Chrome Accessibility Features Complete Guide

Chrome’s accessibility settings are in one place: select More > Settings > Accessibility, or open chrome://settings/accessibility. That page has Live Caption, image descriptions for screen reader users, caret browsing and a focus highlight. Text size and zoom are under Settings > Appearance. This guide covers each one, whether you’re setting up a screen reader, high contrast mode, or bigger text.

How to Set Up Screen Reader in Chrome

Screen readers are essential for visually impaired users to navigate web content. Chrome needs no setup of its own: its accessibility support turns on automatically when a screen reader is running.

1. Turn on or install the screen reader for your device:
   • ChromeVox: Built into ChromeOS. Press Ctrl + Alt + Z.
   • NVDA: Download and install from the official website for Windows.
   • JAWS: Another popular option for Windows users.
   • VoiceOver: Built into macOS. Press Command + F5.
2. Open Chrome and browse as usual.
3. Optional: in Chrome’s Accessibility settings, turn on Get image descriptions from Google to hear descriptions of images that have none. To create descriptions, images are sent to Google.

Using Keyboard Navigation in Chrome

Keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance navigation for users who prefer not to use a mouse. Here’s how to optimize keyboard navigation:

1. Press F7 to turn caret browsing on or off (on a Mac too; on a Chromebook, Ctrl + Search + 7).
2. Use the Tab key to move between clickable elements and Shift + Tab to move backwards.
3. Open the Chrome menu with Alt + F or Alt + E on Windows and Linux. On a Mac, Command + Comma opens Settings.
4. Use Ctrl + L (Windows/Linux) or Command + L (Mac) to jump to the address bar.

Setting Up High Contrast and Zoom in Chrome

High contrast and zoom settings are crucial for users with visual impairments. Follow these steps to enhance visibility:

1. For high contrast, use your computer’s own setting. On Windows, Google says Chrome’s colors automatically follow your computer’s contrast settings. You can also add Google’s High Contrast extension. Dark mode is a separate feature and is not the same as high contrast.
2. Adjust font size by going to Settings > Appearance > Font size.
3. Use Ctrl + Plus (+) or Ctrl + Minus (-) to zoom in and out. On Mac, use Command + Plus (+) and Command + Minus (-).
4. Set the default zoom level in Settings > Appearance > Page zoom.

How to Enable Live Captions in Chrome

Live Captions provide real-time subtitles for audio and video content, making it accessible for users with hearing impairments:

1. Select More > Settings > Accessibility. On Linux, then select Captions.
2. Turn on Live Caption. Google says the audio is processed on your device and never leaves it.
3. To change the caption font, size and color, select Caption preferences. On Windows and Mac this opens your computer’s own caption settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enable Chrome accessibility features on Android?

Tap More > Settings > Accessibility. There you can set the default zoom and turn on Force enable zoom. For a screen reader, use Android’s TalkBack.

Can I use Chrome accessibility features on iOS?

Yes. Chrome on iPhone and iPad works with VoiceOver. To make a page bigger, tap More > Zoom text, then tap Zoom in or Zoom out.

Do I need a specific version of Chrome for these features?

Recent versions of Chrome support all the features mentioned here. Our guide on how to update Chrome shows how to get the latest version.

How to fix if Live Caption isn’t working?

Make sure Live Caption is turned on in settings and the video’s volume is on. Captions for videos that play automatically only appear when the volume is turned on.

Are there any keyboard shortcuts for Live Caption?

Google does not list a shortcut for Live Caption. To turn captions on for media, you can also select Media control at the top right of Chrome.