Making Chromebooks accessible
for people with disabilitiesChromebooks come with helpful accessibility features created using inclusive design principles and based on user feedback, to empower people with disabilities to learn, play and connect.
Built to enhance visual clarity
People who are blind or low-vision can take full advantage of Chromebooks thanks to the following features.
Browser zoom
Browser zoom allows visually impaired people to magnify just their browser window while everything else like the tabs and icons stay the same size.
Display size
People can choose to enlarge all on-screen text and visuals, and easily revert back if necessary.
Full screen magnifier
Zoom in on Chromebook to get a closer look at text and images. Full screen magnification on Chromebook makes on-screen content easier to see by making the screen up to 20 times the default size.
Docked magnifier
Some people may not want to alter their entire viewing experience. The docked magnifier allows people with visual impairments to magnify just the top third of their screen, while the rest of the screen is resized to fit in the bottom section.
Font size
Chromebook lets those who are visually impaired adjust font sizing to make reading easier while leaving other aspects of the display at their default size.
Large mouse cursor
A larger cursor can make a big difference. Chromebooks enable people to enlarge just the mouse cursor so it’s easier to see.
Invert colors
with a quick keyboard shortcut
High contrast mode inverts colors to make on-screen content easier to read for people with low vision or for those working in bright environments. It can also reduce the effects of screen glare to make work more comfortable in any environment. Try the shortcut: Ctrl + Search ( ) + H to activate it.
Building for users who are deaf or hard of hearing
Chromebooks include features that make technology more accessible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Customize caption styles
Easily adjust caption size, color and typeface for a customized closed caption experience. Select “Captions” in your Chromebook’s accessibility settings to update these features.
Mono audio
People who are hard of hearing can select Mono Audio to play the same sound through both speakers so they don’t miss content in stereo sound. Select “Mono Audio” in your Chromebook’s accessibility settings to use this feature.
Spoken feedback tools for people with low-vision or dyslexia
Spoken feedback tools on Chromebook help people, especially those with low-vision or dyslexia, get the most out of technology.
How to use Select-to-Speak on your Chromebook
Length of the video: 5 minutes 15 secondsChromeVox
ChromeVox, Chromebook’s built-in screen reader, helps people who are blind or low-vision by making the computer speak every time they move their focus by using their mouse or keyboard. Chromebook can also be used with a refreshable braille display.
Select-to-speak
With select-to-speak, choose specific lines or sections of the screen to be read aloud. While ChromeOS reads the selected words aloud, each word is highlighted visually, which can be especially useful for people with dyslexia, new language learners, and more.
Text-to-speech settings
Text-to-speech settings allow people to customize voice, speech rate, pitch, volume and more for optimal accessibility.
Providing more ways to enter information
People with motor disabilities and dexterity impairments can use Chromebooks thanks to features designed with this community in mind.
How to use speech to enter text on your Chromebook
Length of video: 5 minutes 57 secondsOn-screen keyboard
People can input information on a Chromebook in a variety of ways beyond a traditional keyboard: via an on-screen keyboard, using a mouse, connected joystick, touchscreen, or even handwriting.
Touchpad settings
To make clicking more accessible, people with dexterity impairments can customize touchpad settings to enable automatic clicks, tap dragging or tap-to-click functionality.
Physical keyboard settings
Customize how Chromebook's physical keyboard responds to touch.
Sticky keys
Sticky Keys can help people with dexterity impairments more easily use keyboard shortcuts. This feature makes it possible to press only one key at a time in sequence to activate a keyboard shortcut, instead of having to hold down multiple keys at once.
Type using your voice with
Dictation
The Dictation feature on Chromebook lets people enter text into any field using their voice. Dictation can be especially helpful for those with motor disabilities or dexterity impairments, or anyone who wants to take a break from typing. In your Chromebook’s accessibility settings under “Keyboard and text input,” select “Enable Dictation (speak to type).”
How to turn on
Chromebook accessibility features
Step 1
Visit your Settings
Step 2
Navigate to the bottom of the menu and select “Advanced”
Step 3
In the “Accessibility” section, select “Manage accessibility features” to choose the features you want to enable
Making the digital world more accessible
Google for Education
Students in the same classroom learn in different ways. That’s why Google for Education products, including Chromebooks and G Suite for Education, are built with accessibility in mind, to help every student achieve their full potential.
Android Accessibility
Learn about more accessibility tools on Android.
Meet the team
David Tseng, Technical Lead for ChromeOS accessibility services, shares how he’s dedicated his career to using technology to break down barriers for people with disabilities.