Screen Reader Access and Audio Reading Guide
A screen reader is assistive software that reads aloud the text, links, buttons, headings and other items shown on the screen. It helps people who are blind or have low vision use this website by listening to the content and navigating with a keyboard, touch gestures, or voice-supported controls.
This page explains practical options for reading website content aloud on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone/iPad. It also provides guidance for reading content in multiple languages, including English and Nepali, where the required voice support is available on the device.
Recommended Screen Reader Downloads
Most modern devices already include a built-in screen reader. If you use Windows and want a powerful free screen reader for daily use, NVDA is one of the best options.
| Screen Reader / Tool | Platform | License | Visit Page |
|---|---|---|---|
|
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) Recommended free screen reader for Windows users. |
Windows | Free | Download NVDA |
|
Nepali TTS Voice: Dina “दिना” Nepali text-to-speech voice support for compatible screen readers and devices. |
Windows / Android | Free | Visit Dina |
|
Hear2Read Indic Speech Synthesizer Optional NVDA add-on for Nepali and other Indic language voices. |
Windows / NVDA | Free | Get Add-on |
NVDA for Windows
NVDA is a free, widely used screen reader for Windows. It can read websites, documents, menus, buttons, form fields and many desktop applications. It works well with common browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge.
To install NVDA, open the official NVDA download page, download the installer, run it, and follow the instructions. After installation, NVDA can start automatically with Windows if you choose that option. You can open the NVDA menu at any time by pressing Insert + N or Caps Lock + N, depending on your NVDA key setting.
Download NVDA from the official website
| Start reading | Use the Tab key to move through links and buttons. Use arrow keys to move through text. In browse mode, H moves to the next heading, Shift + H moves to the previous heading, and Enter opens the selected link or button. |
| Read continuously | Press NVDA + Down Arrow to read from the current position. On some laptop layouts, the command may be NVDA + A. If the command does not work, open NVDA Help from the NVDA menu and check the keyboard layout. |
| Stop speech | Press Ctrl to stop the current speech. Pressing Ctrl is useful when the screen reader is reading a long section and you want to move somewhere else. |
| Speech settings | Open NVDA menu → Preferences → Settings → Speech to change the synthesizer, voice, rate, pitch and volume. |
Reading Nepali and English with NVDA
NVDA can read many languages when a suitable text-to-speech voice is installed. English voices are usually available by default on Windows. For Nepali, users may need to install an additional Nepali TTS voice or NVDA add-on.
Option 1: Use Dina “दिना” Nepali voice
Dina “दिना” is a Nepali text-to-speech voice developed to improve access to Nepali digital content for people with visual impairment. Where supported, it can help screen readers speak Nepali Unicode text more naturally.
Option 2: Use Hear2Read add-on for NVDA
Hear2Read provides an NVDA add-on with Nepali and other Indic language voices. After installing the add-on, open the Hear2Read voice manager, download the Nepali voice, restart NVDA, and select the Hear2Read synthesizer or Nepali voice from NVDA Speech settings.
| Install add-on | Open NVDA menu with Insert + N or Caps Lock + N, go to Tools → Add-on Store, search for Hear2Read, install it, and restart NVDA when asked. |
| Add Nepali voice | After restart, open Hear2Read voice manager from the NVDA menu, choose Nepali, download the voice, and restart NVDA again if requested. |
| Select voice | Go to NVDA menu → Preferences → Settings → Speech, then choose the installed Nepali voice or synthesizer. Adjust speed and volume according to comfort. |
Windows built-in Narrator
Windows includes a built-in screen reader called Narrator. It is useful for quick access, initial setup, and basic reading even before installing NVDA.
| Turn on / off | Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to start or stop Narrator. You can also open Settings → Accessibility → Narrator. |
| Move around | Use Tab to move through links, buttons and form fields. Narrator + Right Arrow moves to the next item, and Narrator + Left Arrow moves to the previous item. |
| Voices and language | Open Settings → Accessibility → Narrator to choose a voice and change speed. To add more system languages, use Settings → Time & language → Language & region. Nepali speech may require an additional TTS voice such as Dina or another compatible voice. |
Mac / MacBook VoiceOver
Every Mac includes VoiceOver, Apple’s built-in screen reader. It can read menus, web pages, buttons, form fields and many applications without installing extra software.
