VoiceOver is the screen reader built into every Mac. It speaks aloud whatever is under your control, describes buttons and menus, and lets you navigate the entire system without seeing the screen. Apple builds it into macOS at no extra cost, and it is always installed, so there is nothing to download.
This guide shows the fastest way to turn VoiceOver on, the small set of commands you actually need to get around, and how to turn it off again, useful if you or someone else started it by accident and now the Mac will not stop talking. It applies to macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia; older versions work the same way under System Preferences instead of System Settings.
The fastest way to turn VoiceOver on
Press Command-F5 (hold Command and tap the F5 key). On most modern Mac keyboards you may need Command-Fn-F5, because the top row acts as media keys by default. On a Mac with Touch ID, you can also triple-press the Touch ID / power button to toggle VoiceOver on and off.
The moment it turns on, VoiceOver announces itself and draws a dark rectangle, the VoiceOver cursor, around whatever it is focused on. The same shortcut turns it off again, so if the Mac suddenly started narrating everything, press Command-F5 once more and it stops.
Turning it on from System Settings
If you prefer the menus, or the keyboard shortcut is disabled:
- Open the Apple menu → System Settings.
- Click Accessibility in the sidebar.
- Choose VoiceOver, then switch VoiceOver on.
The first time you turn it on, VoiceOver offers a Quick Start tutorial. It is genuinely worth the few minutes, it teaches the navigation gestures hands-on, and you can quit it any time by pressing Escape.
The one key you need to know: the VO key
Almost every VoiceOver command starts by holding the VO key, which is Control-Option pressed together. Once you know that, the rest is short:
- VO-Right Arrow / VO-Left Arrow — move to the next or previous item.
- VO-Space — click or activate the item you are on (like pressing the mouse button).
- VO-Shift-Down Arrow — step into a group or area; VO-Shift-Up Arrow steps back out.
- VO-A — read everything from the current spot onward.
- VO-M — jump to the menu bar.
If you want a lighter touch than holding two keys constantly, turn on VoiceOver lock by pressing VO-Semicolon, then you can use the arrow keys alone.
Adjusting the voice and speed
The default voice talks quite fast for a first-timer. Press VO-Command-Right/Left Arrow to move through voice options, and VO-Command-Up/Down Arrow to raise or lower the speaking rate on the fly. For full control, open System Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver → Open VoiceOver Utility, where you can pick a different voice, change pitch, and tune how much detail it reads.
How to turn VoiceOver off
This is the part most people arrive here for. Any one of these switches it off:
- Press Command-F5 again (or Command-Fn-F5).
- Triple-press Touch ID / the power button on Macs that have it.
- Turn the VoiceOver toggle off under System Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver.
If VoiceOver keeps coming back on by itself, someone has likely enabled it in the accessibility shortcut. Go to System Settings → Accessibility → Shortcut and uncheck VoiceOver so the triple-press and Command-F5 no longer toggle it.
VoiceOver on a Mac that can keep up
VoiceOver is light and runs well on any Mac, but a fast, quiet machine makes long sessions more comfortable, no fan noise drowning the speech, and instant response when you navigate. An Apple silicon Mac is ideal: a MacBook Air (M1) from $569.99 or a Mac Mini (M2) from $897.99 both handle VoiceOver, Zoom, and every accessibility feature without breaking a sweat, and they stay silent. You can browse inspected, warrantied machines on our Apple clearance page; every Mac is cleaned, tested, and covered by our own one-year warranty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut to turn VoiceOver on? Command-F5. On keyboards where the top row is media keys, use Command-Fn-F5. On Macs with Touch ID you can also triple-press the Touch ID / power button.
My Mac keeps talking, how do I make it stop? Press Command-F5 once to turn VoiceOver off. If it returns, uncheck VoiceOver under System Settings → Accessibility → Shortcut.
What is the VO key? It is Control-Option pressed together. Nearly every VoiceOver command begins with it, for example VO-Right Arrow to move forward.
Is VoiceOver free? Yes. It is built into macOS and always installed, there is nothing to buy or download.
What is the difference between VoiceOver and Dictation? VoiceOver reads the screen aloud to you. Dictation does the opposite, it types what you say. See our Dictation guide for that.
Can I make VoiceOver talk slower? Yes. Press VO-Command-Down Arrow to slow the speaking rate, or set it in VoiceOver Utility.