Vad är nytt i JAWS 2025

Publicerad: 19/12

JAWS 2025 Features


FSCompanion: Your AI-Powered assistant for Learning JAWS and Microsoft Applications

With so many features and keystrokes available between JAWS, Windows, and the various Office apps, it can be challenging to locate the information you need to perform a specific task or even look up a setting or keystroke you no longer recall. The new AI assistant, FSCompanion, lets you ask questions about JAWS and other applications and quickly provides the information you need without you having to search through multiple documents and web pages to find it. Want to know how a particular JAWS feature works, or the sequence of keystrokes to perform a specific task in Word? Ask FSCompanion, and the AI searches through various help and training resources in a matter of seconds, and provides the key details in a concise step-by-step format.
FSCompanion has been trained using JAWS help and training data as well as support content from Microsoft. It currently does not contain any data for ZoomText and Fusion, but it will be able to also assist with these products soon.
FSCompanion is capable of responding to questions about the following, with an emphasis on providing specific keystrokes as answers.
• JAWS usage
• Windows usage and navigation
• Web browsing
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
To open FSCompanion, do one of the following:
• In JAWS, press the layered command, INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by F1. FSCompanion is also located in the JAWS Help menu under Web Resources.
• Go to FSCompanion.ai from a PC or mobile device using your preferred web browser.
Once the FSCompanion page opens, press TAB to move to the edit field and type a question. After typing a question, press ENTER, and JAWS will automatically read the response as soon as it is displayed. Focus remains in the edit field, so you can ask any follow-up questions.
To review answers, use TAB, SHIFT+TAB, or the ARROW keys. Select the New Conversation button to start a new topic, or select the Feedback button to submit any comments about a response.
Here are a few example questions to help get you started.
• How do I change the JAWS volume?
• How do I select cells in Excel?
• How do I turn off the Preview Pane in Outlook?
• How do I select text?
• How do I set a PlaceMarker on a page?
Please ask as many questions as you like, and don’t hesitate to give feedback on your experiences. The types of questions you ask and the feedback you provide are very important as it helps our team train the model to be more accurate.
Note: FSCompanion is optimized for English, as it has been trained with English documentation. This means that the answers it gives are based on English keystrokes and terminology. For the best experience, please use it in English. If you ask questions in another language, the keystrokes and descriptions it provides might not be accurate. We are working on supporting additional languages.

Automatic Language Detection

For users who read documents or web pages in various languages, there are times when authors do not use the correct language tags, which JAWS relies on by default in order to switch to the appropriate voice for a specific language.
To help with this, JAWS can now detect the language in use automatically and adjust its voice based on the written language. This feature runs entirely on your computer and does not access the Internet. To enable this option, open Settings Center, expand the Text Processing group, expand the Language processing subgroup, and press SPACEBAR on Detect Language to cycle through the available options and choose Based on AI predictions.
If you find that JAWS does not automatically switch languages in an application even when the correct voice is installed, open Settings Center while focused in the specific application and check the Detect Language option. This setting is off by default for certain applications.

EPUB Reading Improvements

EPUB is a popular format for producing textbooks and other digital publications. It is supported on a wide range of devices and eBook reading applications such as the Thorium EPUB book reader software, which works well with JAWS. When navigating an EPUB book, you use the same reading commands you would use to navigate web pages.
New Region Navigation Types
JAWS 2025 adds more specific support for EPUB files by now allowing you to use the R and SHIFT+R navigation quick keys to move to the following region types, if available in the book. JAWS will also announce the start and end of these regions as you navigate with ARROW keys or Say All (INSERT+DOWN ARROW).
• Abstract
• Acknowledgment
• Afterword
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Chapter
• Conclusion
• Cover page
• Dedication
• Epilogue
• Errata
• Example
• Forword
• Glossary
• Index
• Introduction
• Notice
• Part
• Preface
• Prologue
• Table of Contents
Additionally, these region types, if available, will also be included in the Regions dialog box (CTRL+INSERT+R).
Page Break Indication
In EPUB files, you can now use the navigation quick key DASH to move to the next page or separator. JAWS now also says “page”, followed by the number when encountering page breaks while reading.