| Turn on / off | Press Command + F5 to turn VoiceOver on or off. You can also open Apple menu → System Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver, or ask Siri to turn on VoiceOver. |
| Basic use | VoiceOver uses the VO key, usually Control + Option. Use VO + Right Arrow and VO + Left Arrow to move through items. Press VO + Space to activate the selected item. |
| Voices and language | Open VoiceOver Utility → Speech to choose voices and speaking rate. You can also check System Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content for available system voices. Voice availability depends on macOS and installed language voices. |
Android TalkBack
Android phones include TalkBack, Google’s screen reader. When TalkBack is on, the phone speaks the item under your finger and uses special gestures for navigation.
| Turn on / off | Open Settings → Accessibility → TalkBack and turn on Use TalkBack. On many Android phones, holding both volume buttons for a few seconds can also turn TalkBack on or off after the shortcut is enabled. |
| Basic gestures | Touch once to hear what is under your finger. Double-tap to open the selected item. Swipe right to move to the next item and swipe left to move to the previous item. Use two fingers to scroll. |
| Voices and language | Open TalkBack settings or Android Text-to-speech settings to choose the speech engine, language, voice, speed and pitch. For Nepali, install or enable a compatible Nepali TTS voice if available on your device. |
iPhone and iPad VoiceOver
iPhone and iPad include VoiceOver, Apple’s built-in screen reader. It allows users to explore the screen by touch and operate the device using VoiceOver gestures.
| Turn on / off | Open Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver and turn it on. You can also ask Siri to “Turn on VoiceOver”. If Accessibility Shortcut is set, triple-click the Side button or Home button to turn VoiceOver on or off. |
| Basic gestures | Touch the screen to hear the item. Swipe right or left to move item by item. Double-tap anywhere to activate the selected item. Use three fingers to scroll when VoiceOver is on. |
| Voices and language | Open Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver → Speech to choose voices, speaking rate and language options. Available voices depend on iOS/iPadOS and downloaded voice packages. |
Browser Read Aloud Features
Read Aloud features are helpful for listening to article-style content, but they are not a full replacement for a screen reader. They usually read the main text, while a screen reader can also announce buttons, menus, forms, links and page structure.
Microsoft Edge Read Aloud
Microsoft Edge includes Read Aloud for web pages and PDFs. Open the page, right-click and choose Read aloud, or open the three-dot menu and select Read aloud. You can also select specific text, right-click it and choose Read aloud selection. Edge allows changing voice and reading speed where available.
Google Chrome Reading Mode / Read Aloud
Chrome provides Reading Mode to reduce distractions and make text easier to read. On supported versions, Chrome on a computer can also read text aloud from Reading Mode, with options such as voice and speed. On Android, Chrome Reading Mode can help simplify pages, and some versions also provide listening options depending on device and browser availability.
If the built-in Chrome option is not available on your device, users who only need article-style reading may also use a trusted read-aloud browser extension. For users with complete vision disability, a full screen reader such as NVDA, VoiceOver or TalkBack is still recommended.
Tips for using this website with a screen reader
| Use headings | Move by headings to understand the page structure quickly. On many screen readers, H moves to the next heading and Shift + H moves to the previous heading. |
| Use links and buttons | Use Tab to move through interactive items such as links, buttons and forms. Press Enter or double-tap to open or activate the selected item. |
| Search the page | Use the website search or browser search to find specific services, notices, forms or contact information faster. |
| Choose the right language | Use the website language switcher to open the site in Nepali or English. Then choose a matching screen reader voice where available for clearer pronunciation. |
Final note
Screen reader support depends on the website, browser, operating system and installed speech voices. We have tried to keep this website structured and readable for assistive technologies. If any part of the website is difficult to read or operate with a screen reader, please contact the website administrator or concerned office so the issue can be improved.