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Windows accessibility features are often overlooked and mistakenly perceived as solely beneficial for individuals with disabilities. However, that’s not true for all the accessibility options. From improved readability to automatic captions and voice typing, there are several features that everyone should explore.
We’ve used a Windows 11 PC to demonstrate the steps and provide screenshots. However, you should be able to find and use all of these accessibility features on Windows 10 as well.
1Increase Text Size for Better Readability
If you spend much of your day working with text—whether it’s reading emails, 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 you maintain a relaxed, ergonomic posture by eliminating the need to squint or lean closer to the screen. This adjustment is especially helpful on high-resolution displays, where text often appears smaller by default.
Rather thanchanging the screen resolution, which affects the appearance of everything, the accessibility menu in Windows allows you to focus specifically on making text easier to read.
To adjust text size in Windows, open theSettingsapp and navigate toAccessibility > Text Size. Then, use the slider to increase the size and view a real-time preview in theText size previewbox. Once it looks right to you, clickApplyto implement the change across the system.
2Get Rid of Animations
Both Windows 10 and 11 impress with their smooth animations and polished transitions, but did you know you can boost your PC’s responsiveness by turning them off?Disabling these visual effects can make your system feel more agileby eliminating the extra processing required for fading windows and sliding menus.
This tweak is especially beneficial if you have an older PC, as it reduces strain on system resources. Moreover, this simple change can also helpextend battery life on Windows laptops.
Turning off animations is surprisingly simple. Just head to theSettingsapp, navigate toAccessibility, and selectVisual Effects. From there, toggle off options likeAnimation effectsandTransparency effects.
3Live Captions
Have you ever struggled to follow spoken words while watching a video or attending a meeting on your PC? Whether it’s due to background noise, poor audio quality, or a language barrier, it can be frustrating to miss out on key information. This is where Windows' Live Captions feature comes in. It transcribes speech into on-screen text, making it easy to follow along.
Enabling Live Captions is simple: go toSettings > Accessibility > Captions, and toggle on the feature. Once you’re done with the initial setup, captions will automatically appear, synced to the audio you’re listening to. you may pressWindows + Ctrl + Lto toggle these captions at any time.
Live Captions in Windowssupport multiple languages like 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.
4Use Voice Typing
Too tired to type and need to give your fingers a rest? 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 responding to messages.
Rather than typing out every word, you may speak naturally, and Windows will transcribe it for you in real-time. This not only makes writing more efficient, but also helps reduce typing errors.
Using voice typing is simple and doesn’t require any setup. Just pressWindows + Hon your keyboard to activate the feature. When the microphone icon appears, begin speaking, and your words will be transcribed immediately.
If you need to use a different language for voice typing, you can do so. Simplyadd the desired language through the Windows Settings app, then switch input languages by pressingWindows + Spacebar.
5Customize Your Mouse Pointer
While the default pointer might be fine for most people, making simple adjustments can significantly improve its visibility. Head toSettings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touchto find various options to change the pointer’s color.
For example, selecting theInvertedoption automatically adjusts the pointer to a high-contrast color scheme, making it stand out against almost any background. If you prefer more personalization, theCustomoption lets you choose a specific color, ensuring your pointer remains easy to spot.
You can also use a third-party app, like the Mouse Pointer Highlight app, tohighlight the cursor with a colored circle.
In the same menu, you will see a slider to adjust the pointer size. If you find the default size too hard to track, try increasing it. This can be particularly helpful in scenarios like creating tutorials or presentations, where you want the pointer to be clearly visible to your audience.
Windows 11’s Narrator featureis 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’re able to have Narrator read articles, emails, or documents while you focus on other tasks, like checking notifications on your phone.
You can pressWindows + Ctrl + Enterto start or stop Narrator anytime. It can read text across virtually all apps 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 toSettings > Accessibility > Narrator, where you’ll find options to tailor the feature to your needs.
Integrating these Windows accessibility features into your daily workflow will not only boost productivity, but also make your time on the computer more enjoyable and less taxing. Don’t hesitate to explore and enable these options—they may be designed to assist people with specific needs, but they can also help you unlock a new level of comfort and convenience in your everyday tasks.