Announce Work Week

You can now press CTRL+INSERT+F12 twice quickly to have JAWS announce the week number. This is especially useful for anyone who uses week numbers to communicate their time frames for work.

Aria and Web

• When INSERT+TAB is pressed on a radio button, JAWS now reads the current radio button along with the group.
• Improved JAWS indication of graphical objects on web pages that also act as buttons or other controls.
• When navigating through radio buttons on a web page, JAWS now correctly announces the position of the selected radio button in the group.
• JAWS now provides additional information about separator elements.
• Definition lists are now included in the Select a List dialog (CTRL+INSERT+L).
• When focused on a bulleted link, resolved an issue where pressing the APPLICATION key or SHIFT+F10 did not open the context menu for the selected link.
• For users who prefer to turn off the announcement of Smart Glance highlights, you should now find performance when loading pages more responsive.
• Improved JAWS reading in tables where header rows contain elements.
• When navigating to a combo box using the Virtual Cursor, the prompt and the current selection are now shown on the same line in Braille.
• Improved the announcement of headings that include the aria-labelledby attribute.
• If Forms Mode is set to Auto, JAWS now activates Forms Mode when focus moves to a tab control.
• JAWS now says “on” or “off” when interacting with switch elements on web pages.
• When encountering interactive elements on a web page that use the Separator ARIA role and JAWS Forms Mode is set to Auto or Semi-Auto, Forms Mode activates when focus moves to these elements.
• When using Auto Forms Mode and you navigate in and out of an edit field using UP or DOWN ARROW, labels are no longer announced multiple times.
• Using table navigation commands (ALT+CTRL+ARROWS) in some web-based applications no longer causes the browser’s menu bar to activate.
• In Forms Mode, reduced speech verbosity when navigating ARIA menus by eliminating additional “menu” announcements for subsequent menu items.
• If a table on a web page supports changing the sort order of a column, JAWS now properly recognizes the new sort order and speaks and displays it in Braille.
• Labels for edit fields on web pages are now displayed correctly in Braille.
• In certain instances, radio buttons no longer appear to have multiple labels.
• If Mouse Echo is enabled, JAWS reads open browser tabs when hovering over them with a mouse.
• Improved JAWS interaction with selecting items in Angular tree grids.
• When typing a number into an edit spin box, JAWS no longer reads the entire number as each digit is typed.
• When reading a PDF file in Edge or Chrome, JAWS no longer reads multiple paragraphs when pressing CTRL+DOWN ARROW to read the next paragraph.
• Addressed issues with activating links through the Links List dialog in Firefox.
• In Firefox, resolved issues with selecting or clearing check boxes on web pages.

Google Suite

• When attempting to view spelling or grammar errors in Google Docs with Braille, moving to items using Cursor Routers is now more reliable.
• JAWS now speaks deleted characters in Google Sheets as expected when using BACKSPACE.
• In Google Sheets, JAWS no longer constantly speaks the grid and size of the spreadsheet each time you edit a cell.
• If INSERT+UP ARROW is pressed to read the current row in Google Sheets, JAWS now says “blank” if the row is empty.
• When using any of the Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Drive) and JAWS is running by itself without ZoomText or Fusion, the mouse pointer is now positioned in the top left corner of the screen by default. This keeps the mouse out of the main work area to avoid any unanticipated interactions.
• JAWS now correctly reads buttons in the Google Drive setup application in Windows 11.

