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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNarrator’s speaking speed and its math reading are two separate settings. Press Narrator+Plus to speak faster or Narrator+Minus to speak slower. To have Narrator announce mathematical symbols, cycle the punctuation mode with Narrator+Alt+Left Bracket or Narrator+Alt+Right Bracket until Math is selected. Changing one does not change the other.
Two separate controls: speed and punctuation
Narrator controls speech rate and symbol reading independently, so it helps to know which one you are changing before you press anything.
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| Setting | What it changes | Quick control | Persistent control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speech rate | How fast Narrator talks | Narrator+Plus (faster) and Narrator+Minus (slower) | Narrator settings, then Show all settings, then Speed |
| Punctuation mode | Which symbols Narrator speaks aloud | Narrator+Alt+Left Bracket or Narrator+Alt+Right Bracket to cycle modes | Set by the mode you select; it does not affect speed |
Change the speaking rate with keyboard shortcuts
Use this method for quick adjustments while you are listening.
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- Use the Narrator key. By default, either Caps Lock or Insert works. On a Japanese 106 keyboard, Microsoft lists Insert and NonConvert as the defaults.
- Press Narrator+Plus to increase the speed, or Narrator+Minus to decrease it. Repeat the shortcut to keep adjusting.
Microsoft’s command reference shows the direction of each change but does not state how much speed each press adds or removes. The plus and minus keys refer to the physical keys, and you do not need to hold Shift. Microsoft’s keyboard command appendix lists two layouts, Standard and Legacy. The Standard commands use the plus and minus keys above. The Legacy layout also lists keypad Add and Subtract as alternatives; if your keyboard uses that layout, those numeric-keypad keys may be the commands that apply.
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Set a persistent voice speed in Settings
Use Settings when you want to choose a specific speed and keep it, rather than adjust by feel.
- Press Windows logo key+Ctrl+N to open Narrator settings.
- Select the Narrator voice you want to use.
- Expand Show all settings for that voice and adjust Speed.
Microsoft describes Speed as the control that sets how fast Narrator speaks, separate from pitch and volume. Settings are tied to the selected voice, so if you switch voices, check the Speed value again. The exact layout of these screens can vary between Windows 11 builds, and Microsoft’s support pages do not tie the described controls to a specific build number. If your screen looks different, check the visible labels rather than relying on a fixed path.
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Make mathematical symbols audible
Narrator’s punctuation modes decide how many symbols are spoken. Cycle through them with Narrator+Alt+Left Bracket or Narrator+Alt+Right Bracket until Math is selected. Microsoft’s reading-text documentation describes the modes as follows:
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| Mode | What Narrator speaks |
|---|---|
| Default | Little to no punctuation, with natural pauses |
| Some | Most conversational punctuation |
| Most | Additional symbols, such as parentheses |
| All | All punctuation, including special symbols |
| Math | Most mathematical symbols |
Microsoft’s reading-text page gives the Math description as “Math. Hear most mathematical symbols.” Math mode changes what you hear, not how fast you hear it. If you work with equations at a slower pace, set the mode and the speed separately.
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Limits on speed and voice choice
Microsoft’s Narrator customization documentation gives approximate maximum speeds: about 400 words per minute for Narrator voices in general, and about 800 words per minute for the English Microsoft David, Microsoft Zira, and Microsoft Mark voices. These are approximate maximums, not guaranteed rates for every voice, language, or system. The documentation does not state the words-per-minute change for each shortcut press. The page does not show a publication date, so treat the figures as Microsoft’s stated maximums rather than measured results.
Voice availability depends on your language and which voices are installed. You can select installed voices in Narrator, and Microsoft documents adding natural and legacy voices. Microsoft names third-party text-to-speech providers only as examples and says it does not endorse them, so this article does not recommend one.
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If the shortcut does not seem to work
- Narrator is not running. Start it with Windows logo key+Ctrl+Enter, then try the shortcut again.
- The Narrator key is not what you expect. Try Caps Lock or Insert, depending on your keyboard.
- Your layout uses different keys. If your keyboard follows the Legacy layout, try the numeric-keypad Add and Subtract keys.
- The change does not stick. Set Speed in Narrator settings under the voice you are using.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Chapter 2, Narrator basics
- Microsoft Support: Chapter 7, Customizing Narrator
- Microsoft Support: Appendix B, Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures
- Microsoft Support: Chapter 4, Reading text
- Microsoft Support: Chapter 1, Introducing Narrator
These pages cover Windows 10 and Windows 11 and are current support documentation. Some shortcut and settings details may vary by Windows version.
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