Skip to main content
Help & Customer Service

# Guide to Screen Reader and Explore by Touch

When the Screen Reader is turned on, Explore by Touch will turn on automatically. With Explore by Touch, you can use gestures to navigate your Fire tablet and interact with your content while the Screen Reader describes the actions you make on screen. Help for Kindle Fire HD (3rd Generation), Kindle Fire HDX 7" (3rd Generation), and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" (3rd Generation).

You can customize your Screen Reader experience with unique user preferences. To access settings when Screen Reader is on, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers and then double-tap Settings. Double-tap Accessibility and then double-tap Screen Reader to access available settings.

Setting | Description
--- | ---
Reading Speed | Adjust the speed of the Screen Reader voice.
Screen Reader Volume | Set the volume level for the Screen Reader voice, select Match device volume to use the physical volume keys on the device to adjust the volume for the Screen Reader voice.
Feedback Tone Volume | Set the volume level for the feedback tone, or select Match device volume to use the physical volume keys on the device to adjust the volume for the feedback tone.
Manage Up/Down Gesture | Set the default action for the up/down gesture. Note: By default, performing an up and then down gesture with a single finger moves the screen reader focus to the first item on the screen (or the last if the gesture is reversed). Select Adjust reading granularity to set the gesture to cycle through the different reading levels (e.g. read by character, word, line, paragraph, or page).

After adjusting your preferences, you can use gestures to explore what you can do with your Fire tablet.

Action | Gesture
--- | ---
Turn on Screen Reader and Explore by Touch from any screen | Press the Power button until you hear an alert, and then place two fingers (slightly apart) on the screen and hold for five seconds.
Explore menus and items | Drag a finger over each item on the screen.
Go to the next item | Swipe right or down using a finger.
Go to the previous item | Swipe left or up using a finger.
Open an item | Select the item, and then double-tap anywhere on the screen. If the item doesn't open, try slowing down or speeding up your tapping speed.
Go to the Home screen | Swipe up then left with a finger in a single motion.
Go back to the previous screen | Swipe down then left with a finger in a single motion.
Open Quick Actions and Notifications | Swipe right then down with a finger in a single motion. Alternatively, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers.
Open Navigation Panel in a content library or store | Swipe from the left edge of the screen with two fingers.
Show recently opened apps or content | While holding your device in Portrait mode, swipe from the bottom of the screen with two fingers. In Landscape mode, swipe from the right edge of the screen with two fingers.
Type on the keyboard | Move a finger slowly over the keys to hear them being read to you. When you hear the letter, lift your finger from the keyboard to add the letter. If you hear a high-pitched tone, your finger has moved outside the keyboard.
Select a word from suggested word list | Type a letter of a word, and then slide your finger from the bottom of screen until you hear a high-pitched tone. Without lifting your finger, draw circles clockwise to hear a list of suggested words. Draw circles counterclockwise to cycle backwards through the words. Lift your finger to select the word.
Go to the next page or previous page | Swipe left or right with two fingers.
Scroll up or down | Swipe up or down with two fingers when you can scroll on the screen.
Scroll right or left | Swipe right or left with two fingers when you can scroll on the screen.
Scroll list by one page | Swipe right then left with a finger in a single motion.
Adjust a seek control | Seek controls are used to adjust settings such as volume or screen brightness. To adjust a seek control: Move Screen Reader focus to the control you want to adjust. Swipe right then left, or left then right, with a finger in a single motion. Alternatively, double-tap and hold, and then slide a finger to adjust the control.
View additional information on an item | Double-tap on the item and hold for one second. After you hear a tone, swipe to navigate the pop-up menu.
Unlock the screen | When the screen is locked, swipe left with two fingers anywhere on the screen to unlock your device.

Related Help Topics

- Guide to Reading Books with Screen Reader and Explore by Touch

Was this information helpful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Please select what best describes the information:

This information is confusing or wrong
This isn't the information I was looking for
I don't like this policy
Submit

Thanks! While we're unable to respond directly to your feedback, we'll use this information to improve our online Help.

Go