Yandex Browser
Yandex cares about its users and makes the browser and other services more accessible to people with disabilities.
Screen readers
Screen reader software helps people with low vision read from a computer screen. The program reads aloud everything on the screen, and the user controls it with touch gestures and keyboard shortcuts.
Yandex Browser has built-in support for screen readers:
Program | Operating system | Browser version |
---|---|---|
JAWS (proprietary license) | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
NVDA | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
ZoomText (proprietary license) | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
Orca | Linux | 21.3.3 and above |
VoiceOver | macOS (built-in) How to start the program Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Cmd + F5 | 21.3.0 and above |
Program | Operating system | Browser version |
---|---|---|
JAWS (proprietary license) | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
NVDA | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
ZoomText (proprietary license) | MS Windows | 14.12 and above |
Orca | Linux | 21.3.3 and above |
VoiceOver | macOS (built-in) How to start the program Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Cmd + F5 | 21.3.0 and above |
Use extended features of the F6 hotkey, all the functions available on the side panel and the SmartBox, and switch to popup windows.
SmartBox
You can use the SmartBox to enter addresses and search for information. It also makes it possible to display page addresses in the “domain > title” form.
Press the F6 key and go to the SmartBox. The screen reader will read the title.
To enable title display in the SmartBox:
- Click.
- Go to Interface.
- Under SmartBox, enable Use "domain > title" format for page addresses.
Side panel
The side panel provides easy access to Yandex services, notifications, tabs, and bookmarks. You can also use it to take notes and control audio playback.
Side panel features are now available to users with low vision.
Choose a function using a screen reader program:
- By pressing F6, go to the side panel.
- Press Tab until you reach the icon of the function you need.
- Press Enter.
To enable the side panel:
- Click.
- Go to Interface.
- Under Side panel, enable Show side panel and select always from the list.
Caret browsing
In the caret browsing mode, you can navigate the page using the keyboard rather than the mouse, like in text editors.
Press F7 to enable the mode, then click anywhere on the page to make the pointer turn into a cursor.
You can:
- Navigate sites using arrows (left, right, up, and down).
- Select text fragments by holding Shift.
- Follow links by putting the cursor anywhere on the link and pressing Enter.
To disable the mode, press F7 again.
Keyboard shortcuts
When working in Yandex Browser, use the following keys and their combinations:
Action | Windows | macOS |
---|---|---|
Expand the window to full screen | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Exit full screen mode | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Zoom in on the page | Ctrl + Plus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Plus |
Zoom out on the page | Ctrl + Minus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Minus |
Set the page zoom to 100% | Ctrl + 0 | Ctrl + ⌘ + 0 |
Go to the search bar | Ctrl + L Alt + D F6 | |
Forward | Alt + → | ⌘ + ] |
Back | Alt + ← | ⌘ + [ |
Switch between elements in the browser window. To learn more, see F6 hotkey | F6 | |
Go to bookmarks | Alt + Shift + B | |
Go to the SmartBox icons | Alt + Shift + T | |
Open the context menu Note. Zoom may use this key combination. If necessary, disable it in the Zoom settings. | Shift + F10 |
Action | Windows | macOS |
---|---|---|
Expand the window to full screen | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Exit full screen mode | F11 | Shift + ⌘ + F |
Zoom in on the page | Ctrl + Plus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Plus |
Zoom out on the page | Ctrl + Minus | Ctrl + ⌘ + Minus |
Set the page zoom to 100% | Ctrl + 0 | Ctrl + ⌘ + 0 |
Go to the search bar | Ctrl + L Alt + D F6 | |
Forward | Alt + → | ⌘ + ] |
Back | Alt + ← | ⌘ + [ |
Switch between elements in the browser window. To learn more, see F6 hotkey | F6 | |
Go to bookmarks | Alt + Shift + B | |
Go to the SmartBox icons | Alt + Shift + T | |
Open the context menu Note. Zoom may use this key combination. If necessary, disable it in the Zoom settings. | Shift + F10 |
To learn more about keyboard shortcuts, see Help.
F6 hotkey
Press F6 to move between browser panels.

Address bar.
Use Tab to switch between the Copy, Share,
(Add page to bookmarks) buttons, and the sites on your Tableau.
SmartBox icons.
Use Tab to switch between
(Protect), Reviews,
(Enable Reader mode), and other buttons.
Other icons in the SmartBox.
Use Tab to switch between
(Refresh page),
(Go to Yandex),
(Password manager),
(Downloads),
(Back), and other buttons.
Bookmarks bar (if enabled).
Use Tab to switch between bookmarks.
Infobar (if displayed).
Use Tab to move between the bar elements.
Side panel (if enabled).
Use Tab to switch between
Notifications,
History, and other buttons.
Window (if displayed).
Use Tab to move between the window elements.
Page zoom and font size
Page zoom and font size in the browser can be adjusted to make it easier for visually impaired people to read from the screen.
- Change browser page zoom using keyboard shortcuts.
Only change the font size on sites:
- Click.
- Go to Websites.
- Under Font size, click Font settings.
- In Font settings, go to Font size and move the slider to the right.