Windows 11 continues to evolve with new features designed to enhance accessibility and user experience. One such feature is the addition of text descriptions for assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice Access, and others in the Quick Actions window. These descriptions make it easier for users to locate and utilize these tools, improving accessibility and usability.
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However, this feature is being rolled out gradually, meaning it may not be available by default on all systems. To enable it manually, you can use the ViveTool utility. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
ℹ️ Text descriptions in the Quick Actions window provide additional context for accessibility tools like Narrator, Voice Access, and other assistive technologies. These descriptions are designed to make it easier for users to identify and activate the tools they need to improve their workflow or accessibility experience.
While the feature is rolling out to users over time, you can manually enable it using the ViveTool command-line utility. This allows you to test and use text descriptions before they become widely available.
Enable Text Labels for Accessibility Features in Quick Settings
To enable text descriptions for accessibility options in the Quick Actions window, do the following:
- Download and Install ViveTool: Begin by downloading the ViveTool application from its official GitHub repository.
- Once downloaded, extract the files to a dedicated folder, such as C:\ViveTool, for easy access.
- Open an Elevated Terminal: Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin) from the menu. This ensures you have the necessary administrative privileges to execute commands.
- Enable Text Labels: In the terminal, enter the following command to enable text descriptions:
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:56887328. Press Enter to execute the command. This will activate the feature ID associated with text descriptions in the Quick Actions window. - After running the command, restart your device to apply the changes. A system reboot ensures that the new feature is properly initialized and integrated into your Windows environment.
Once your system restarts, the text descriptions for accessibility options will appear in the Quick Actions window, making it easier to locate and use assistive technologies.
Using Text Descriptions in the Quick Actions Window
Open the Quick Actions window by clicking the network, volume, or battery icon in the system tray. Navigate to the Accessibility section, where you’ll find enhanced descriptions for tools like Narrator, Voice Access, and other assistive technologies.
Use these descriptions to quickly identify and activate the tools you need to improve your accessibility experience.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Feature Not Appearing:
- If text descriptions do not appear after restarting, ensure you entered the command correctly and restarted your computer.
- Compatibility Issues:
- You must be running Windows 11 Build 26200.5603 (Dev), or Windows 11 Build 26120.4151 (Beta).
- Command Errors:
- If you encounter errors while running the ViveTool command, double-check the file path and ensure you’re using the correct syntax.
Conclusion
Enabling text descriptions for accessibility options in the Quick Actions window is a small but impactful change that enhances the usability of assistive technologies. By using ViveTool to manually enable this feature, you can take advantage of the improved UI ahead of their widespread rollout.
Thanks to @phantomofearth for the ViVeTool finding.
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