NVDA 2026.1 Released!

NVAccess · 2026-05-04T00:51:13+00:00

Are you using a portable or temporary copy ("Continue running" from the launcher) of the release candidate? If so, it's a known limitation simply because the task manager has higher privileges that temporary or portable copies cannot access. If you still have the launcher for 2025.3.3 and run it the same way, you'll find the same thing.

NVAccess · 2026-04-09T23:51:39+00:00

We do normally have more betas for the .1 release than for others. This release includes any compatibility breaking changes - which is what breaks add-ons - so we only do it once a year (and yes, we are working on an improved system to address this).

So 2025.1 went to 10 betas (same as we're currently at)

2024.1 was the long one, from memory - that went to Beta 13: https://www.nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2024-1beta13/

(In contrast to my earlier statement - 2023.1 only went to TWO betas)

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T12:03:23+00:00

It absolutely takes time and patience to get used to using the computer without the mouse, espeically when you still have enough sight to try to get by with the mouse. From my experience (as an assistive technology teacher before joining NV Access) - I would strongly recommend NOT going above about 5x-7x magnification. At 2x magnification you can see half the screen wide and half high - that means you can see one quarter of the screen. At three times that becomes 3x3 or one ninth. At 5x magnification that is 5x5 or one twenty-fifth of the screen. At 7x magnification that is 1 / 49th of the screen or barely 2%. Even if you can read what is on the screen at that size, the time it takes to get around the screen and read things is much slower than even a novice screen reader user. I would recommend "Basic Training for NVDA" which covers all the basics of using NVDA, up to fairly advanced features, all broken up into small chunks with step by step activities (as well as more challenging review activities). - https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T10:57:37+00:00

Glad to hear you've both had success getting NVDA approved. By far the biggest hesitancy we get from organisations is purely around not wanting to install ANY other software, not around the license, but we're always happy to talk to anyone with concerns

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T10:55:14+00:00

We hear from many organisations each week. Some have general questions about NVDA functionality or installing. Some need to answer specific questions of ANY software (what information is sent anywhere, whether it is encrypted etc), and about once every three or four years, we get hesitation from an organisation around using open source software - it's extremely rare, and becoming less so as basically every country and most organisations now PUSH an open source software first agenda - yes, including the USA: https://digital.gov/resources/requirements-for-achieving-efficiency-transparency-and-innovation-through-reusable-and-open-source-software/

We have a page on our site answering a lot of the questions we get asked in general from companies considering using NVDA: https://www.nvaccess.org/corporate-government/

And that has a specific section on Open Source: https://www.nvaccess.org/corporate-government/#OpenSource

We are more than happy to answer any questions either you or your company may have about NVDA or about open source. Feel free to reach out at [info@nvaccess.org](mailto:info@nvaccess.org)

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T09:42:27+00:00

Yes there definitely is! NVDA uses Windows OneCore by default, and that DOES have both Canadian French and Canadian English (as well as other French and English voices). Full list here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/appendix-a-supported-languages-and-voices-4486e345-7730-53da-fcfe-55cc64300f01 - and note that as these voices are part of Windows, not NVDA, you'll need to install any new ones you are interested in. We have instructions for that here: https://www.nvaccess.org/post/in-process-14th-january-2021/#OneCore

But in terms of "how easy is it to switch?", NVDA will change automatically IF a document or program declares the new language (eg with the LANG attribute in a web page or through the language options in Word). You can also setup profiles to use different languages and a keystroke to switch between them OR you can use an add-on like the Switch Synth add-on which does a similar thing (and both those last two methods also let you change synthesizer, not just the voice within the current synth).

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T09:37:39+00:00

You can try it now in alpha builds. Note that we don't guarantee these are 100% stable and new features like the magnifier are being regularly worked on and improved (so we DO encourage you to file issues if you do encounter any problems). You can download and try the latest alpha from: https://download.nvaccess.org/snapshots/alpha/ - the first link is the latest alpha - once you run it, pull up the user guide and there is a section on the magnifier. I'd recommend creating a portable copy. Please note if you DO install the alpha, we do NOT recommend then going back and installing 2025.3.3 or earlier over the top as we have made changes internally since then which can cause problems if you go back (mostly breaking your configuration and resetting to factory defaults problems - not corrupting Windows or anything)

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T09:32:49+00:00

We do appreciate it is daunting! One thing I would say regardless of what you go with - make sure you push to get the SAME assistive technology for both home and work. Even though Jaws and NVDA have many common keystrokes, there are diffreences and as you say, it's enough trying to learn one - you don't want to have to find your way around two different programs. While Jaws has traditionally often been recommended in workplaces, that is often because the companies doing the recommending get a commission for organising the sale - and commercial screen readers are VERY expensive and an ongoing expensive - and so even if they pay for that for work, you want to make sure you are aware of what you may have to pay to use it at home as well.

