NVDA Installation Inquiry

[Jerry Martin]

Good morning.

 

My name is Jerry Martin, and I have a few questions regarding NVDA.

 

I am getting ready to join a program to deal with accessibility concerns with the US Government. One of their requirements is to have NVDA. So here are some of my questions.

 

First, I believe it is a free program to download, correct?

Second, starting this from being a jaws user, what are the major issues/differences between the two screen readers i.e. keyboard commands for functions, etc.?

 

Thanks much.

Jerry

[Noelia]

Hello, and welcome to this group.

In fact, NVDA is free to download and use.

Please see this webpage, where you will also find a link to the Switching from JAWS to NVDA guide:

https://www.nvaccess.org/get-help

Gope this helps,

Noelia

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[Jerry Martin]

Thanks. Just for clarification, I was listening to the list of keyboard commands and the NVDA key is the same thing as the insert key on the numpad, correct? Thanks again.

 

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[Rahul Vaniya]

Yes, NVDA key is the insert key.

Also caps lock key can be used as the NVDA key. In order to do that you have to check the checkbox use caps lock as a NVDA key from the keyboard setting.

If you have numpad and if you keep numblock of then lumpete 0 also can be used NVDA key.

As your going to work with government please keep in mind that the screen reader is open source.

Thanks.

keyboard 

Rahul Vaniya

Computer Instructor | Tanya Computer Centre

Blind People's Association, India

DHS Trusted Tester (Section 508)
NVDA Certified Expert 2025
JAWS Certified 2026

GitHub

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[mrsi...@sasktel.net]

Hi Jerry.

The nvda key by default is the insert key on the numpad or in the six-pack.

You can also set the caps lock key to be the n vda key.

 

Monte Single

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[David Grossoehme]

That is correct unless it has been changed to the caps Lock.  If this is a desktop computer.  If on a laptop, I would have to have someone else clarify that.

Dave

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[Tiny Puppy-butchb]

on my desktop, it is the 0 or insert key on the numpad and I also have mine set to the caps lock key, the key in the sixpack key isn't an nvda key. 

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[David Grossoehme]

You might wish to read through the User guide for more help.  You can reach this after you install the program by pressing the NVDA key + the letter n togather, which gets you into NVDA then press the letter h for help then the letter u for the User Guide.  Then for commands there is a section on quick commands as you can see, if you don't press u and arrow down.  One thing different is NVDA uses Add On's for additional function of the program, where Jaws uses Scripts.

Good luck.

Dave

[Jerry Martin]

I am hoping that I will only need NVDA for training purposes. We will wait and see. Thanks.

 

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[David Grossoehme]

Good Morning Jerry:  I doubt that fact.  How can you check for accessibility for NVDA if you don't have to use it on the job, especially when the new Department of Justice ruling goes into effect as of next May?  All web sites are required to have access to all Screen Readers and all browsers as well as mobile devices and their screen readers?  You can check, but I would be doing some research on this and asking your advicing personnel.  You might wish to learn more about your job description.  Good luck.

Dave

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[Jerry Martin]

David:

Thanks. All of this is still in the research phase. All I want to do is get back to work; nothing more, nothing less.

 

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[Jerry Martin]

A dumb question. It would be counterproductive to have NVDA and jaws operating at the same time, correct? Like I said, dumb question. Thanks.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: David Grossoehme <da...@grossoehme.com>

Reply-To: <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

To: 'Jerry Martin' via NVDA Screen Reader Discussion <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

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[Fawaz abdul rahman]

It'll be not practical, moreover, the hotkeys will confflict with each other. You can have them both installed.

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[Noelia]

Hello:

You can have both screen reader installed at the same time, and use any of them, but not at the same time.

Cheers,

Noelia

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[Richard Turner]

As someone who primarily uses Jaws, I have from time-to-time, silenced Jaws with insert+spacebar, then s and launched NVDA to check something out.

Yes, there are some keystroke conflicts, but for short sessions, it works fine.

You can always unload Jaws, then load NVDA, then exit NVDA and reload Jaws again.

If you are using a Braille display, sometimes Jaws gets confused and I have to unload jaws, unplug the Braille display, reboot the Braille display, plug it back in and aunch Jaws.

Good luck,

 

 

Richard, USA,

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

-- Alan Watts (1915-1973)

 

My web site: https://www.turner42.com

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[Jerry Martin]

That is what I thought, but you never learn anything by not asking. Old saying but still relevant. Thanks.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Noelia <nrm...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

To: <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

Sent: 7/24/2026 11:06:04 AM

Subject: Re: [NVDA] NVDA Installation Inquiry

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Hello:

You can have both screen reader installed at the same time, and use any of them, but not at the same time.

Cheers,

Noelia

.

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[Jerry Martin]

Okay. I just downloaded it. If not mistaken, I run it as an administrator, correct? Thanks.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Noelia <nrm...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

To: <nvda-...@nvaccess.org>

Sent: 7/24/2026 7:15:36 AM

Subject: Re: [NVDA] NVDA Installation Inquiry

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[Noelia]

You can install NVDA, create a portable copy or run a temporary copy. You don't need to run is an administrator, and not all options require administrator privileges.

For more details, please see section 2.2 of the user guide: 2.2. Setting up NVDA

https://download.nvaccess.org/releases/stable/documentation/en/userGuide.html#StepsForRunningTheDownloadLauncher

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