Guide to the VoiceView Screen Reader on Your Echo Device with a Screen

The VoiceView Screen Reader reads aloud items that you touch on the screen. Use gestures to navigate your device while VoiceView describes the actions you make on screen.

Note: Settings menu items for the Echo Hub and Echo Show 5 (all generations) may vary, and those devices will receive a software update soon.

Use one of the following methods to turn on or off VoiceView:

Turn On: Press and hold the Mic/Camera button. When you hear an alert, place two fingers (slightly apart) on the screen and hold for 5 seconds.
Turn Off: Press and hold the Mic/Camera button. When you hear an alert, use a single finger to double tap the screen and hold for 5 seconds.
- Echo Show: When facing the screen, the Mic/Camera button is the left-most button on top of the device.
- Echo Spot: When facing the screen, the Mic/Camera button is in the middle on top of the device.
- Echo Hub: When facing the screen, Mic/Camera is the top button on the right side of the device.
Say, "Go to Settings," or swipe down from the top of the screen and select Settings.
Select Accessibility, then VoiceView Screen Reader, and select VoiceView.

Customize your VoiceView experience by modifying user settings.

Tip: To access Settings when VoiceView is on, say, "Go to Settings," or swipe down from the top of the screen with three fingers. Or, place focus on Settings and double-tap to activate. Navigate to Accessibility and double-tap VoiceView Screen Reader for available settings. Select a setting, or swipe right on a setting to move to the next one.


Setting	Description
Identify Capital Letters	The voice pitch changes when echoing capitalized words.
Key Echo	Determine what echoes back to you while entering text. By default, characters echo as you type, to confirm entry. You can change this setting to none, characters, words, or both characters and words.
Punctuation Level	Control what punctuation marks read aloud.
Reading Speed	Adjust the speed of VoiceView speech.
Sounds Volume	Set the volume level for VoiceView feedback tones, or select Match device volume to use the same volume as other media.
Speech Volume	Set the volume level for VoiceView speech, or select Match device volume to use the same volume as other media.
Verbosity	How much information you get while navigating.

Explore your device with gestures:


Action	Gesture
Adjust a slider control	Slider controls adjust settings such as volume or screen brightness. To adjust a seek control: Place focus to the control you want to adjust. Swipe right then left in a single motion to increase, or left then right in a single motion to decrease. Alternatively, double-tap and hold, and then slide your finger to adjust the control.
Decrease granularity	Swipe down then up using a single motion. For example, decreasing granularity means to go from stepping by character to stepping by word or sentence.
Enter or exit Learn Mode for gesture practice	Double-tap using four fingers (currently available on Echo Show 8 only).
Explore the screen	Drag a finger over items on the screen to have them read aloud.
Go to the first item on the screen	Touch the upper half of the screen using four fingers (currently available on Echo Show 8 only).
Go to the last item on the screen	Touch the lower half of the screen using four fingers (currently available on Echo Show 8 only).
Go to the next item	Swipe right using one finger.
Go to the next item by granularity	Swipe down using one finger.
Go to the next page or previous page	Swipe left and right with three fingers.
Go to the previous item	Swipe left using one finger.
Go to the previous item by granularity	Swipe up using one finger.
Increase granularity	Swipe up then down using a single motion. For example, increasing granularity means to go from stepping by sentence to stepping by word or character.
Mute or unmute speech	Double-tap using three fingers.
Open an item	Place focus on the item, and then double-tap anywhere on the screen. If the item doesn't open, try slowing down or speeding up your touch speed.
Open the status bar	Swipe down from the top of the screen with three fingers.
Read all from first item	Swipe up using two fingers.
Read all from selected item	Swipe down using two fingers.
Scroll up or down	Swipe up or down with three fingers when scrolling is available.
Scroll right or left	Swipe right or left with three fingers when scrolling is available.
Start or stop media	Double-tap using two fingers.
Stop speech	Single-tap with two fingers.
Type on the keyboard	Move one finger slowly over the keys to hear them read to you. When you hear the letter you want to type, lift your finger from the keyboard to enter the letter. If you hear a sudden tone, your finger has moved off the keyboard.