> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/nvaccess/nvda/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuration

> Customize NVDA settings, preferences, and behavior to match your workflow

NVDA offers extensive configuration options to adapt to your preferences, workflow, and specific needs.

## Accessing Configuration

### NVDA Settings Dialog

The main configuration hub for NVDA.

**Open:** `NVDA+Control+G` (General settings) or `NVDA+N` > Preferences > Settings

<Info>
  The settings dialog contains multiple categories. Press `Control+Tab` to move forward through categories, or `Shift+Control+Tab` to move backward.
</Info>

### Quick Settings Shortcuts

Direct access to specific setting categories:

| Category     | Shortcut         | Description                               |
| ------------ | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| **General**  | `NVDA+Control+G` | Interface language, updates, exit options |
| **Speech**   | `NVDA+Control+V` | Synthesizer, voice, speech parameters     |
| **Braille**  | `NVDA+Control+A` | Display selection, braille tables         |
| **Keyboard** | `NVDA+Control+K` | Keyboard layout, typing options           |
| **Mouse**    | `NVDA+Control+M` | Mouse tracking, audio coordinates         |

## General Settings

### Language

**Setting:** Language combo box\
**Default:** User Default, Windows

Select the language for NVDA's interface and messages.

<Note>
  NVDA must restart when changing language. You'll be prompted to restart now or later.
</Note>

**Available languages include:**

* Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Aragonese
* Bulgarian, Burmese, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional)
* Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English
* Finnish, French, Galician, Georgian, German
* Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic
* Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Mongolian
* Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil/Portugal)
* Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian
* Spanish (Colombia/Spain), Swedish, Thai, Turkish
* Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and many more...

### Save and Exit Options

<Accordion title="Save configuration on exit">
  **Type:** Checkbox\
  **Default:** Enabled

  When checked, NVDA automatically saves all settings when you exit.

  **When to disable:** Testing temporary settings or configurations
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Show exit options">
  **Type:** Checkbox\
  **Default:** Enabled

  When checked, displays a dialog when exiting with options:

  * Exit NVDA
  * Restart NVDA
  * Restart with add-ons disabled
  * Restart with debug logging
  * Install pending updates

  **When to disable:** For faster exit without confirmation
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Play sounds when starting or exiting">
  **Type:** Checkbox\
  **Default:** Enabled

  Play startup and shutdown sounds as audio confirmation.
</Accordion>

### Startup Behavior

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start after sign-in">
    Enable to launch NVDA automatically after logging into Windows.

    **Requirement:** Installed copy only (not portable)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use during sign-in">
    Enable to run NVDA on the Windows login screen.

    **Requirement:** Administrator privileges
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy settings to system">
    Click to apply current settings to secure screens (login, UAC).

    **Important:** Save configuration (`Control+NVDA+C`) before copying
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Updates

<Accordion title="Automatically check for updates">
  **Default:** Enabled

  NVDA periodically checks for new versions and notifies you.

  **Information sent:**

  * Current NVDA version
  * Operating system version
  * Processor architecture (x86/x64/ARM64)
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Notify for pending updates">
  Shows notification on startup if an update is ready to install.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Update Mirror">
  Specify an alternative server for updates.

  **Use when:**

  * NV Access server is slow or blocked
  * Organization requires internal update server
  * Located in region with access restrictions

  **Set mirror:** Click "Change" button and enter URL
</Accordion>

## Keyboard Settings

**Access:** `NVDA+Control+K`

### Keyboard Layout

Choose between Desktop and Laptop layouts:

<Accordion title="Desktop Layout">
  **Best for:** Full-size keyboards with numeric keypad

  **Features:**

  * Uses numpad extensively for navigation
  * More efficient for power users
  * Requires Num Lock off for NVDA commands
  * Clear spatial organization of commands
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Laptop Layout">
  **Best for:** Laptops and keyboards without numpad

  **Features:**

  * Uses alternative key combinations
  * Works on any keyboard
  * No Num Lock dependency
  * More modifier key combinations
</Accordion>

### Typing Feedback

<Accordion title="Speak typed characters">
  **Shortcut:** `NVDA+2`

  NVDA speaks each character as you type it.

  **Options:**

  * Enabled: Speak all typed characters
  * Disabled: No character echo
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Speak typed words">
  **Shortcut:** `NVDA+3`

  NVDA speaks complete words when you press Space or Enter.

  **Best for:** Verifying word spelling without character-by-character feedback
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Speech interrupt for typed characters">
  Determines whether typing interrupts current speech.

