I Never Use Windows Without Tweaking These Accessibility Features

The accessibility features of Windows systems are not designed only for people with disabilities, they can also significantly improve the productivity of ordinary users. Even without a disability, I rely on some accessibility features to improve efficiency and can't even imagine how to use Windows without them. Here are some features worth trying:

1. Watch videos easily: Use real-time subtitles

Sometimes to save time, I speed up the video, but this makes the audio difficult to understand. Or, the speaker has a heavier accent, contains professional terms, or I can’t use my headphones in the library. In these cases, I would rely on Windows' real-time subtitles feature, which generates real-time subtitles for any audio for easy reading.

Enable this feature, open the Settings app, navigate to Accessibility > Subtitles, and turn on the switch next to Live Subtitles. A pop-up window will appear, requesting permission to process voice data locally - click "Download" and wait for the settings to be completed. When enabled, Windows will generate live subtitles for any videos played.

If this feature is turned off, you can quickly enable it using the shortcut key Win Ctrl L. In addition, you can customize the subtitle settings to suit your preferences.

Related content: How to get live subtitles for any video or audio in Chrome browser

Chrome can now create subtitles for any website.

2. Liberate your hands: typing with voice

As a writer, I type on my laptop every day. To give my fingers a break, I use the voice typing function for dictation instead of keys. It also helps me write down my thoughts or keep writing while my hands are busy. Also, while watching videos and taking notes, I can pause, say the key points loudly, and transcribe them immediately without typing.

Enable this feature, open the Settings app, navigate to Accessibility > Voice, and turn on Voice Access. Then, click "I agree" to complete the setup. If you are using it for the first time, the tutorial will guide you through the basics. You can do various actions with voice commands, and I recommend you test it in Notepad to be familiar with how it works.

Be sure to proofread any text dictated using voice typing, as your device may not always capture your voice accurately.

3. Zoom in text and read easily

I spend most of my time reading and writing on screen, with weak eyesight and the default text size tends to feel too small, causing eye fatigue. This problem can be even worse when using an ultra-wide monitor or laptop placed on a stand that is slightly out of reach. To make reading more comfortable, I always increase the text size.

Resizing the text can reduce eye strain and help me maintain a better position because I don’t have to lean forward for reading. To change the text size, open the Settings app, go to the Accessibility tab, select Text Size, and use the slider to adjust. You will see a preview of the appearance of the text before applying the changes.

I set the slider to 130 when writing on my laptop and resize it to different sizes when using an ultra-wide high resolution monitor. Adjust settings to make display easier.

4. Mouse pointer and touch

Like the text, the default mouse pointer feels too small for me. Also, after years of using blue shadow pointers, I found it difficult to use the default pointer. That's why I always customize its size and style. To do this, open the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Mouse Pointers and Touch, and then adjust the slider to resize and select the pointer style you prefer.

Similarly, the touch screen of my old laptop became less sensitive over time and sometimes it took multiple clicks to register for a touch. To get a visual prompt when my touch is detected, I enabled the touch indicator, which displays a circle at my click position. To turn it on, enable the switch next to Touch Indicator and select Make the circle darker and larger.

Now, whenever you touch the screen, a dark circle appears. I'm used to this feature, but if you find it annoying, you can turn it off at any time.

5. Change visual effects settings

Windows comes with visual effects such as transparency, which creates translucent backgrounds and animations, adding smooth transitions when opening or closing applications, menus, and more. However, these effects are turned off by default. On my old low spec laptop I kept turning it off for performance, but on my high performance computer I enabled it for a more refined look.

If you have a low-end device, turn off these settings to prevent the system from getting slower. However, if your computer has a high-end GPU, you can turn it on without worrying about performance issues. To adjust these settings, open the Settings app, go to the Accessibility tab, select Visuals, and switch options as needed.

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These are the accessibility settings that I always adjust when I reset my computer, reinstall the operating system, or get a new device. Now that I've shared how these settings improve my experience, you can decide if they're worth enabling on your device. Try it and see how they improve your workflow.

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