Windows Subsystem for Android Keyboard Shortcuts for Android Apps

With all the buzz around Windows 11 finally being able to run Android apps natively, you would have definitely heard and (most probably) already downloaded the Windows Subsystem for Android app on your Windows machine.

If you have been using the Windows Subsystem for Android on your PC, you would have realized the need for keyboard shortcuts for navigation by now. Thankfully, there are some shortcuts that will definitely help you lose the grip of that mouse.

How to Enable Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows Subsystem for Android

Since the Windows Subsystem is a component layer running on top of Windows 11, you cannot simply press the shortcut keys for Subsystem without it actively listening for them; also there could be instances where a shortcut key for WSA is also a shortcut key on Windows for a different purpose altogether.

Hence, to solve this issue, Screen Reader for Windows Subsystem comes into the picture. You can invoke the Screen Reader if and when necessary and then use the shortcuts meant for apps running in Windows Subsystem for Android.

To turn on the Screen Reader for Windows Subsystem for Android, by pressing the Windows key+Ctrl+T shortcut on your keyboard. You will receive an audio clue every time it is invoked.

If you wish to turn off the Screen Reader, press the same set of keys on your keyboard again, that is Windows key+Ctrl+T. WSA will give out an audio clue when you turn the Screen Reader off.

Read: How to Install and Run Android Apps on a Windows PC

There is no rocket science involved in using keyboard shortcuts. The only thing that you need to take care of is to invoke the Screen Reader for WSA before you actually press any other shortcut key in order for it to work.

Action Performed	Keyboard Shortcut
Back	`Alt`+`Backspace`
Navigate to the next item (In continuous reading, this shortcut fast forwards the text)	`Alt`+`Right arrow`
Navigate to the item above	`Alt`+ `Up arrow`
Navigate to the item below	`Alt`+`Down arrow`
Navigate to the first item	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`Left arrow`
Navigate to the last item	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`Right arrow`
Navigate to the next word	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`Right arrow`
Navigate to the previous word	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`Left arrow`
Navigate to the next character	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right arrow`
Navigate to the previous character	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left arrow`
Select the focused element	`Alt`+`Enter`
Select and hold the focused element	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Enter`
Read from top	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`Enter`
Read from next item	`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`

The Screen Reader will also enable you to use keyboard shortcuts in a web view of any app. Though you might not need them very frequently, having them handy could be really useful when needed.

Note: These shortcuts will only work in a web view element of the app and will not enable you to interact with any other element.

Action Performed	Keyboard Shortcut
Next Button	`Alt`+`B`
Previous Button	`Alt`+`Shift`+`B`
Next Checkbox	`Alt`+`X`
Previous Checkbox	`Alt`+`Shift`+`X`
Next Combo bo	`Alt`+`Z`
Previous Combo box	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Z`
Next Ctrl	`Alt`+`C`
Previous Ctrl	`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`
Next Editable field	`Alt`+`E`
Next Focus item	`Alt`+`F`
Previous Focus item	`Alt`+`Shift`+`F`
Next Graphic	`Alt`+`G`
Previous Graphic	`Alt`+`Shift`+`G`
Next Heading	`Alt`+`H`
Previous Heading	`Alt`+`Shift`+`H`
Next Heading level (H1-H6)	`Alt`+`(1-6)`
Previous Heading level (H1-H6)	`Alt`+`Shift`+`(1-6)`
Next Link	`Alt`+`L`
Previous Link	`Alt`+`Shift`+`L`
Next List item	`Alt`+`O`
Previous List item	`Alt`+`Shift`+`O`
Next Table	`Alt`+`T`
Previous Table	`Alt`+`Shift`+`T`
Next ARIA landmark	`Alt`+`D`
Previous ARIA landmark	`Alt`+`Shift`+`D`

These are all the keyboard shortcuts currently available via the Screen Reader accessibility setting in Windows Subsystem for Android. We’ll update this page as and when more shortcuts are available.