12.1 Browser Mode vs Edit Mode

NVDA has two main ways it behaves on websites: Browser Mode and Edit Mode.

• Browser Mode: This is for exploring the page. It’s great for headings, links, lists, and reading. In Browser Mode, you can navigate the webpage.
• Edit Mode: This is for typing in forms. It’s used for text boxes, check boxes, and drop-down menus.

The command “Browser Mode” toggles Browser Mode on or off. Say “Browser Mode” once to turn Browser Mode on, and say “Browser Mode” again to turn it off.

NVDA usually switches between these automatically when you land in a form field. If things do not behave as expected (for example, you cannot type in a box or you cannot move around the page), try saying “Browser Mode” to toggle the mode.

12.2 Basic movement (arrow keys)

The simplest way to move around is to simulate the arrow keys. These are great when you want to read line by line or move carefully.

• Up Key
• Down Key
• Left Key
• Right Key

Repeat a command (super handy)

Speaking Access can repeat many navigation commands for you. That means you can move farther with one phrase instead of repeating yourself.

• “Down Key three times”
• “Right Key eight times”

Tip: For most repeated navigation commands, you can stack them up to ten times.

12.3 Moving by focus (Next Key / Previous Key)

The Tab and Shift+Tab keys are some of the most important keys on the web. Speaking Access turns them into simple voice commands:

• Next Key moves forward (like Tab)
• Previous Key moves backward (like Shift+Tab)

Repeat it when you want to move quickly

• “Next Key three times”
• “Previous Key four times”

This is especially useful for moving through menus, link lists, and forms.

12.4 Select / activate (Enter Key)

When you’re on a link, button, or menu item and you want to activate it, use: Enter Key.

You can also repeat it (up to ten) if needed, but most of the time, one press is all you want.

• Enter Key (activate)
• “Enter Key two times” (rarely needed)

12.5 Jump to top or bottom

If you ever feel lost, you can jump straight to the beginning or the end of the web page. These two commands are simple, but they can save you a lot of time.

• Beginning of the document
• End of the document

12.6 Headings (fastest way to navigate)

Headings are the fastest “map” on most websites. Many screen reader users move through a page mostly by headings, because headings let you jump between the big sections quickly.

Move by heading

• Next Heading
• Previous Heading

If there are lots of headings, you can leap forward or backward by stacking:

• “Next Heading five times”
• “Previous Heading two times”

Move by heading level (1 through 6)

Heading levels are like a “table of contents depth.” Level 1 is usually the main topic, and higher levels are more specific. Speaking Access lets you jump by specific levels too.

• Next Level One Heading / Previous Level One Heading
• Next Level Two Heading / Previous Level Two Heading
• …and it continues up to Level Six

Tip: If you land on a heading and want to get into the text under it, just use Down Key to move into the paragraph content.

12.7 Links (visited and unvisited)

Links are everywhere on websites. These commands help you move between them quickly.

• Next Link
• Previous Link

Visited vs unvisited links

Sometimes you want to move only through links you have already clicked, or only through links you have not clicked yet. These commands help with that:

• Next Visited Link
• Previous Visited Link
• Next Unvisited Link
• Previous Unvisited Link

12.8 Lists and list items

Website menus are often lists. So list navigation is a big deal. You can jump from list to list, and then move item by item inside the list.

Move between lists

• Next List
• Previous List

Move inside a list

• Next List Item
• Previous List Item

12.9 Forms (edit boxes, buttons, and more)

Forms are used for sign-ups, searches, contact pages, and logins. These commands help you move through form fields without hunting.

Move between form fields

• Next Form Field
• Previous Form Field

Edit boxes (text fields)

Edit boxes are where you type things like your name or email address.

• Next Edit Box
• Previous Edit Box

Other helpful form controls

• Next Check Box
• Next Combo Box / Previous Combo Box
• Next Button / Previous Button
• Next Radio Button / Previous Radio Button

Reminder: If you land in a form field and typing doesn’t work the way you expect, try toggling with “Browser Mode”. That switches between Browser Mode and Edit Mode.

12.10 Continuous reading (Start Reading / Stop)

If you want NVDA to read continuously (hands-free), use:

• Start Reading
• Stop

This is great for reading longer sections once you’ve navigated to the right spot.