Accessibility in Microsoft Products

Comparison of Accessibility Features in Various Versions of Windows

Microsoft Windows accessibility features are listed below. If a tutorial is available to help you adjust options related to the feature, the feature name is linked. Select the name of the product at the top of the column to display a full list of tutorials for the product. In some cases, tutorials for one version of a product will also help you adjust the feature in another version for which a tutorial is not available. See also Accessibility Guide to Transitioning to Windows 7.

Features Related To: Windows 8 Windows 7 Windows Vista
All Accessibility Areas Accessibility Features Loaded by Default Accessibility Features Loaded by Default Accessibility Features Loaded by Default
Apply settings to logon desktop Apply settings to logon desktop Automatic Reset
Ease of Access Center Ease of Access Center Ease of Access Center
Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts
Fast User Switching Fast User Switching Fast User Switching
Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use
Make accessibility settings default for new users Make accessibility settings default for new users Make accessibility settings default for new users
Notification (sound and visual) Notification (sound and visual) Notification (sound and visual)
Online Accessibility Help Online Accessibility Help Online Accessibility Help
Synchronize Accessibility Settings between PC’s Save Accessibility Settings to File Save Accessibility Settings to File
Speech Recognition Speech Recognition Speech Recognition
Microsoft Account User Profiles User Profiles
Windows Touch Windows Touch  
Vision Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options)
Cursor width Cursor width Cursor width
High Contrast High Contrast Schemes High Contrast Schemes
Magnifier (control from edges of the screen with touch-enabled device) Magnifier (now with lens mode and improved magnification) Magnifier (magnification improved and more powerful magnification)
Mouse Keys Mouse Keys Mouse Keys
Narrator Narrator Narrator
Personalize your computer (including changing text size without losing graphics quality) Personalize your computer (including changing text size without losing graphics quality) Personalize your computer
Pointer Schemes (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Schemes Pointer Schemes
Pointer Speed & Acceleration (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Speed & Acceleration Pointer Speed & Acceleration
Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer
Scalable User Interface Elements Scalable User Interface Elements Scalable User Interface Elements
What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys? Serial Keys
Snap To (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Snap To (included in Mouse Options) Snap To (included in Mouse Options)
Sound notification Sound notification (Sound Sentry) Sound notification (Sound Sentry)
Sound Schemes Sound Schemes Sound Schemes
ToggleKeys ToggleKeys ToggleKeys
Hearing Notification (visual) Notification (visual) Notification (visual)
What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys?
Sound Volume Control Sound Volume Control Sound Volume Control
Text or visual alternatives for sound Text or visual alternatives for sound Text or visual alternatives for sound
Turn on text captions Turn on text captions Turn on text captions
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Dexterity and Mobility Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options)
Configure mouse for right- or left-handed use, choose click speed (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Configure mouse for right- or left-handed use, choose click speed Configure mouse for right- or left-handed use, choose click speed
Cursor Width Control Cursor Width Control Cursor Width Control
Filter Keys Filter Keys Filter Keys
Mouse Keys Mouse Keys Mouse Keys
On-Screen Keyboard (now can be resized and includes text prediction) On-Screen Keyboard (now can be resized and includes text prediction) On-Screen Keyboard
Pointer Schemes (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Schemes Pointer Schemes
Pointer Speed & Acceleration (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Speed & Acceleration Pointer Speed & Acceleration
Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer
Scalable User Interface Elements Scalable User Interface Elements Scalable User Interface Elements
What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys?
Snap To (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Snap To (included in Mouse Options) Snap To (included in Mouse Options)
Speech Recognition Speech Recognition Speech Recognition
Sticky Keys Sticky Keys Sticky Keys
Toggle Keys Toggle Keys Toggle Keys
Windows Touch Windows Touch  
Language and Learning Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options) Click Lock (included in Mouse Options)
Cursor Width Control Cursor Width Control Cursor Width Control
Personalize your PC (including changing text size without losing graphics quality) Personalize your computer (including changing text size without losing graphics quality) Personalize your computer
Pointer Schemes (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Schemes Pointer Schemes
Pointer Speed & Acceleration (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Speed & Acceleration Pointer Speed & Acceleration
Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer (included in Mouse settings: Search > Settings > Mouse) Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer Pointer Visibility: Show Pointer Trails, Hide Pointer While Typing, Show Location of Pointer
What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys? What happened to Serial Keys?
Snap To (included in Mouse Options) Snap To (included in Mouse Options) Snap To (included in Mouse Options)
Seizure Disorders Cursor Blink Rate (under Keyboard settings: Search > Settings > Cursor blink rate) Cursor Blink Rate Cursor Blink Rate