The screen reader that provides speech and Braille output designed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse.
JAWS, Job Access With Speech, is the world’s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC. You will be able to navigate the Internet, write a document, read an email and create presentations from your office, remote desktop, or from home.
The following is a list of improvements made between the August 2026 release and the September 2026 update.
Facebook and Reddit Enhancements
Significant improvements have been made in this release for users who previously had issues navigating Facebook or Reddit.
- When using feeds on either site, you can now use the heading navigation quick key H to move through content more consistently.
- JAWS also no longer unexpectedly moves focus while scrolling, making it easier to keep track of previously viewed content.
Cloud Settings Enhancements
- Vocalizer Expressive voice settings are now included in Cloud Settings sync. These settings can be transferred to a new computer even if the corresponding voices are not yet installed. The voices must still be installed separately, but once installed, the previously synced settings can be applied.
- You should now encounter fewer conflict dialogs when synchronizing Cloud Settings between multiple computers.
- Sync status information indicating that JAWS settings are currently syncing to the cloud, have not been synced, or are synced has been added to the JAWS status line.
- The Manage sync settings dialog box now gains focus so users no longer have to press ALT+TAB to navigate to the window.
- If there is a conflict when syncing cloud settings, the text of the error can now be navigated using the ARROW keys or copied to the clipboard.
Microsoft Office
- JAWS no longer says “message” while typing in Outlook (new).
- If the Information bar messages announcement option in Quick Settings for Outlook is enabled, JAWS now reads the contents of the information bar as expected when opening an email.
- Continued improvements to JAWS interacting with math content in PowerPoint slides.
- Pressing CTRL+ENTER in Microsoft Teams while focused on a message in the chat history for a conversation now more reliably activates the Virtual PC Cursor for reading the message contents.
ARIA and Web
- JAWS now more consistently moves the virtual cursor from combo boxes to buttons when navigating web pages.
- Using navigation quick key I to move to list items now moves to items in nested lists.
- Improved JAWS indication of elements on web pages that offer additional content which can be toggled by pressing INSERT+BACKSLASH.
- JAWS now more reliably reads prompts for multiline edit fields when they gain focus.
Braille
- The Mantis Q40 braille display now has a keymap, and no longer relies on legacy drivers. …
| Publisher | Freedom Scientific |
|---|---|
| Author | Freedom Scientific, Inc. |
| Version | 2026.2609.84.400 |
| Release date | 2026-09-24 |
| License | Proprietary |
| Installer type | burn |
| Architecture | x64, arm64 |
| Package ID | FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 |
| Install scope | All users |
winget install --id=FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 -ewinget upgrade --id=FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 -ewinget uninstall --id=FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 -e"J2026.2609.84.400-Offline-x64.exe" /quiet /norestartmsiexec /x {272D47FE-0C57-4175-930F-5DC7699DF49F} /quietFreedom Scientific JAWS 2026 can open or be associated with 3 file types:
The following is a list of improvements made between the June 2026 release and the August 2026 update.
PowerPoint Improvements
This release significantly improves the PowerPoint experience, making it easier to navigate slides, view and edit slideshow content, understand PowerPoint slide content and formatting, and deliver presentations with more accurate and less repetitive speech. The full list of improvements includes:
- JAWS now reads slideshow content in Presentation mode when pressing F5
- JAWS will now announce “decorative rectangle” when tabbing to a rectangle after a PowerPoint presentation is opened
- JAWS no longer announces that objects are decorative when the Decorative check box is unchecked
- In Reading and Slideshow View, JAWS now correctly reads formatted words and nested lists
- When tabbing through contents of PowerPoint slides, JAWS no longer continuously announces slide number placeholders
- When tabbing through the slide area, excessive speech has been removed
- When tabbing through slide content, JAWS no longer reads the previous object’s alt text description when focus is on a different object
- When in Edit object mode, JAWS now announces links correctly
- In Slideshow View, bullets with no content no longer appear
- Math content on slides is now indicated so you can press ENTER to display equations in the JAWS Math Viewer
- In Slideshow View, JAWS no longer announces “graphic” in slides which only contain text …
The following is a list of improvements made between the May 2026 release and the June 2026 update.
More Time to Connect a Vispero Account (United States customers only)
New users in the United States now have 30 days to create and sign in to a Vispero account while continuing to use JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. AI based features—Picture Smart, AI Labeler, Vispero Companion, and Page Explorer—will become available once an account is connected.
This change provides more flexibility during setup and makes it easier to get started with the software.
.NET 10 Framework Upgrade
Many enterprise customers require software vendors to stay current with supported Microsoft technologies and security standards.
With this release, we have upgraded our products to the .NET 10 framework, helping ensure:
- Continued compatibility with modern enterprise environments
- Improved long-term support and security compliance
- Alignment with current Microsoft development standards
Amazon WorkSpaces DCV Protocol Support
DCV (Desktop Cloud Visualization) is Amazon’s new high-performance remote desktop and streaming technology for the WorkSpaces platform. JAWS now supports this protocol, helping ensure accessibility compatibility for users working in Amazon WorkSpaces environments. This is especially important for enterprises as well as remote workers relying on cloud hosted desktops and applications. …
The following is a list of improvements made between the March 2026 release and the May 2026 update.
Page Explorer Availability
Page Explorer, accessed with INSERT+SHIFT+E, is an extension of Vispero Companion that quickly summarizes a web page, highlights important content and links, and provides helpful navigation tips so you can find what you need faster. This feature is now available to Home Annual users. In addition, Home users are no longer limited to 20 requests per week.
This means more users can take advantage of Page Explorer, with fewer limits to worry about. You can now access detailed web page information when you need it most, without having to keep track of usage caps.
Age Restrictions for AI Features
To help ensure a safe and age-appropriate experience for all users, JAWS AI features, Picture Smart, Vispero Companion, and Page Explorer, now adapt based on the age set in your Vispero account.
For users 18 and older, there is no change to how these features work.
For younger users, the following adjustments apply:
- Under 13 – Images are described with stricter safety limits, chat is not available, and no access to Vispero Companion or Page Explorer
- Ages 13 to 17 – Images are described with safety limits in place, and chat is available with those same restrictions applied to responses
These adjustments help ensure a safer and more appropriate experience for younger users and align with industry best practices for AI features. …
Freedom Scientific JAWS 2026 is proprietary software from Freedom Scientific. Check the publisher's license terms for pricing and usage rights.
The latest version is 2026.2609.84.400, released on Sep 24, 2026.
The download button links to the official installer published on software.vfo.digital, the same file Windows Package Manager installs. You can verify the downloaded file by comparing its SHA-256 checksum with 6eeb05bbcf48e886f63a21aa276f190d35f452f3fe2e1d17077c1757ebc07e02.
Freedom Scientific JAWS 2026 runs on Windows and is available for 64-bit (x64), ARM64 systems.
Run the offline installer with "J2026.2609.84.400-Offline-x64.exe" /quiet /norestart, or install it with Windows Package Manager: winget install --id=FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 -e --silent.
Open Settings › Apps › Installed apps, find Freedom Scientific JAWS 2026 and select Uninstall. From the command line, run winget uninstall --id=FreedomScientific.JAWS.2026 -e.
Freedom Scientific JAWS 2026 supports 3 file types, including .fsca, .jcf, .mls.
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Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for individuals with vision loss, providing both ZoomText® and JAWS®.
Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for individuals with vision loss, providing both ZoomText® and JAWS®.
Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for individuals with vision loss, providing both ZoomText® and JAWS®.
Fusion is the ultimate accessibility tool for individuals with vision loss, providing both ZoomText® and JAWS®.