Start or Stop Accessibility Programs Using Utility Manager

Utility Manager is an accessibility utility that enables users to check the status of accessibility programs (Microsoft Magnifier, Narrator, On–Screen Keyboard) and to start or stop them.

You can start or stop accessibility programs by using Utility Manager, or you can set Windows to start or stop them automatically. For more information, see the Accessibility Tutorials:

This procedure tells you how to start or stop individual accessibility programs while you're working with them, or check the status of an accessibility program as you work.

Mouse actionsKeyboard actions
1 Open Utility Manager using the keyboard.
  • Press the Windows logo key Windows logo key + U.

    • Note:  You can also open Utility Manager from the Start menu (Start>All Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Utility Manager). But, if you open Utility Manager from the Start menu you will have limited program management capabilities.
On the keyboard:
  • Press the Windows logo key Windows logo key + U.
2 If the Microsoft Narrator message box appears:
  • Select OK to close the message box.
 If the Microsoft Narrator message box appears:
  • Be sure that the Narrator message box is selected by pressing ALT+TAB.
  • Close the message box by pressing ENTER.
3 To work with Narrator on:
  • Select the Utility Manager dialog box.

    • To turn Narrator off, in the Narrator dialog box:
  • Select Exit.
 To work with Narrator on:
  • Move from the Narrator message box to the Utility Manager dialog box by pressing ALT+TAB.

    • To turn Narrator off, in the Narrator dialog box:
  • Press ALT+X.
  • Move to the Utility Manager dialog box by pressing ALT+TAB.
4 In the Utility Manager dialog box:
  • Select a program from the list.
 In the Utility Manager dialog box:
  • Select a program from the list by pressing the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW key.
5 Under Options for the accessibility utility you have selected:
  • Select the Start or Stop button.
 Under Options for the accessibility utility you have selected:
  • Select Start by pressing ALT+A or, select Stop by pressing ALT+O.

Utility Manager: Start or stop an accessibility utility

Utility Manager: Start or stop an accessibility utility