How to Change Magnifier Reading Keys in Windows 11

Change the Magnifier Reading Keys Using the Settings App

Changing the key lets you control how you start and stop Magnifier’s spoken feedback without holding a two-key combination. The steps below walk through it, and you can switch back at any time.

Step 1Open Settings

First, open the Settings app. You can use either of these ways:

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Or press the Win+I on your keyboard.

The Settings window should open, with a list of categories on the left.

Step 2Go to Accessibility

Next, go to the accessibility options.

1. In the list on the left, click Accessibility.
2. Check the right-hand pane. It should now show the accessibility tools, grouped by vision, hearing and interaction.

Step 3Select Magnifier

Now open the Magnifier settings.

1. On the right, under the vision section, select the Magnifier tile.
2. Wait for the Magnifier page to open. It has the on/off switch and the zoom, appearance and reading options.

You do not need Magnifier turned on to change the reading shortcut. The path is Settings › Accessibility › Magnifier. If you want to test the new key afterwards, press the Windows key + Plus sign to start Magnifier.

Step 4Choose Your New Modifier Key

Now pick the new key.

1. In the Magnifier settings, scroll down until you find the Reading shortcut section.
2. Click the drop-down menu there to open the list of modifier keys.
3. Choose the option you want. The default is Ctrl + Alt, and the alternatives are Caps Lock and Insert.
4. Check that the drop-down now shows your choice.

The change applies straight away, so there is no Save button. To undo it, open the same drop-down and choose Ctrl + Alt again.

Step 5Close Settings

When you are finished, close the Settings app by clicking the X in the top-right corner of the window. Your choice is kept.

Change Magnifier Shortcut Keys Using the Registry

You can also change the shortcut keys in the Windows Registry Editor. Use this method if you want to set the value directly, or if the option in Settings does not behave as expected.

Step 1Open Registry Editor

⚠️ Admin privileges required

You must be signed in with an administrator account. Without admin rights, Registry Editor may refuse to let you create or change the value.

1. Open the Windows Registry (search for Registry Editor in the Start menu⊞ and open it). Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
2. In the left pane, navigate to this folder key path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ScreenMagnifier

When you reach it, the ScreenMagnifier key should be selected in the left pane. Its values, if any, are listed on the right.

Step 2Create a New DWORD Value

Now create the new value.

1. Right-click the ScreenMagnifier key in the left pane.
2. Choose New, then select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Give this new value the name ModifierKey. It must be a 32-bit value.

The new value should now appear in the right pane. If it is already there from an earlier change, skip the creation and edit the existing one.

Step 3Set the Value

Double-click the newly created ModifierKey value to open its edit box. In the Value data field, type one of the numbers below. Here is what each one means:

• Enter 1 to use the default Ctrl + Alt. Use this to go back to the original behaviour.
• Enter 2 to use Caps⇩.
• Enter 4 to use Ins.
• Enter 6 to use Caps⇩ or Insert, so either key works.

Click OK to save the value.

Step 4Reboot Your Computer

Close Registry Editor. Rebooting your computer may be necessary for the changes to take effect, so restart it if the new key does not work straight away. To undo the change, set the value back to 1 and restart again.

That completes the process.

Reference

Microsoft.com

Summary

You can change the Magnifier reading keys in Windows 11 to make reading the screen easier and more comfortable. Magnifier enlarges parts of your display, and you can switch the default reading shortcut to a key like Caps Lock or Insert. A single key is quicker to press than Ctrl + Alt and puts less strain on your hands.

The Settings app is the simpler route. The Registry Editor does the same job and is useful when you want to set the value yourself. Either way, you can go back to the default whenever you like.

• The Magnifier app is a helpful tool for improving screen readability.
• You can easily change the reading shortcuts through the Settings app or the Windows Registry.
• The default modifier key for Magnifier shortcuts is Ctrl + Alt. You can change it to options like Caps Lock or Insert.
• Always back up your registry or create a System Restore point before changing the Registry Editor.
• Adapting the Magnifier settings can lead to a more personalized experience for users with vision difficulties.