Microsoft has just announced some cool new features for Windows to be rolling out to the Beta Channel, including valuable improvements to its Narrator tool and a new Quick machine recovery option to save you headaches with boot failures.
Narrator is Microsoft's tool that reads your screen for you. Now, Microsoft is introducing speech recap to the tool. The new feature is designed to help you keep track of what Narrator has spoken and get a quick reference from it. You can also copy what Narrator last said with some simple keyboard shortcuts.
To open the speech recap, you need the Narrator key + Alt + X, and then you can find the last 500 strings Narrator had spoken. You can then use standard reading commands and arrow keys to read the content in the speech recap window, or even copy the text.
To copy the last thing Narrator just said, you can use the Narrator key + Control + X. This can be especially useful to copy an error code, for example.
You also get Live transcription of Narrator speech that can be useful for Assistive Technology trainers and teachers of students with visual impairments.
Keyboard shortcuts for Narrator features:
Control + Windows key + Enter: Turn Narrator on/Off
Narrator key + X: Re-hear what Narrator said last
Narrator key + control + X: Copy what Narrator said last
Narrator key + Alt + X: Open Speech recap window for history and live transcriptions
Quick machine recovery
Meanwhile, Microsoft is also introducing Quick machine recovery, a feature that is now available in the latest Windows Insider Preview build. If enabled, it would be able to address widespread boot issues on Windows 11 by detecting and applying fixes automatically with minimal manual intervention.
If you encounter a boot failure, the device would connect to the network and send diagnostic data to Microsoft, which can then deploy a targeted fix via Windows Update. Microsoft encourages system admins to enable and test the feature, which is enabled by default for home users.
Recommended Stories
Windows Insiders can start testing the feature right away. Microsoft also says it will deploy a test remediation package in the next few days, which would allow you to experience the quick machine recovery feature in action.
Did you enjoy reading this article?
There's more to explore with a FREE members account.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed: