Voice Control for Web Browsing: Tools and Techniques

You can browse the web entirely by voice, opening sites, clicking links, scrolling and typing. It's essential for people who can't use a mouse or keyboard easily, and handy for anyone with tired hands. The best tools are built into your operating system.

Windows: Voice Access

• Turn it on in Settings → Accessibility → Speech → Voice access (Windows 11).
• Say "click" and a link or button's name to click it.
• Say "show numbers" to label everything clickable, then say a number.
• Say "scroll down", "scroll up", or "show grid" to click anywhere.
• For typing only, press Win + H for voice typing in any text box.

Mac: Voice Control

• Turn it on in System Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control.
• Say "show numbers" or "show names" to label clickable items, then say the number or name.
• Say "open Chrome", "new tab", "scroll down" or "go back".
• Dictate into any text field, and correct with commands like "replace hello with hi".

Android and Chromebooks

• Android: Google's Voice Access app labels everything on screen with numbers, in Chrome and other apps.
• ChromeOS: turn on dictation in Settings → Accessibility, and use Select-to-speak to hear text read aloud.

Dictation in Chrome

Google Docs has Voice typing under Tools. Elsewhere, your system's dictation works in any text box, including email and search.

Having pages read to you

Voice control works well with listening. Chrome's Reading mode reads articles aloud with word highlighting. See Chrome accessibility features.

Tips for accuracy

• Use a headset microphone, or a good desk microphone, in a quiet room.
• Speak at a normal pace, in phrases rather than single words.
• Learn the "show numbers" command first; it works on almost any page.
• Add names and words you use often to the custom vocabulary.

When sites get in the way

Voice tools rely on proper labels. Buttons drawn as images without labels, or menus that only open on hover, are hard to use by voice. Number and grid commands are the workaround. If a site you need is unusable, tell its owner; it's an accessibility problem.

Combine with other aids

Many people mix voice with a keyboard or switch. See browsing with only a keyboard. For reading support, ADHD Reading Focus shows one paragraph at a time and moves with the arrow keys; it doesn't have voice commands, so pair it with your system's voice control.