Office Apps

• When using Outlook on the web, JAWS now loads the New Outlook scripts and settings to help improve the experience.
• You can now use INSERT+A in the New Outlook to move to the attachments list for the currently open message.
• The message, “App Ctl,” is no longer shown in Braille for many instances in the New Outlook as it takes up space on the display and provides no real useful info.
• The ALT+1 through 6 keystrokes to read message headers now work as expected in the New Outlook.
• When replying to an email in Outlook, resolved an issue where the first few typed characters were dropped. This was primarily encountered when running Fusion, or when using JAWS and ZoomText together.
• Resolved an issue in Outlook where pressing CTRL+SHIFT+V from an open message was not opening the Move Items dialog.
• In French Outlook, JAWS no longer says “unknown” when navigating message lists.
• In Word, JAWS now reads alt text when assigned to a table.
• When inserting new rows or columns into a table in Word, JAWS now properly announces updated table information.
• In Word, JAWS now indicates when you enter or exit a list.
• With JAWS running, pasting document formatting in Word now works correctly.
• When navigating by heading in Word using navigation quick key H or SHIFT+H, JAWS no longer shows “hlp” along with the word "heading" and its level spelled out in Braille. This info is not needed as the heading level is shown in the status cells.
• JAWS now reads additional details about comments as you navigate them in the Word Comment pane. Additionally, the open/resolved status of comments is announced as you navigate the document.
• In Word, JAWS is more consistent with announcing tables when using navigation quick key T.
• In Word, alt text for graphics is now correctly read by JAWS when navigating with the ARROW keys or when using navigation quick key G.
• If you hover the mouse over search results in Word, mouse echo now reads the current result as expected.
• In Word, Navigation Quick Keys are no longer turned off unexpectedly if G is pressed to move to a graphic that includes a flashing image.
• JAWS now indicates the resolved state of comments as you navigate Word documents.
• In Excel, you can now press INSERT+SHIFT+V to display cells containing multiple lines of content in the Virtual Viewer. This enables you to read the content line by line.
• In an active Teams call or meeting, the Hang up option in the Manage Calls dialog (ALT+WINDOWS+C) now works as expected to end the call.

JAWS Application

• If Screen Shade is enabled and you use Picture Smart AI to try and describe the screen or window, you will now receive a message stating that the image cannot be described while Screen Shade is on.
• Added Picture Smart AI language support for Icelandic, Macedonian, Albanian, and Croatian. To select a language, open Settings Center, expand the Convenient OCR and Picture Smart group, and choose the language you want to use for describing images from the Picture Smart Language combo box.
• Improved the responsiveness of the JAWS Scan and Touch Cursors (SHIFT+NUM PAD PLUS or SHIFT+INSERT+SEMICOLON in Laptop Layout) when navigating to the first or last element.
• Starting with JAWS 2025, the Grade 2 Translator combo box in Settings Center now only lists the most recent version of the Liblouis Braille translator, which has been updated to 3.31.0.
• If JAWS is configured to run in the System Tray, improved JAWS performance in a Windows Security prompt.
• Pressing CTRL+INSERT+V twice quickly in the Fusion window to display application version information now correctly shows the Fusion version at the top instead of ZoomText.
• Updated JAWS to run on the latest features and improvements from Microsoft .Net 8 Core.
• Added language support for Slovak.
• If a Chinese Vocalizer Expressive voice is installed and Chinese text is encountered in a document, JAWS now automatically switches to the Chinese voice as expected.

Other

• JAWS now reads as expected when navigating from a message edit field to the list of chat messages in Slack.
• In Thunderbird, using INSERT+ALT+1 through 5 now correctly reads message headers instead of displaying “unknown function call” errors.
• In Adobe Reader DC, labels for edit fields and check boxes in PDF forms are now more consistently spoken and shown in Braille.
• If JAWS Tutor Messages are set to announce menu and control help, resolved an issue where help messages were not announced for items on the Windows Taskbar.
• Resolved an issue where JAWS keyboard functionality was not working reliably after using the Windows System Information utility.
• Pressing CTRL to interrupt speech in Remote Incident Manager now works even with JAWS unified keyboard processing enabled.
• JAWS no longer speaks password characters on the Windows Logon screen after opening the Language menu.
• JAWS now correctly reads the list of input languages on the Windows Logon screen.
• JAWS now automatically reads the content of Windows Forms dialog boxes when they gain focus.
• JAWS now reads text in a Terminal window after startup, even if JAWS is set to run on the Logon screen.

Enhancements in JAWS 2025 (December 2024)

Convenient OCR Updates

JAWS 2025 offers improvements to the Convenient OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature. These include a new method for recognizing the text of images based on the current context as well as the ability to perform OCR continuously in the background.

All-in-one Keystroke

The new keystroke reduces the effort of using Convenient OCR by using only, INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER, to recognize the text from an image based on your current application and context. This eliminates the need to remember multiple keystrokes constantly.

