How to Enable or Disable Narrator for Modifier Keys in Windows 11

What is Narrator?

Narrator is the screen reader built into Windows. It reads out loud what’s on your screen, including text, buttons, menus and notifications, and describes what is happening as you work. It is meant for people who have trouble seeing or reading the screen, and it is included in both Home and Pro editions at no extra cost.

Narrator also has a group of settings for what it says as you type. Modifier key announcements are one of them. They are separate from the announcements for letters, numbers and words, so you can turn each one on or off on its own.

Why turn on Narrator for keys like Shift and Alt?

When Narrator announces modifier keys, you know right away when you’ve pressed Shift, Alt, Ctrl or the Win. This is handy if you rely on sound to confirm what you’re pressing. It also helps in a few common situations:

• You use keyboard shortcuts a lot and want to catch a missed or stuck key.
• You are learning shortcuts and want each key spoken as you press it.
• You work without looking at the keyboard and want audio feedback for every key.

If you find the spoken key names distracting, for example when you type fast and hold Shift often, you can turn the option off the same way.

How to turn on Narrator to announce modifier keys

With this setting on, Narrator speaks aloud every time you press Shift, Ctrl, Alt or the Windows logo key. You change it in the Settings app: go to the Accessibility menu, select Narrator, and then switch the modifier keys option on or off. The steps below walk through it.

Changing the setting does not start Narrator by itself.

1. Open the Settings app on your Windows 11 PC. You can do this by:

   • Clicking the Start menu (the Windows icon) and then selecting Settings.
   • Or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I at the same time.

   The Settings window should now be open.
2. In the Settings window, click Accessibility in the left menu. The accessibility options appear on the right.
3. On the right side, find and click Narrator to open its settings. The Narrator page opens, with its main on/off switch at the top.
   

   

   
   

4. Scroll down to the section called Verbosity. Click the arrow next to Have Narrator announce when I type to open more options. The list expands and shows the typing announcement settings.
5. Find the option labeled Shift, Alt, and other modifier keys. Click the switch to turn it On or Off, depending on what you want. The switch changes state right away and there is no Save button.
   

   

   
   

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That's it! Now Narrator will say the names of modifier keys when you press them, or stay quiet if you turn the option off.

To check it, press and release Shift or Ctrl with Narrator running. If you turned the option on, you should hear the key name. If you hear nothing, make sure Narrator itself is on, using the switch at the top of the Narrator page, and check that your volume is up. To undo the change, go back to the same page and flip the switch the other way.

Summary

You can toggle it on or off in the Settings app, and the Windows key + I shortcut gets you there quickly.