Customize key commands and trackpad gestures for VoiceOver on Mac
On your Mac, you can customize the commands you use to control VoiceOver with the VoiceOver modifier. If you use additional methods for controlling VoiceOver, such as NumPad keys, Option keys, Quick Nav, or trackpad gestures, you can also customize those key commands and gestures. Regardless of which methods you use to control VoiceOver, you can view and customize your entire set of commands in a single Command Assignments browser in VoiceOver Utility. You can also switch, as needed, between using the VoiceOver commands you’ve customized and the default set of commands.
Note: VO represents the VoiceOver modifier that you press with additional keys to enter VoiceOver commands. By default, you can press Control and Option together or just press Caps Lock.
To assign commands to keys on a refreshable braille display, see Assign VoiceOver commands on your Mac to braille display keys.
Customize VoiceOver commands
Go to VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Click the Commands category, then click Edit next to “Command set.”
To choose a command to customize, click the Column View button, then press VO-Shift-Down Arrow to interact with the Command Assignments browser. Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate the list of categories, then press the Right Arrow key when you hear the category you want. Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate the category’s commands.
Tip: You can also use the search field to filter commands by what they do or what keys or gestures they use. Or click the Filter Commands button, then use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate the available options, like commands with no keys or gestures assigned, or commands with locked assignments that can’t be changed.
When you hear the command you want, press the Right Arrow key. Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate the list of keys or gestures—called inputs— for the command, then do one of the following:
Modify an existing input for the command: Press the Down Arrow key until you hear the input you want, then press the Space bar.
Add a new input for the command: Press the Down Arrow key until you hear “Add input,” then press the Space bar.
Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to navigate the menu, then press the Return key to choose one of the following options:
Listen for key: Press the key combination you want to assign to the command.
Option Key: Choose one or more keys (such as a letter key with the Shift key) you want to assign as an Option key command.
NumPad: Choose “No modifier” or a modifier key (such as Command), then choose a key on the numeric keypad to assign to the command.
Quick Nav: Choose one or more keys (such as a letter key with the Shift key) to assign to the command.
Trackpad: Choose a modifier key (such as Command), then choose the gesture to assign to the command.
Switch between default and custom VoiceOver commands
You can switch between using the VoiceOver commands you’ve customized and the default set of commands.
Go to VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Click the Commands category, then choose one of the following options next to “Command set”:
Built-in: Use the default VoiceOver commands.
User: Use your custom VoiceOver commands.
If you change a command by mistake and VoiceOver no longer works as you expect, you can use VoiceOver in Recovery Mode. In Recovery Mode, you can control VoiceOver using the default commands and use VoiceOver Utility to edit your commands as needed. See Use VoiceOver in Recovery Mode.
Download this guide in Braille Ready Format: BRF (English)