 

For instance:

  • If you are in File Explorer, it recognizes the currently selected image file.
  • If you are in Adobe Reader, it recognizes the currently open PDF document.
  • If you are playing a YouTube video, it activates Background OCR and places the Invisible cursor in the video area so you can access any displayed text as it is recognized.
  • If you are in a Teams or Zoom meeting where content is being shared, such as PowerPoint slides, it activates Background OCR and places the Invisible cursor in the shared content area so you can view the recognized text as it updates.
  • In any other applications, it recognizes the current window that has focus.

 

Background OCR

To help identify and read text from applications that are otherwise inaccessible, JAWS 2025 can now continuously perform OCR in the background for the active window. This ensures users can seamlessly access and interact with text content on their screens, improving overall accessibility and user experience.

To start Background OCR, use the layered command, INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, B. To review the OCR results, turn on the JAWS or Invisible cursor. Continue navigating with the JAWS or Invisible cursor to read the recognized text as it updates. Braille display users can also position themselves on a line and watch it update in real-time as new text is recognized.

Tip: Pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, CTRL+B also starts background OCR, but with the addition of a soft clicking sound to indicate the OCR process is being performed.

Background OCR remains active until a new window gains focus. Otherwise, you can stop it using the layered command, INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, Q.

This feature is most useful in applications where onscreen content is partially or completely inaccessible. Examples include security tools, messaging platforms, file management utilities, system maintenance software, multimedia editing programs, games, proprietary laptop utilities, or shared screen content.

Examples

A common use for Background OCR is using the INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER command to access textual content embedded in YouTube videos as well as screen content shared in Teams or Zoom.

Note: While INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, B also works for accessing video or shared screen content, INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER is recommended as it limits background recognition to the area with the video or screen share. The Invisible cursor automatically activates and is restricted to this area to minimize distractions. Using INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, B captures text from the content but may mix it with other text on the screen.

YouTube

To use Background OCR to recognize text in a YouTube video:

  1. Start playing a video on YouTube.com.
  2. Press INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER. JAWS starts Background OCR, then activates and moves the Invisible cursor to the video.
  3. Use your ARROW keys to explore the recognized text.
  4. At any point, you can verify Background OCR is active by pressing ALT+DELETE. If Background OCR is enabled, this will be indicated following the information on the active cursor and its position.
  5. Cancel Background OCR by doing one of the following:
    • Pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, Q to cancel recognition.
    • Switching to the PC or Virtual PC cursor.
    • Refreshing the page.
    • Loading a new video or page.
    • Changing focus to another application or window.

 

Shared Slides in Teams and Zoom

To use Background OCR to recognize the text of a shared screen or presentation in a Teams or Zoom meeting:

  1. Join a Teams or Zoom meeting where content is being shared.
  2. Press INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER. JAWS starts Background OCR, then activates and moves the Invisible cursor to the shared content area.
  3. Use your ARROW keys to explore the recognized text.
  4. At any point, you can verify Background OCR is active by pressing ALT+DELETE. If Background OCR is enabled, this will be indicated following the information on the active cursor and its position.
  5. Cancel Background OCR by doing one of the following:
    • Pressing INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, Q to cancel recognition.
    • Switching to the PC or Virtual PC cursor.
    • Changing focus to another application or window.

 

FSCompanion

When launching FSCompanion from JAWS using the layered command, INSERT+SPACEBAR, F1, FSCompanion now opens directly inside a Results Viewer window. This prevents FSCompanion from opening in a new web page, seamlessly integrating it with your current applications. You can toggle between a running application and FSCompanion using ALT+TAB, or locate it in your Windows List (INSERT+F10) after opening. This setup allows you to use FSCompanion alongside your daily tasks with greater ease. Additionally, a link to access FSCompanion is now included in JAWS Hot Key Help (INSERT+H).

Picture Smart

  • The INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, ENTER command along with its variations, which describes an image based on the current application and context, now describes images in WhatsApp without including surrounding content from the active window as long as you are focused on the image. This command also now describes shared content in a Zoom meeting if you are focused in the Zoom Application.
  • While focused on an image file attachment in an Outlook message, the INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, ENTER and INSERT+SPACEBAR, P, F commands or one of their variations now describes the file attachment without you first having to open or save it.

