOver Windows Microsoft Word Chrome Safari

Search 13,500+ shortcuts across 269 platforms

Explore All Platforms Practice Shortcuts

🔧 Spotted an error or a missing shortcut? Suggest an edit on GitHub — every accepted fix goes live on this page, the API and the CLI.

One correction, stated plainly

An earlier version of this page listed K as “next link”. That is NVDA’s keymap, not JAWS’s. In JAWS, K moves to the next PlaceMarker, and link movement is Tab and Shift + Tab, with U and V for unvisited and visited links. The two screen readers also swap their radio-button keys — JAWS uses A where NVDA uses R — so if you work across both, those two letters are the ones most worth double-checking. Every row on this page now matches Freedom Scientific’s published table.

Desktop layout, the Insert key, and layers

JAWS ships in desktop layout by default: Insert is the JAWS key and the numeric keypad carries the reading commands. Laptop layout swaps Insert for Caps Lock and remaps the numpad commands onto letters — Say All becomes Caps Lock + A, say line becomes Caps Lock + I. The table above shows desktop keys and flags the laptop form where it differs most. The other pattern worth knowing is layered commands: press and release Insert + Space, then a single letter. S cycles the speech mode, H shows the speech history, D toggles audio ducking, O opens the OCR layer, and pressing ? inside any layer lists what that layer can do.

The web workflow in five keys

On a page, H walks the headings, Insert + F6 lists them all in one dialog, F hops between form controls, Enter drops into forms mode to type, and NumPad Plus climbs back out to the virtual cursor. Two less obvious keys earn their place quickly: N skips past a block of links — the fastest escape from a navigation menu — and Q jumps straight to the page’s main landmark. Holding Ctrl + Insert before most quick keys turns the jump into a list dialog of every such element on the page.

Frequently asked questions

Why does `K` not move to links in JAWS?

Because Freedom Scientific assigns K to PlaceMarkers. Link movement in JAWS is Tab and Shift + Tab; U and V pick out unvisited and visited links. Cheat sheets showing K as the link key have copied NVDA’s layout by mistake — this page did too, and it is now fixed.

What is the JAWS key, and what if my keyboard has no Insert?

In desktop layout the JAWS key is Insert. Laptop layout uses Caps Lock instead and remaps the numpad reading commands onto letters, which is the practical choice on keyboards without a numeric keypad.

How do JAWS layered keystrokes work?

Press and release Insert + Space, then press one more key: S for speech mode, H for speech history, O for the OCR layer, F11 for Screen Shade. Inside a layer, ? lists everything available. Layers exist so JAWS can add commands without colliding with application shortcuts.

What is the difference between the PC cursor and the JAWS cursor?

NumPad Plus activates the PC cursor — the ordinary system caret that types and selects. NumPad Minus activates the JAWS cursor, which rides the mouse pointer and can read screen areas the caret cannot reach; NumPad Slash then clicks wherever it sits.

How do I read a table without losing my place?

Move cell by cell with Alt + Ctrl plus the arrow keys — row and column context is announced as you go. Windows + , reads the whole current row and Windows + . the whole column, and Ctrl + Windows + J jumps straight to a cell address.

Can JAWS read text inside images or inaccessible PDFs?

Yes — Convenient OCR. Press Insert + Space, then O, then choose: W recognises the application window, S the whole screen, D the current PDF. Recognised text opens in a window the virtual cursor can read normally.

🤖 Ask AI about JAWS shortcuts

Open your assistant with this page preloaded as the source — great for follow-up questions like "which of these work in other apps?"

ChatGPT Claude Perplexity Gemini Grok