Everyone Should Try These 6 Windows Accessibility Features

Windows accessibility features are often overlooked and mistakenly perceived as only beneficial to individuals with disabilities. However, this is not true for all accessibility options. From improved readability to automatic captions and voice typing, there are many features that everyone should explore.

We used a Windows 11 PC to demonstrate the steps and provide screenshots. However, you should be able to find and use all these accessibility features in Windows 10 as well.

1

Increase the text size for better readability

If you spend most of your day working with text, whether it’s reading email, browsing the web, or editing documents, increasing the text size to a comfortable level can significantly improve your experience.

Larger text is not only easier on the eyes, but can also help maintain a relaxed, ergonomic posture by eliminating the need to squint or lean closer to the screen. This adjustment is especially useful on high-resolution screens, where text often appears smaller by default.

Rather than change the screen resolutionwhich affects the appearance of everything, the accessibility menu in Windows allows you to focus specifically on making the text easier to read.

To adjust the size of the text in Windows, open the Settings app and navigate to Accessibility > Text size. Then, use the slider to increase the size and see a real-time preview in the Text size preview box Once it looks right, click Apply to implement the change in the system.

2

Remove animations

Both Windows 10 and 11 impress with their smooth animations and clean transitions, but did you know you can increase your PC’s responsiveness by turning it off? Disabling these visual effects can make your system feel more agile eliminating the additional processing required for faded windows and sliding menus.

This tweak is especially beneficial if you have an older PC, as it reduces the strain on system resources. Also, this simple change can also help extend battery life in Windows laptops.

Disabling animations is surprisingly simple. Just go to the Settings app, navigate to Accessibilityand select Visual effects. From there, disable the options like Animation effects and Transparency effects.

3

Live captioning

Have you ever struggled to follow spoken words while watching a video or attending a meeting on your PC? Whether it’s because of background noise, poor audio quality or a language barrier, it can be frustrating to miss key information. This is where the Live Captions feature of Windows comes in. It transcribes speech into text on the screen, making it easy to follow.

Activating Live Captions is simple: go to Settings > Accessibility > Captionsand activate the function. Once you’re done with the initial setup, the subtitles will appear automatically, in sync with the audio you’re listening to. You can press it Windows + Ctrl + L to change these captions at any time.

Live Captions in Windows they support multiple languages ​​such as English, Spanish, French and German, and are highly customizable. You can adjust the text size, font, and placement on the screen to suit your needs.

4

Use Voice Typing

Too tired to type and need to rest your fingers? Voice typing is a convenient accessibility feature that allows you to compose text hands-free, using only your voice. You can use it for tasks like writing long emails, creating documents, or replying to messages.

Instead of typing every word, you can speak naturally, and Windows will transcribe it for you in real time. This not only makes writing more efficient, but also helps reduce writing errors.

Using voice typing is simple and does not require any setup. Just press it Windows + H on your keyboard to activate the function. When the microphone icon appears, start speaking, and your words will be transcribed immediately.

5

Customize your mouse pointer

While the default indicator may be fine for most people, making simple adjustments can significantly improve its visibility. Head to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch to find different options to change the color of the pointer.

For example, select the Reversed The option automatically adjusts the indicator to a high-contrast color scheme, making it stand out against almost any background. If you prefer more customization, the Custom The option allows you to choose a specific color, ensuring that your pointer remains easy to see.

In the same menu, you will see a slider to adjust the size of the pointer. If you find the default size too hard to follow, try increasing it. This can be particularly useful in scenarios such as creating tutorials or presentations, where you want the indicator to be clearly visible to your audience.

6

Read the text aloud with the narrator

Narrator feature of Windows 11 is a powerful tool that can read aloud any text on your screen. It’s especially useful if you’re multitasking or need a break from reading. For example, you can have Narrator read articles, emails, or documents while you focus on other activities, such as checking notifications on your phone.

You can press it Windows + Ctrl + Enter to start or stop Narrator at any time. It can read text in almost all applications and websites, including Word, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, and more.

Additionally, there are a variety of customization options to adjust the Narrator’s voice, speed, pitch, and other settings. To make tweaks navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Narratorwhere you will find options to adapt the function to your needs.

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Integrating these Windows accessibility features into your daily workflow will not only increase productivity, but also make your time on the computer more enjoyable and less taxing. Do not hesitate to explore and activate these options – they may be designed to help people with specific needs, but they can also help unlock a new level of comfort and convenience in your daily tasks.