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HomeDocsClaude Code CLI 3 Oct 2026
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Use Claude Code with a screen reader changedaccessibility

Nearest release: v2.1.288, published 6 hours before upstream edited the page. Shown because the two are within 24 hours of each other. Nothing here says the release caused the edit.

Upstream edited this page at 3 Oct 2026 00:38 UTC, give or take a minute or two: the time comes from Anthropic’s own sitemap rather than from a commit. This site recorded the change at 22 Oct 2026 18:07 UTC.

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55Claude Code has a screen reader mode that replaces its visual terminal interface with plain, linear text. Instead of boxes, progress animations, and in-place redraws, Claude Code prints labeled lines that a screen reader such as VoiceOver or NVDA reads in order. You can hold a full conversation, approve tool permissions, and review output end to end.
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7Screen reader mode is opt-in. If you use a screen magnifier, reduced motion, or a colorblind-friendly theme instead of a screen reader, set `CLAUDE_CODE_ACCESSIBILITY`, `prefersReducedMotion`, or `theme` from the [Accessibility settings](#accessibility-settings) table. Screen reader mode adapts the terminal interface only, so you don't need it in the VS Code extension's chat panel. On Claude Code v2.1.236 or later, the extension [announces conversation activity to your screen reader](/docs/en/vs-code#use-a-screen-reader) there without any setting.
7Screen reader mode is opt-in. If you use a screen magnifier, reduced motion, or a colorblind-friendly theme instead of a screen reader, set `CLAUDE_CODE_ACCESSIBILITY`, `prefersReducedMotion`, or `theme` from the [Accessibility settings](#accessibility-settings) table. Screen reader mode adapts the terminal interface only, so you don't need it in the VS Code extension's chat panel. On Claude Code v2.1.236 or later, the extension [announces conversation activity to your screen reader](/docs/en/vs-code.md#use-a-screen-reader) there without any setting.
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99## Turn on screen reader mode
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1313* For one session: run `claude --ax-screen-reader`.
1414* For sessions started from one shell: set the `CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER` environment variable to `1`. In Bash or Zsh, run `export CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER=1`. In PowerShell, run `$env:CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER = "1"`. Add that line to your shell profile to keep it for future shells.
15* For every session on the machine: add `"axScreenReader": true` to your user [settings file](/docs/en/settings). The setting applies in any terminal, including the VS Code integrated terminal.
15* For every session on the machine: add `"axScreenReader": true` to your user [settings file](/docs/en/settings.md). The setting applies in any terminal, including the VS Code integrated terminal.
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1717If you combine methods, Claude Code applies the [`--ax-screen-reader`](/docs/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flag over the [`CLAUDE_AX_SCREEN_READER`](/docs/en/env-vars#variables) environment variable, and the variable over the [`axScreenReader`](/docs/en/settings-reference#axscreenreader) setting.
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5050* Tables in Claude's replies read as `Header: value` sentences instead of a box-character grid
5151* 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
5252 
53Claude 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).
53Claude 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.md).
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5555After 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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6666| `error:` | An error in the conversation, such as a failed API request |
6767| `warning:` | A warning from Claude Code, such as a switch to a fallback model |
6868| `Permission Required:` | A permission prompt waiting for your answer |
69| `Cost:` | The session cost summary when Claude Code exits, if your account [shows costs](/docs/en/costs) |
69| `Cost:` | The session cost summary when Claude Code exits, if your account [shows costs](/docs/en/costs.md) |
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7171Claude Code keeps the terminal cursor on the input caret, so your screen reader's read-current-line command reads the prompt you're editing.
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7373As you type at the end of the input line, or press `Backspace` there, Claude Code writes only the characters that change. Your screen reader echoes only those characters.
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75When you delete a word or a line with one of the [text editing shortcuts](/docs/en/interactive-mode#text-editing), Claude Code announces the deleted text:
75When you delete a word or a line with one of the [text editing shortcuts](/docs/en/interactive-mode.md#text-editing), Claude Code announces the deleted text:
7676 
7777* Deleting words with `Ctrl+W` or `Alt+D`, or with `Option+Delete` on macOS or `Ctrl+Backspace` on Windows
7878* Deleting to the start of the line with `Ctrl+U` or `Cmd+Backspace`
7979* Deleting to the end of the line with `Ctrl+K`
8080 
81When 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.
81When you cycle [permission modes](/docs/en/permission-modes.md) 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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8383### Read earlier output without losing your place
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116116* A prompt or dialog needs your answer, such as a permission prompt
117117* A tool that ran longer than 5 seconds finishes
118118 
119The bell is your terminal's standard alert. To silence it, change the bell setting in your terminal application. Outside screen reader mode, set [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings-reference#preferrednotifchannel) to `"terminal_bell"` to get a [similar bell](/docs/en/terminal-config#get-a-terminal-bell-or-notification) when Claude is waiting on you.
119The bell is your terminal's standard alert. To silence it, change the bell setting in your terminal application. Outside screen reader mode, set [`preferredNotifChannel`](/docs/en/settings-reference#preferrednotifchannel) to `"terminal_bell"` to get a [similar bell](/docs/en/terminal-config.md#get-a-terminal-bell-or-notification) when Claude is waiting on you.
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121121## Known limitations
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123123Some behaviors aren't adapted for screen reader mode:
124124 
125125* Screen reader mode doesn't turn on automatically when a screen reader is running.
126* Claude Code doesn't announce a permission mode change you make with a command, such as entering [plan mode](/docs/en/permission-modes#analyze-before-you-edit-with-plan-mode) with `/plan`.
127* Attaching to a [background session](/docs/en/agent-view) with `claude attach` or from agent view enters the terminal's alternate screen, which has no native scrollback. This is the [same behavior as other attached sessions](/docs/en/fullscreen). To get back out, press Left Arrow on an empty prompt, or Ctrl+Z if a dialog has focus.
126* Claude Code doesn't announce a permission mode change you make with a command, such as entering [plan mode](/docs/en/permission-modes.md#analyze-before-you-edit-with-plan-mode) with `/plan`.
127* Attaching to a [background session](/docs/en/agent-view.md) with `claude attach` or from agent view enters the terminal's alternate screen, which has no native scrollback. This is the [same behavior as other attached sessions](/docs/en/fullscreen.md). To get back out, press Left Arrow on an empty prompt, or Ctrl+Z if a dialog has focus.
128128* Claude Code announces costs in the summary it prints at exit, not per turn.
129* Screen reader mode doesn't change [non-interactive mode](/docs/en/headless) with the `-p` flag. Non-interactive mode already writes plain text and remains an alternative for scripting.
129* Screen reader mode doesn't change [non-interactive mode](/docs/en/headless.md) with the `-p` flag. Non-interactive mode already writes plain text and remains an alternative for scripting.
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131131## Report an issue
132132 
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