  **Enabled:** Typing stops speech immediately\
  **Disabled:** Speech continues while typing
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Speak command keys">
  **Shortcut:** `NVDA+4`

  NVDA announces non-character keys:

  * Modifier keys (Control, Shift, Alt)
  * Function keys (F1-F12)
  * Navigation keys (arrows, Page Up/Down)
  * Special keys (Enter, Escape, Tab)

  **Best for:** Learning keyboard commands and verifying input
</Accordion>

### Special Key Handling

<Accordion title="Handle keys from other applications">
  Allow NVDA to intercept keyboard shortcuts from other programs.

  **Use case:** Some applications like remote desktop need this enabled
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Caps Lock as NVDA modifier">
  Enable Caps Lock as an additional NVDA modifier key.

  **Benefits:**

  * Easier to reach than Insert
  * Better ergonomics for frequent commands
  * Works alongside Insert key

  **Note:** Press Caps Lock twice quickly to toggle caps lock state
</Accordion>

## Mouse Settings

**Access:** `NVDA+Control+M`

### Mouse Tracking

<Accordion title="Enable mouse tracking">
  **Shortcut:** `NVDA+M`

  NVDA announces text under the mouse pointer as you move it.

  **Reading modes:**

  * Paragraph: Reads surrounding paragraph
  * Line: Reads only the current line

  **Best for:** Exploring visual interfaces, finding screen elements
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Report object under mouse">
  Announces the control type (button, link, edit field) under the mouse.

  **Best for:** Understanding interface layout without seeing the screen
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Audio coordinates">
  Plays tones to indicate mouse position:

  * **Pitch:** Vertical position (higher = top, lower = bottom)
  * **Stereo pan:** Horizontal position (left/right speaker)

  **Brightness:** Volume indicates proximity to center

  **Best for:** Precise mouse positioning, screen exploration
</Accordion>

### Mouse Settings Options

| Setting               | Description                                                   |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Resolution**        | How often NVDA reports mouse movement (lower = more frequent) |
| **Shape indication**  | Report mouse cursor shape changes                             |
| **Role announcement** | Announce control types under mouse                            |

## Document Reading

### Document Formatting

**Access:** NVDA Settings > Document Formatting

Control what formatting information NVDA reports:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Font Attributes" icon="font">
    * Font name
    * Font size
    * Bold, italic, underline
    * Strikethrough
    * Subscript/superscript
  </Card>

  <Card title="Text Properties" icon="text">
    * Color
    * Background color
    * Highlighting
    * Text style changes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Document Information" icon="file">
    * Headings
    * Lists
    * Block quotes
    * Groupings
    * Landmarks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Page Elements" icon="table">
    * Links
    * Tables
    * Comments
    * Editor revisions
    * Spelling errors
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

**Quick toggle:** Press `NVDA+Control+D` to temporarily toggle document formatting

### Table Reporting

<Accordion title="Report tables">
  Announce when entering and exiting tables.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Report table row/column headers">
  **Options:**

  * Rows and Columns
  * Rows only
  * Columns only
  * Off

  Announces header cells as you navigate table content.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Report cell coordinates">
  Speaks cell position (e.g., "Row 3, Column 2") when navigating tables.
</Accordion>

### Reading Preferences

<Accordion title="Automatic language switching">
  Switch synthesizer language based on document language metadata.

  **Requires:** Synthesizer voices in multiple languages
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Use screen layout">
  Present document content spatially as it appears visually.

  **Effects:**

  * Preserves column layout
  * Maintains visual spacing
  * Shows aligned elements

  **Best for:** Forms, tables, formatted documents
</Accordion>

## Vision Settings

Even for screen reader users, visual highlighting can help sighted collaborators:

### Visual Highlight

**Access:** NVDA Settings > Vision

<Accordion title="Focus Highlight">
  Draws a colored rectangle around:

  * System focus
  * Navigator object
  * Browse mode cursor

  **Colors configurable for each element**
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Screen Curtain">
  Blacks out the screen for privacy:

  **Toggle:** `NVDA+Control+Escape`

  **Use cases:**

  * Privacy in public spaces
  * Presentations about screen readers
  * Testing true non-visual workflow

  <Warning>
    Screen curtain disables all visual output. Ensure you can navigate by sound before enabling!
  </Warning>
</Accordion>

## Input Gestures

**Access:** NVDA Menu > Preferences > Input Gestures

Customize or add keyboard shortcuts for any NVDA command.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find Command">
    Browse the tree view or use the search field to find the command you want to customize.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Gesture">
    Select the command and click "Add". Press the key combination you want to assign.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Remove Gesture">
    Select an existing gesture and click "Remove" to delete the assignment.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Changes">
    Click "OK" to save your custom gestures.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Command categories:**

