Notepad Markdown Browse Mode

An add-on for the NVDA screen reader that enables standard browse mode (virtual buffer) and quick navigation within Markdown documents edited in Microsoft Notepad.

Compatibility

• NVDA Version: 2019.3 and beyond
• Windows Notepad: Compatible with both legacy versions (using the Edit control class) and modern Windows 11 releases (using the RichEditD2DPT control class).

Prerequisite for Modern Notepad (Windows 11)

For users running recent builds of Windows 11 Notepad with native Markdown support: You must set the view mode to Syntax for the browse mode commands to work properly.

1. Open a document with a .md extension (the Markdown menu option only appears when a .md file is open).
2. Go to the menu bar: View > Markdown.
3. Select and check Syntax.

Important

With modern builds of Windows 11 Notepad, browse mode elements cannot be parsed or navigated if Notepad remains in formatted view or standard raw text view.

Features & Navigation Shortcuts

When browse mode is enabled, you can interact with the document using single-key quick navigation:

• H / Shift+H | Move to next / previous heading (any level);
• 1 to 6 / Shift+1 to 6 | Move to next / previous heading at specified level (1 through 6);
• K / Shift+K | Move to next / previous link;
• Q / Shift+Q | Move to next / previous block quote;
• L / Shift+L | Move to next / previous list;
• I / Shift+I | Move to next / previous list item.

Elements List Dialog

Press NVDA+F7 while in browse mode to open the Elements List dialog. This allows you to inspect and jump directly to:

• Headings
• Links
• Block quotes
• Lists