10.1 Edge and Chrome Support

Speaking Access is designed to work best with Microsoft Edge, and that is the browser we recommend for the smoothest experience. That said, many of the same everyday commands also work really well in Google Chrome.

In both Edge and Chrome, you can use the core browser commands for the things people do all day long: opening and switching tabs, jumping to the address bar, going back and forward, refreshing or stopping a page, and opening History or Downloads.

• Works great in both: Tabs, Address Bar, Back/Forward, Refresh/Stop, History, Downloads
• Edge-first / a bit different in Chrome: Collections, Just the Text, Read Aloud, Screenshot, Mute Tab

A quick heads-up: a few features are simply more dependable in Edge. For example, Collections is an Edge feature, and things like Screenshot and Mute Tab tend to behave more consistently there.

In Chrome, reading tools like Just the Text and Read Aloud can still work, but they often depend on Chrome’s reading mode side panel.

10.2 What Browser Commands Are

Speaking Access includes voice commands designed to make browsing fast and simple without relying on keyboard shortcuts. These commands work in Microsoft Edge and are helpful for screen reader users, students, and anyone who wants quick, consistent navigation.

To find these commands in the Speaking Access menus when the lesson is not playing, just say: “Browser Commands”

10.3 Tabs (Open, Close, Switch, and Jump by Number)

Tabs are quick to open, close, and move between:

• Browser Open Tab opens a new tab
• Browser Close Tab closes the current tab
• Browser Previous Tab moves to the tab on the left
• Browser Next Tab moves to the tab on the right

You can also jump directly to a tab by number. Start the command with “Browser Tab” followed by the number: “Browser Tab One”, “Browser Tab Three”, “Browser Tab Four”, etc.

If a tab is playing audio and you need it quiet, use: “Browser Mute Tab”

10.4 Basic Browser Actions (Back, Forward, Refresh, Stop)

These are the everyday commands you will use the most while browsing:

• Browser Refresh reloads the current page
• Browser Stop stops a page from loading
• Browser Back goes back one page
• Browser Forward goes forward one page

10.5 Address Bar and Visiting Websites

To place the cursor in the address bar, say: “Browser Address Bar”

From the address bar you can type a website address, search your browser history, or do a web search. Many students use Post Mode to build a web address clearly, then post it into the address bar.

Example: posting a website address

A common workflow is:

• Open Post Mode
• Speak the website (example: speakingaccess.com)
• Use Access No Spaces if needed
• Use Access Post to paste it into the address bar
• Say Enter Key to load the website

10.6 History, Downloads, Collections, and Small Windows

Speaking Access can open common browser panels such as:

• Browser History
• Browser Downloads
• Browser Collections

Inside these small windows, you can move around using your navigation key commands, then use “Enter Key” to select. To close these panels quickly, say: “Escape Key”

To pull up the Edge menu with these commands and more, say: “Edge Settings”

To take a screenshot of the browser window and place it on the clipboard, say: “Browser Screenshot”

10.7 Just the Text and Read Aloud

One of the most useful features for reading articles is the ability to pull a simplified version of a webpage into a new tab. This removes extra clutter and keeps only the main text and images.

• Browser Just the Text opens a simplified reading view (works best on articles and basic pages)
• Browser Start Reading reads the page out loud
• Browser Stop Reading stops reading

Note: Browser Just the Text works on many news articles and simple websites, but it may not work on every site.

10.8 Note to Teachers

When teaching browser commands, start with the essentials: tab switching (Next / Previous Tab), Address Bar, Back, and Refresh. Then introduce tab numbers (Browser Tab One, Two, Three) and reading commands (Just the Text / Start Reading) once the student is comfortable.

If you are teaching a screen reader user, it may be helpful to pair this lesson with your NVDA navigation lesson so the student learns both: how to move around web content and how to use browser commands efficiently.