ZoomText Quick Start Guide

Last updated: August 16, 2022

ZoomText magnifies the display and provides spoken output for blind and low-vision readers.  Several features allow reading of different document and display styles.  Users can customize reading speed, display contrast, colors and magnification power.  

Starting ZoomText

  1. StepsActions
  2. Click the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
  3. Click “All Programs.”
  4. Click “Accessible Technology.”
  5. Click “ZoomText.”

(Pressing <CTRL> + <SHIFT> + <Z> will also launch ZoomText.)

Using ZoomText

Magnification

  • Access the program controls by right clicking on the letter Z icon in the System Tray.

  • Magnifying and window options can be accessed by left clicking on the letter z icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

  • Move the mouse to pan the zoom window around the display.

  • Increase/decrease magnification level by clicking the up and down arrows to the right of the numbered “Power” box in the Magnifier tab of the ZoomText window.

Document Reading

  • With ZoomText open, press <ALT> + <SHIFT> + <A> to access the AppReader tool.  Left-click on text in a web browser or document to begin reading aloud.  Press to pause/resume reading, and use or right-click to exit the AppReader.

Essential Hotkeys

  • Start ZoomText: Press <ALT> + <SHIFT> + <Z> .

  • Activate ZoomText: Press <ALT> + <INS> .

  • Deactivate ZoomText: Press <ALT> + <DEL> .

  • Increase Magnification: Press <ALT> + <NUM PAD +>.

  • Decrease Magnification: Press <ALT> + <NUM PAD ->.

  • Pan the Zoom Window: Press <ALT> + <ARROW KEYS> .

  • Start AppReader: Press <ALT> + <SHIFT> + <A>.

Quitting ZoomText

Do any of the following:

  • Press <ALT> + <F4> when ZoomText is the active application.
  • Click the X in the upper-right hand corner of the ZoomText menu.
  • Click the “File” menu at the top of the ZoomText window and select “Exit.”

Help

For help and tutorials, do any of the following:

  • Click on the “Help” menu in the ZoomText window.

  • Press <F1> when ZoomText is the active application.

  • Consult the ZoomText user manual, located on the ATC manual shelf.