Windows accessibility settings for dyslexia: a practical guide

If you're dyslexic, using a computer can feel unnecessarily hard. Text blurs together, you lose your place, and copying text by hand feels like the only reliable option. The good news is that Windows has built-in accessibility features designed to help. Many people don't know these tools exist, or where to find them.

This guide walks you through the Windows accessibility settings for dyslexia that actually work. Whether you're a student, parent, or teacher setting up a device, you'll find practical steps to make reading on screen easier and faster.

Turn on high contrast and customise colours

Dyslexic readers often struggle when text and background colours are too similar or harsh. Windows lets you adjust the colour scheme without reinstalling anything.

Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display on your Windows 10 or 11 device. Look for the "Colour filters" option. You can enable filters that reduce blue light, increase contrast, or use grayscale if that helps you focus.

You can also choose a high contrast theme entirely. Select Settings > Ease of Access > Display > High contrast settings. Windows offers several built-in themes. Try them and see which one reduces eye strain for you.

Many dyslexic readers find that coloured overlays, whether physical or digital, reduce visual stress. While Windows doesn't have a native overlay feature built in, Dyslexly is a Chrome extension that adds customisable colour overlays directly into your browser, letting you read web pages comfortably without changing your whole system theme.

Enable text-to-speech with Narrator

Reading text aloud can help you understand content better and catch mistakes you might otherwise miss. Windows includes Narrator, a text-to-speech tool that reads on-screen text aloud.

Press Windows key + Ctrl + Enter to activate Narrator. Once it's running, you can navigate your screen and have content read to you. Narrator works in most Windows applications, though some third-party software may not support it fully.

You can adjust Narrator's speed, voice, and verbosity by pressing Windows key + Ctrl + N to open Narrator settings. Choose a voice you find clear and easy to follow, then adjust the reading speed to match your comprehension pace.

Narrator isn't perfect for reading web pages, though. If you spend a lot of time online, Dyslexly offers a more reliable text-to-speech feature specifically designed for web browsers, with better accuracy and more natural-sounding voices.

Increase font size across Windows

Small text is a barrier for many dyslexic readers. Windows lets you enlarge text system-wide without making everything pixelated.

Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display and look for "Make text bigger". You can adjust the scale from 100% (default) up to 175%. This affects most Windows menus, settings, and many applications.

In individual applications like Microsoft Word, you can zoom further. Use Ctrl and scroll wheel or go to View > Zoom to enlarge just the document you're working with.

Note that some older software won't scale well at larger sizes. If you find text is still hard to read in specific applications, browser-based alternatives or web versions often work better. Dyslexly for Chrome also lets you enlarge text in web pages specifically, without affecting your system-wide settings.

Use Focus Assist to reduce distractions

Dyslexic readers often find that visual clutter makes reading harder. Notifications, alerts, and background activity pull your attention away from the text you're trying to focus on.

Windows includes Focus Assist, which silences notifications and distractions. Press Windows key + A to open Quick Settings, then click Focus Assist. You can choose from:

• Off: no restrictions
• Priority only: only notifications from contacts you've marked as priority come through
• Alarms only: only alarms and reminders break through

You can also set Focus Assist to turn on automatically at certain times. Go to Settings > System > Focus Assist > Automatic rules to schedule it for work hours, study sessions, or reading time.

When you turn on Focus Assist, your screen becomes calmer. Combined with Dyslexly's line focus feature, which highlights one line at a time as you read, you can create a nearly distraction-free reading environment.

Enable Sticky Keys and Filter Keys

If you find keyboard shortcuts frustrating, Windows has options to make them easier to use.

Sticky Keys lets you press modifier keys (Ctrl, Shift, Alt) separately instead of holding them down while pressing another key. Press Shift five times to toggle Sticky Keys on. Then you can press Shift, release it, and press another key, instead of holding both down.

Filter Keys ignores accidental key presses and repeated key bounces. Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and toggle Filter Keys on.

These settings won't directly help reading, but they reduce frustration when navigating your computer, which means you can focus energy on the actual reading task.

Adjust mouse and cursor settings

A large, visible cursor helps you track your place on screen. Many dyslexic readers lose their position mid-sentence because they can't see where the cursor is.

Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & pointer. You can:

• Increase cursor size (useful, though still limited)
• Change cursor colour to something bright against your background
• Enable pointer shadow for better visibility
• Adjust pointer speed so the cursor doesn't race away when you move your mouse

For more powerful cursor help, some readers use a separate tool like a line pointer or reading ruler overlaid on the screen. Dyslexly's line focus feature serves a similar purpose for web content, keeping your eye exactly where you need it.

Conclusion

Windows accessibility settings for dyslexia exist, but they're scattered across menus and often overlooked. The features covered here can genuinely improve your reading experience on screen. Start by trying one or two settings, then build from there. What works for someone else might not work for you, so experiment.

For the most comprehensive support, especially when reading online, combining Windows settings with a dedicated browser tool makes a real difference. You shouldn't have to fight your computer to read.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer after changing accessibility settings? Most accessibility settings take effect immediately. A few, like some Display settings, may need you to log out and back in, but a full restart is rarely necessary. If a change doesn't seem to work, try logging out and logging back in first.

Can I save my accessibility settings and share them with another device? Yes. Your accessibility settings are tied to your Windows user account, so they sync across devices if you sign in with the same Microsoft account. On a school or shared device, you may need to set up a separate user account for your settings to persist.

Will using accessibility settings slow down my computer? No. Features like high contrast, text enlargement, and Focus Assist have negligible impact on performance. Text-to-speech uses slightly more system resources, but not enough to notice on modern hardware.

What if my school or workplace has locked down accessibility settings? Some organisations restrict certain settings for security or compliance reasons. If you need specific accessibility features at work or school, speak to your IT department or accessibility officer. They can often enable settings for your account without compromising system security. You may also be able to use browser-based tools like Dyslexly, which work within standard security policies.

Are there other free tools I should combine with Windows accessibility settings? Absolutely. Windows' built-in tools are a good foundation, but they have limits. For web reading, a specialised tool adds features Windows can't offer, like dyslexia-friendly fonts, word simplification, and more reliable text-to-speech. Browser extensions are usually free or low-cost and work alongside your Windows settings.