Windows Narrator is an accessibility feature natively built into the Microsoft Windows 10/11 operating systems. This screen-reading app can read aloud the text appearing on your computer screen and announce any notifications you may receive. This tool is helpful for individuals with visual, cognitive, or mobility disabilities or anyone who needs extra help navigating Windows or comprehending the text on the computer screen.
People with visual impairment can also use Windows Narrator with a Braille display. A Braille display is for those who cannot use a standard computer monitor; it assists blind users by allowing them to read text output.
It is possible to customize the screen reader to be suitable for users with cognitive disabilities, such as reducing the speech speed. Persons with mobility disabilities can use their voices to control the computer. Website developers, testers, and owners can use Windows Narrator as a vital tool for accessibility testing.
Why accessibility testing using Windows Narrator matters
For website and app developers, as well as businesses that own digital property, it is important to test Narrator accessibility during the early design and development phase rather than try to make adjustments later in the development cycle.
Accessibility-related oversights, such as omitting headers or failing to add alt text to an image, can lead to a poor user experience for a person utilizing Windows Narrator to interact with a website or app. Automated accessibility testing can detect some errors, but manual accessibility testing with the Windows Narrator is essential to a comprehensive evaluation.
The key insights obtained from Windows Narrator-based testing will help organizations design and develop a more accessible and compliant website or app. By better fulfilling the needs of your audience, you can expect viewership to increase, bounce rates to improve, engagement levels to rise, and search engine visibility to increase. Above all, effective testing with assistive technologies like Windows Narrator will enhance the user experience.
Steps to test your site or app using Windows Narrator with a keyboard and mouse
- Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter to start Narrator.
- Use the Tab key and arrow keys to navigate your website or app with the keyboard.
- Verify the following items as the Narrator reads aloud the elements of your user interface:
- Ensure the Narrator reads all the content visible for each control.
- For interactive elements, ensure that Narrator can be used to perform the action by pressing Caps Lock + Enter.
- For the tables on screen, verify that Narrator accurately reads the table name and description, and headers of each row and column.
- Search the app using Caps Lock + Shift + Enter to verify that all the controls are showing in the search list and the names of these controls are readable.
- Switch off your computer monitor and attempt to perform all the main app scenarios only using Narrator and the keyboard.
Steps to test your site or app using Windows Narrator with a touch mode
- Familiarize yourself with the user interface and explore the layout.
- Use single-finger swipe gestures to navigate the UI.
- Navigate the focusable elements using tab gestures (a 3-finger swipe to the left or right).
- Test the UI spatially using a single finger (drag a single finger right or left, up or down to have the Narrator read all the items beneath your finger).
- Use a 3-finger swipe up to read the entire window and its contents.
- Test the primary and secondary actions of control and its scrolling behavior.
- Double-tap (or use one finger to press and another to tap) to test a direct action.
- Use triple tap (or double-tap with one finger and press with another) for testing a secondary action.
- Use 2-finger swipes to scroll up or down to test the scrolling behavior.
Key takeaway
Testing with Windows Narrator ensures that you have incorporated usability into your design. Notably, just because you are compliant with the standards does not necessarily mean your UI is the most usable. Comprehensive manual testing for accessibility with Windows Narrator will help your website or app achieve maximum usability.
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