Windows 10 – Vision

Ease of Access Centre

Many of Windows built in accessibility features are located in the Ease of Access Centre.

Here are 4 different ways to open the Ease of Access Centre on Windows 10.

  • Using a mouse, in the Windows search box type Ease. This will display the Ease of Access Centre listing at the top of the search result.
A screenshot showing how to access the Ease of Access Centre on a Windows device
Fig.1 Ease of Access Centre listing using the search bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Using a mouse, bring up the Control Panel and select Ease of Access
A screenshot of the location of the Ease of Access Centre on a Windows device
Fig.2  Ease of Access Centre in the Control Panel.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Using a mouse open the Settings app and then select  Ease of Access
  • Use the Windows Keyboard shortcut by holding down the ‘Windows’ logo key and then pressing ‘U’

 

A screenshot of the location of the Ease of Access Centre in the Settings app on a Windows device
Fig.3  Ease of Access Centre in the Settings app.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enlarging Text Size

If your level of vision impairment makes it difficult for you to see the size of text and icons on the computer screen, you may want to increase the text size to make the items a better size for you.

  • Use the Control Panel to open the Ease of Access Center.
  • Windows Search Box > Control > Control Panel > Ease of Access
  • Under the ‘Explore all settings’ section either Tab or use the mouse to select ‘Make the computer easier to See’
  • Control Panel > Ease of Access Centre > Explore all settings > Make the computer easier to see
A screenshot of the location for the "Make the computer easier to see" section of the Ease of Access Centre on a Windows device
Fig.4  Make the computer easier to see option in the Ease of Access Centre.

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

  • In the ‘Make things on the screen larger’ section either Tab, use the mouse or use ‘Alt’ key + ‘Z’ to select  ‘Change the size of text and icons.
  • Make the Computer Easier to see > Make things on the screen larger > Change  the size of text and icons
A screenshot of the option to change the size of text and icons on a Windows device
Fig.5  Change the size of text and icons option in the Ease of Access Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • On the Display page, use the drop down box within the Scale and layout section to increase the scale value to 125%
  • Settings > System > Display  > Scale and layout
A screenshot showing how to change the size of text, apps and other items on a Windows device
Fig.6  Change the size of text, app and other items in the Display settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing Colour Filters and High contrast themes

Colour Filters

Colour filters can be customized to create colour contrasts  that may better suit your type of vision loss and help you see everything on the screen more clearly.

  • Use the Windows Keyboard shortcut to display the Ease of Access settings within the Settings app by holding down the ‘Windows’ logo key and then pressing ‘U’. Click on the Colour and High contrast setting.
A screenshot showing how to change the colour and high contrast settings on a Windows device
Fig.7  Colour and high contrast settings in Ease of Access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Windows offers 6 different colour filters to choose from in the Colour and high contrast settings, colour filters section
  • Settings > Ease of Access > Colour and high contrast > Colour filters
  • Once applied, use the keyboard shortcut Windows logo key + Ctrl + C to toggle the filter on and off
A screenshot showing how to apply a colour filter on a Windows device
Fig.8  Option to apply a colour filter from a drop down list in Colour and high contrast settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   High Contrast Themes

You can further set you own text and background colour combinations through high contrast themes

  • Choose a default high contrast theme or create your own in the High contrast section
  • Settings > Ease of Access > Colour and high contrast > High Contrast
  • Use the mouse to apply the settings
A screenshot showing how to apply a high contrast on a Windows device
Fig.9  Option to apply a High contrast from a drop down list in Colour and high contrast settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making the Mouse easier to see

You may find it difficult to see the mouse. A mouse typically has 2 shapes – a mouse pointer to indicate a display selection point and an ‘I’ beam pointer to indicate text input. Changing the pointer size and colour may make the mouse easier to see.

  • Use the Windows Keyboard shortcut to display the Ease of Access Centre by holding down the ‘Windows’ logo key and then pressing ‘U’. Select the Mouse section.
A screenshot showing the mouse settings on a Windows device
Fig.10  Mouse settings in Ease of Access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Here you can customize the pointer size – regular, large or extra large and pointer colour – white, black or inverted. Select one option from each category.
A screenshot showing how to change the mouse settings on a Windows device
Fig.11  Configure mouse pointer size and mouse pointer colour in Mouse settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please click here to read about the Magnifier in Windows 10.

Please click here to read about the Narrator in Windows 10.