Modern Script Compiler (Early Adopter Program)

JAWS introduces the Modern Script Compiler, designed to simplify the integration of new features for script developers. While functionality mirrors the legacy compiler, this early access allows Scripters to ensure compatibility with existing JAWS scripts.

How to Get Started

To enable the Modern Script Compiler:

  1. In the JAWS Options menu, choose Early Adopter Program.
  2. Select Modern Script Compiler.
  3. Select OK and restart the software.

All compiled scripts will now process through both legacy and modern compilers. If any issues arise, disable the Modern Script Compiler through the Early Adopter Program Dialog to seamlessly revert to the legacy compiler.

This initiative ensures a smooth transition to advanced scripting capabilities in future updates!

ARIA and Web

  • Pressing CTRL+INSERT+F7 now announces the address for the currently selected link in Chrome version 131 and later. The link address is also displayed correctly in the INSERT+F1 help.
  • JAWS now properly detects list boxes on web pages in Chrome 131 and later.
  • If JAWS is started while focus is on a web page, the Virtual Cursor now immediately activates without the need to first press TAB or SHIFT+TAB.
  • The JAWS virtual buffer now correctly updates after closing a YouTube video.
  • Addressed an issue with JAWS not announcing the expanded or collapsed state of levels in ARIA tree grids.
  • After entering a search term from the Google Chrome address bar, removed extraneous language markup announcements that were spoken while navigating the list of search suggestions.
  • Addressed an issue with JAWS not speaking the page title in some multi-page dialog boxes.
  • A web page author may add a short description to an element on a page. A Description option has been added to the Configure Web Verbosity dialog in Settings Center to control this announcement. When this option is selected, short descriptions are indicated as you navigate using the Virtual Cursor.
  • Removed excess “context menu” announcements heard when navigating context menus opened from web pages.
  • Improved JAWS reading of column headers in ARIA grid tables.
  • Tables now visually scroll as expected when reading in specific columns.
  • Column headers now read correctly in tables that include the role=”rowheader” attribute.
  • Custom labels created for certain web page elements like buttons using CTRL+INSERT+TAB are now read as expected in Chrome and Edge.
  • If a cell in a grid includes a row header, JAWS now correctly indicates the column header when navigating to these cells with Forms Mode active.
  • JAWS now correctly indicates the maximum and minimum values for slider controls on web pages.

 

Google Suite

  • In Google Docs, you can now choose how JAWS alerts you when encountering text with comments. To configure this, open Setting Center while focused in Google Docs, press CTRL+SHIFT+W to load Google Docs specific settings, navigate to Comment Announcement, and use SPACEBAR to select an option. Available choices are Speak (selected by default), Play Sound, or Off.

 

Office Apps

  • JAWS now reads as expected in Data Validation dropdown menus in Excel.
  • When entering a formula in Excel, JAWS no longer speaks function names twice when navigating the list of suggestions.
  • In Excel, if you begin typing a function name as part of a formula, JAWS now reads as expected when navigating the list of related functions. The list of function names also updates correctly as you type multiple characters.
  • Addressed an issue in Outlook where pressing ENTER on a link in a message would move focus to the Subject field instead of activating the link as expected.

 

Braille

  • Added latest braille display keymaps provided by Selvas BLV.
  • Added the latest Braille display drivers from Help Tech.
  • Added new Braille drivers for the Zoomax NLS EReader display.
  • Addressed an issue with JAWS closing unexpectedly when disconnecting a Selvas BLV Braille display from USB.

 

Other

  • Addressed an Issue printing from Windows 11 Notepad with JAWS running.
  • JAWS now correctly identifies check boxes and their state in TextPad 9.
  • In Visual Studio Code, JAWS no longer reads characters from other lines when deleting text when Keyboard Echo is set to characters.
  • Improved support for table navigation and indicating read-only edit controls in various Java apps when using the new Java support in the Early Adopter Program dialog.
  • Addressed an issue where tutorial help messages were not spoken for SWT Link controls in Java apps.

 

Senast ändrad 2024-12-18

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