VoiceOver describes aloud what appears on the screen, and speaks the text in documents and windows. Using VoiceOver, you control the computer primarily with the keyboard instead of the mouse.

You use the VoiceOver cursor to move around the screen and hear descriptions of the items it lands on. You can also use it to activate buttons and other controls, and read and edit text.

To control VoiceOver and move the VoiceOver cursor, hold down the Control and Option keys as you press the arrow keys or other keys. You can show or hide the VoiceOver cursor. Showing it allows others working with you to more closely collaborate with you as you work.

Your keyboard and mouse work with the VoiceOver cursor in a variety of ways. You can configure the cursors so they follow each other, or use them separately to move in different applications at the same time.

You can turn on VoiceOver in the Universal Access pane of System Preferences, or by pressing Command-F5 (or Fn-Command-F5 if you have an iBook or PowerBook).

You can customize VoiceOver to fit your working style. When VoiceOver is running, press Control-Option-F8 to open VoiceOver Utility and make the settings you want.

VoiceOver is available in English only. For more information about using VoiceOver, click the links below.

See also

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