There’s a lot of overlap between JAWS and NVDA keyboard commands. For basic computer navigation, each of these screen readers relies on standard Windows keyboard commands, which makes basic computer navigation practically identical for either screen reader.
Follow the links below to find all kinds of keyboard commands for Windows, JAWS, and NVDA. The list of possible keyboard commands is endless, and you don't need to memorize them all! Stick to the basic commands covered in this course, maybe pick up a few more to help you with specific tasks, and refer back to these lists only as needed.
Desktop vs. Laptop Keyboard Layout
JAWS and NVDA each offer a Desktop keyboard layout and a Laptop keyboard layout. A key difference between these options is that the Desktop layout utilizes the num pad for many commands, and the Laptop layout does not use the num pad.
- In JAWS, the Desktop layout sets the JAWS key to Insert, and the Laptop layout sets the JAWS key to Caps Lock.
- In NVDA, users can choose to assign the NVDA key to either the Insert or Caps Lock keys.