* Browse mode
* Global commands
* Input
* Object navigation
* Speech
* System caret
* Text review
* Vision
* Application-specific

<Tip>
  You can assign multiple gestures to the same command, or leave commands unassigned until you need them.
</Tip>

## Configuration Profiles

Create different configurations for different situations:

### Profile Types

<Accordion title="Normal Configuration">
  **Active:** Always (unless overridden)

  Your default settings used in most applications.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Application Profiles">
  **Active:** When specific application has focus

  **Examples:**

  * Different speech rate for web browsers
  * Specific braille settings for text editors
  * Custom keyboard commands for particular apps
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Manual Profiles">
  **Active:** When explicitly enabled

  **Examples:**

  * "Presentation mode" with slower speech
  * "Quiet mode" with minimal verbosity
  * "Braille only" mode for library use
</Accordion>

### Managing Profiles

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Profile Manager">
    Press `NVDA+N` > Preferences > Configuration Profiles
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Profile">
    Click "New" and choose:

    * Profile name
    * Activation type (manual/application)
    * Application to trigger (if application profile)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit Profile">
    Select profile, click "Edit". All setting changes apply only to this profile.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use Profile">
    For manual profiles, select and click "Manual activate"
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Profile settings override normal configuration. Changes to settings while a profile is active modify that profile, not your normal configuration.
</Info>

## Advanced Settings

<Warning>
  Advanced settings should only be changed if you understand their implications. Incorrect settings may cause instability.
</Warning>

### Notable Advanced Options

<Accordion title="UI Automation">
  **Use UI Automation to access Microsoft Word documents:** Enabled by default on Windows 11

  Provides better performance and accessibility in modern Office versions.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Browse Mode Loading">
  **Maximum characters per page:** Controls memory vs. responsiveness trade-off

  Higher values = more memory, faster navigation\
  Lower values = less memory, more loading pauses
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Debug Logging">
  **Enable logging levels:**

  * Info
  * Debug
  * Input/Output

  **Use for:** Troubleshooting, bug reporting

  <Note>
    Debug logging significantly impacts performance and generates large log files.
  </Note>
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Play Error Sound">
  Play sound when NVDA encounters an error.

  **Best for:** Developers, troubleshooting
</Accordion>

## Saving and Restoring Configuration

### Save Configuration

**Save current settings:** `Control+NVDA+C`

Also accessible via NVDA Menu > Preferences > Save Configuration

<Info>
  Some settings like window position and certain states are always saved on exit regardless of this setting.
</Info>

### Revert Configuration

**Revert to saved:** `NVDA+Control+R` (press three times)

Restores settings to last saved state, discarding all changes since then.

### Reset to Defaults

From NVDA menu:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Preferences">
    Press `NVDA+N`, then `P` for Preferences
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reset to Defaults">
    Select "Reset to Factory Defaults"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm Reset">
    Confirm that you want to delete all custom settings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart NVDA">
    NVDA restarts with default settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Resetting to defaults permanently deletes all customizations, including profiles, dictionaries, and custom gestures. This cannot be undone.
</Warning>

## Configuration Files Location

NVDA stores settings in:

**Installed version:**\
`C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\nvda\`

**Portable version:**\
`[NVDA folder]\userConfig\`

**Important files:**

* `nvda.ini` - Main configuration
* `profiles/` - Configuration profiles
* `speechDicts/` - Speech dictionaries
* `gestures.ini` - Custom input gestures
* `addons/` - Installed add-ons

<Tip>
  Backup the userConfig folder regularly to preserve your customizations.
</Tip>

## Import and Export Settings

### Export Configuration

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Portable Copy">
    NVDA Menu > Tools > Create Portable Copy
  </Step>

  <Step title="Include Current Config">
    Check "Copy current user configuration" option
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Location">
    Choose destination folder (USB drive, network location, etc.)
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Import Configuration

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install NVDA">
    Run installer or launch portable copy
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy Config Files">
    Manually copy files from backup to userConfig folder
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart NVDA">
    Restart to apply imported settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips for Effective Configuration

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Start Simple" icon="seedling">
    Begin with defaults, then customize gradually as you discover needs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Profiles" icon="layer-group">
    Create profiles for different tasks rather than constantly changing settings
  </Card>

  <Card title="Backup Regularly" icon="floppy-disk">
    Export configuration before major changes or system updates
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test Thoroughly" icon="flask">
    Try new settings in non-critical situations before committing
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keyboard Commands" icon="keyboard" href="/user-guide/keyboard-commands">
    Learn all available keyboard shortcuts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Add-ons" icon="puzzle-piece" href="/user-guide/addons">
    Extend NVDA with community add-ons
  </Card>
</CardGroup>