13.1 Where to find these commands

The commands in this lesson can be found in the Speaking Access menu by stating: “Windows Magnifier”

This lesson shows how to control Windows Magnifier using simple voice commands—no shortcut keys required. You will learn how to zoom, move around the screen, switch views, invert colors, and even have Magnifier read text aloud.

13.2 Opening and closing Magnifier

There are two easy ways to open Windows Magnifier.

• Open Magnifying Glass — opens Magnifier
• Zoom In — also opens Magnifier (and zooms in once)

To close Magnifier, simply say: “Close Magnifying Glass”

Note: When you close Magnifier, your current zoom level is remembered. Next time you open it, it will start at that same zoom level.

13.3 Zoom in and zoom out

Zooming is one of the most useful Magnifier tools. You can zoom in or out once, or you can stack the command to move several steps at a time.

Zoom in

• Zoom In — zooms in one step
• Zoom In Two Times — zooms in two steps
• Zoom In Three Times — zooms in three steps

Zoom out

• Zoom Out — zooms out one step
• Zoom Out Two Times — zooms out two steps
• Zoom Out Three Times — zooms out three steps

Tip: If you are practicing with a student, start with smaller zoom changes first. Quick large zoom jumps can feel disorienting until the user is comfortable.

13.4 Panning without a mouse

When you are zoomed in, you often need to move around the screen. Magnifier can pan in any direction without using a mouse.

Say Pan, followed by the direction, followed by the number of times:

• Pan Right Four Times
• Pan Down Two Times
• Pan Left Three Times
• Pan Up One Time

Tip: If the user feels lost, reduce zoom first, then pan in smaller steps. It becomes much easier to orient yourself when you are not zoomed in too far.

13.5 Reading text aloud

One of the coolest features in Magnifier is that it can read text aloud. This can be helpful for low-vision users, students learning to read, or anyone who wants audio reinforcement.

Before you start reading, remember: reading begins from the position of your cursor. Place your cursor where you want the reading to start.

• Magnifier Start Reading — begins reading from the cursor position
• Stop — stops reading

13.6 Invert colors

Inverting colors can reduce glare and make text easier to see. This command toggles between normal colors and inverted colors.

• Invert Colors — toggles inverted colors on or off

Tip: If the screen suddenly looks “weird,” it is often because invert colors is enabled. Just say Invert Colors again to return to normal.

13.7 Cycle through views

Windows Magnifier has multiple viewing modes (sometimes called lenses or views). You can cycle through them to find the one that feels most comfortable.

• Cycle Through Views — switches to the next Magnifier view

Tip: Try cycling views a few times in a row until you get back to the one you prefer. Some users like a “magnifying glass” feel, while others prefer the docked or full view.

13.8 Preview full screen

If you need to quickly orient yourself on the page, use preview full screen. This can help you regain your sense of location before continuing.

• Preview Full Screen — helps you quickly orient on the screen

13.9 Important notes (teachers + textboxes)

Note to teachers and support people

When you are working side by side with a student, speaking commands out loud by themselves can sometimes cause unintended command executions. This is more common for teachers with deeper or heavy-bass voices.

This can be prevented by incorporating the command into a short sentence, even if it is only a simple three-word phrase. Doing this dramatically reduces accidental activations.

Text box warning

If you use commands like Invert Colors, Cycle Through Views, or Preview Full Screen while your cursor is inside a text box, you may see letters show up in the text field. This happens because Windows may pass some shortcut-key characters into the box.

If this occurs, simply delete the extra characters and continue. We just want you to be aware of it so it doesn’t feel confusing during training.