Use Claude Code with a screen reader changedaccessibility
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### Read earlier output without losing your place
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3434| [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | Screen reader mode for sessions started from the shell where you set it. |
3535| [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings-reference#axscreenreader) | Setting | Screen reader mode for every session when `true`. |
3636| [`CLAUDE_AX_STARTUP_QUIET_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits after the confirmation line before it draws the first prompt in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.217 or later. |
37| [`CLAUDE_AX_PREPARK_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | How long Claude Code waits, with the cursor at the start of the line, before it writes a new or changed line in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.233 or later. |
37| [`CLAUDE_AX_PREPARK_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | When you set it, how many milliseconds Claude Code holds the terminal cursor at the start of the current line before writing a new or changed line in screen reader mode. Requires Claude Code v2.1.233 or later. |
3838| [`CLAUDE_CODE_ACCESSIBILITY`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) | Environment variable | A terminal cursor that stays visible for screen magnifiers such as macOS Zoom when you set it to `1`. The cursor follows the input caret and, on Claude Code v2.1.218 or later, the highlighted row in menus and panels such as `/config` and `/plugin`. |
3939| [`prefersReducedMotion`](/docs/en/settings-reference#prefersreducedmotion) | Setting | Reduced or no spinners, shimmer, and other animations when `true`. |
4040| [`theme`](/docs/en/settings-reference#theme) | Setting | The interface colors, including the colorblind-friendly `dark-daltonized` and `light-daltonized` themes. You can also pick one with [`/theme`](/docs/en/commands#all-commands). |
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4848* No color-only cues
4949* No redraws of content that hasn't changed. Progress spinners render as static text
5050* Tables in Claude's replies read as `Header: value` sentences instead of a box-character grid
51* Diffs read as plain text, line by line with `+` and `-` marking added and removed lines, so you can hear the proposed change in a file edit approval prompt before you answer it
5152
5253Claude Code leaves everything it prints in your terminal's scrollback, so you can re-read earlier turns with your screen reader's review commands or your terminal's search. Claude Code ignores the [`tui` setting](/docs/en/settings-reference#tui) in screen reader mode. Apart from the attached background sessions listed under [Known limitations](#known-limitations), it prints scrolling text instead of [fullscreen rendering](/docs/en/fullscreen).
5354
54Claude Code also waits at two points so your screen reader can keep up:
55After Claude Code prints the [confirmation line](#turn-on-screen-reader-mode) at startup, it waits 3 seconds before it draws the prompt, so your screen reader can finish the line. Press any key to end the wait. To change the length of the wait, set [`CLAUDE_AX_STARTUP_QUIET_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables).
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56* After Claude Code prints the confirmation line, it waits 3 seconds before it draws the prompt, so your screen reader can finish the line. Press any key to end the wait. To change the length of the wait, set [`CLAUDE_AX_STARTUP_QUIET_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables).
57* Before Claude Code writes a new or changed line, such as a hint or more of Claude's reply, it moves the cursor to the start of the line and waits 50 milliseconds. Your screen reader then reads the line from its first character. Characters you type or delete at the end of the input line appear immediately. To change the length of the wait, set [`CLAUDE_AX_PREPARK_MS`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables).
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5957Each message in the transcript starts with a label your screen reader announces, naming what it is: your messages, Claude's replies and thinking, tool activity, errors and warnings, and prompts. The labels are also searchable, so you can jump between sections of the transcript by searching your terminal's scrollback:
6058
6159| Label | Meaning |
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8179* Deleting to the end of the line with `Ctrl+K`
8280
8381When you cycle [permission modes](/docs/en/permission-modes) with `Shift+Tab`, Claude Code announces the permission mode you land on, such as `[plan mode on]` or `[accept edits on]`. Claude Code prints the announcement once and doesn't repeat it on later redraws.
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83### Read earlier output without losing your place
84
85If your screen reader jumps back to the prompt while you're reading earlier output, it's following the terminal cursor. Claude Code moves the terminal cursor back to the prompt each time it writes new text.
86
87To keep your place while you read, stop your screen reader from following the terminal cursor. In NVDA, press `NVDA+6` to stop the review cursor from following the terminal cursor. Press `NVDA+6` again to turn following back on.
8488
8589### Jump between turns
8690
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