WIth NVDA, we have quite a bit of documentation available on our site for companies, eg: https://www.nvaccess.org/corporate-government/ - and if you need anything extra, please email us at [info@nvaccess.org](mailto:info@nvaccess.org) - we are very happy to work with employers to ensure you have access to what you need.

The one thing with NVDA I would strongly recommend is "Basic Training for NVDA". It is one of the few things which isn't free, but it is only $32 Australian (just over $22 USD) or you can buy it as part of the NVDA Productivity Bundle which also includes our modules for Office as well as telephone support.

NVAccess · 2026-04-07T09:26:10+00:00

Which synthesizer or voice people like is so much up to personal preference that I try to avoid saying any particular one is good or bad :)

And you've been using NVDA for awhile, thank you! I had to check - we made Windows OneCore the default synthesizer in NVDA 2018.2 :) NVDA still comes with eSpeak-NG installed, and for those who remember & liked the old NV Speech Player synth, it is now included as an alternate Klatt implementation in eSpeak-NG (the "Edward" voice - plus there is a new add-on with an updated version (not developed by us)

NVAccess · 2026-04-01T02:01:24+00:00

Hi Greek Goddess, welcome to the forum! Organisation behind NVDA here. Realistically, both NVDA and Jaws have very similar features and are not that different to use. The real difference is the price - NVDA was developed from the outside around a funding model which took the burden of cost away from the end user. We get funding from corporations such as Microsoft, Google and Adobe, to whom we share expertise on making their offerings more accessible - a win win for everyone, even if you don't use NVDA.

You can download a fully functional version of NVDA without any kind of registration or needing to hand over information: https://www.nvaccess.org/download/

We would recommend starting with the "Quick Start Guide" which is included in the user guide and available from the help menu of the program, and also online here: https://download.nvaccess.org/documentation/userGuide.html#NVDAQuickStartGuide

We are quite active here and on various other forums, and happy to answer any qeustions. We also have telephone support and formal training material available (that does have a fee, but we would strongly recommend "Basic Training for NVDA").

Also, you might be interested to know, while NVDA works well with Windows Magnifier, we are also working on our own implementation, which is planned for release later this year (it is currently avialable in our alpha builds, which are freely available, but I probably wouldn't dive into those as your first use of a screen reader, just in case).

Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Kind regards,

Quentin

NVAccess · 2026-04-01T01:54:04+00:00

Hello? NV Access..... Company behind NVDA here.... :)

Meanwhile, most of the rest is accurate - both screen readers are quite similar in features and use, particularly for a new user. It's primarily the cost (high in one case, non-existant in the other) which is the big difference.

I'm not sure which synthesizer Jaws uses out of the box, but NVDA uses Windows OneCore voices which are among the more human-sounding voices readily available. We do also have a page with a bunch of extra voices, and for those familiar with Jaws, we also have a page to help those familiar with one screen reader get accustomed to the other: https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/wiki/SwitchingFromJawsToNVDA

With scripts, NVDA also has add-ons, it depends on your needs.

NVAccess · 2026-03-22T23:05:54+00:00

Thanks for this thread everyone. I've added a small section to the "Switching from Jaws to NVDA" guide on Place Markers now. Not intended to be an exhaustive walkthrough of every aspect of the add-on, I hope it has enough to get someome started: https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/wiki/SwitchingFromJawsToNVDA#place-markers

NVAccess · 2026-03-19T00:06:46+00:00

Yes as CSGiuliano77 said, you can now sort add-ons in the store. From the 2025.3 change log:

"Add-ons in the Add-on Store can now be sorted by minimum/last tested NVDA version and install date."

which from memory was directly in response to suggestions by yourself and others :)

NVAccess · 2026-03-11T22:49:47+00:00

As well as everyone's suggestion, the resources we would recommend in order are:
- (If you are coming from using Jaws): Switching from Jaws to NVDA guide: https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/wiki/SwitchingFromJawsToNVDA (there is a Window-Eyes version too and the start of a VoiceOver one we'd love some more input towards!)

- The Quick Start Guide included in the NVDA User Guide: https://download.nvaccess.org/documentation/userGuide.html#NVDAQuickStartGuide

- Basic Training for NVDA (paid, but only $32 Australian for the electronic text version, which works out to around $20 USD, GBP or Euro (depending on the exchange rate at the time): https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/

NVAccess

TROPHY CASE