How to Enable Advanced Reading in Windows 11 Narrator
Advanced Reading in Windows 11 Narrator is a set of built-in tools that lets you skip straight to links, find specific words, and view summaries of long web pages. Narrator is the free screen reader built into Windows 11. It speaks text aloud and describes buttons and other controls on your screen, so you can work without looking at the monitor.
Open Settings Accessibility Narrator, scroll to Verbosity level, and toggle Read advanced details, like help text, on buttons and other controls On or Off. The change applies immediately without restarting.
Press Win+Ctrl+Enter at the same time to turn Narrator on or off whenever you need it. The first time you start it, a short welcome dialog may appear. You can close it and carry on. Narrator works the same way in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so nothing in this guide depends on your edition.
These guides cover the core Narrator features in more detail:
- Turn keyboard shortcuts on or off
- Make Narrator start automatically
- Change the voice, speed, and volume
- Add or remove natural voices
- Lower other app sounds when Narrator is talking
Narrator can do much more than these core settings cover.
One setting is worth knowing about first. It controls whether Narrator reads advanced details, such as help text and extra information about buttons and other controls. With it on, Narrator announces more about each item you land on. With it off, Narrator keeps its readout short. Which is better depends on how well you already know the screen you are using. New users usually want more detail. Experienced users usually want less.
How to Turn On or Off Advanced Details in Narrator
%%H2–>With advanced details on, you hear extra information about what is on your screen, such as button descriptions and hints about what a control does. You change this in the Narrator settings under Accessibility. Nothing needs to be installed, and you do not need to restart Windows or Narrator afterwards.
Follow these steps to change the setting:
- Open Settings. Click the Start menu (the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner) and choose Settings, or press the Windows key + I. The Settings window opens.
- Click Accessibility in the left menu. The accessibility options appear on the right.
- On the right side, click Narrator. The Narrator settings page opens, with the main on/off switch at the top.
- Scroll down to the Verbosity section and click Verbosity level to expand it.
- Find Read advanced details, like help text, on buttons and other controls and switch it On or Off. Switch it On if you want the extra help text. Switch it Off for a quieter readout.
- Close the Settings window. The change applies immediately, so move to any button and listen to how Narrator describes it.
First, make sure you are on Settings Accessibility Narrator and not on a different accessibility page. Second, expand Verbosity level, because the option sits inside that section. Menu labels can differ slightly between Windows 11 builds. This guide follows the layout in version 22H2. To undo the change, return to the same place and flip the switch back.
These screenshots show where to look:
Find Narrator under Accessibility in Settings
Turn advanced details reading on or off here
Summary
%%H3-->Advanced details give you fuller descriptions of on-screen items, such as buttons and tips on how to use them. Turning them on or off lets you control exactly how much you hear. The Verbosity level setting also affects how much Narrator says about other things, such as text, so try it on a page you know well to find a level that suits you.
Turning advanced details off gives a quieter readout. This is a good choice once you know your way around.
Look for the voice settings on the same Narrator page. Changing the speed does not affect which details Narrator reads. It only changes how quickly it speaks them.
These guides cover more on Narrator and other Windows 11 features. They explain how to handle common tasks and point out new features in version 22H2.
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Richard
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Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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