Accessibility

Microsoft MakeCode includes some core features which promote greater accessibility for everyone. The menus and documentation are accessible with keyboard, assistive technology (including screen readers) and alternative themes, such as a high contrast color mode.
The JavaScript and Python editors are accessible using the keyboard and are accessible to screen readers.

The MakeCode block editor is accessible with keyboard and assistive technologies when “Keyboard Controls” are turned on, but is not yet accessible to screen readers (screen reader compatibility is under development).

Other MakeCode block editors including Arcade are not yet accessible, accessible coding is done using just the JavaScript or Python editors in these cases.

Here are the accessible features and how to enable and use them.

Keyboard Navigation

MakeCode includes features to assist in navigation when the keyboard is used as the primary input method. When a pointing device (mouse or touch input) is not used, or its use is limited, the keyboard assists navigation using these features:

A hidden menu of shortcuts appears when the user begins to tab into the editor. Help text is displayed for the shortcuts. Navigation into menus, JavaScript editor, and Python editor are standardized . You can use the Tab key to jump between MakeCode controls. Use Shift+Tab to tab in reverse order. As you tab through the UI controls, you can see an indicator around the UI element once the element gains focus.

Blocks editor

The micro:bit MakeCode block editor allows you to use keyboard controls to create programs using blocks. Press Tab to reach ‘Enable blocks keyboard controls’ and press Enter.

To turn the keyboard controls off, use Tab to navigate to the Settings menu, you will see a check next to Keyboard Controls when it is enabled, select Keyboard Controls to uncheck and disable keyboard controls.

These shortcuts are available in all areas of the editor:

Action	Windows	Mac
Show/hide embedded help	Ctrl+/	⌘+/
Open area menu	Ctrl+B	⌘+B

Keyboard controls help

Press Control + / on Windows or ⌘ + / on Mac to open or close the keyboard controls help.

If you have enough space you can keep the embedded help open by navigating to the workspace.

Navigating between areas

Tab and Shift+Tab can be used to navigate the whole page.

Alternatively, use Ctrl+B followed by the number of the area you want to jump to.

Action	Windows	Mac
Top bar	Ctrl+B then 1	⌘+B then 1
Simulator (micro:bit)	Ctrl+B then 2	⌘+B then 2
Toolbox	Ctrl+B then 3	⌘+B then 3
Workspace	Ctrl+B then 4	⌘+B then 4
Bottom bar	Ctrl+B then 5	⌘+B then 5

The area numbers remain consistent when the layout changes, for example the simulator in the micro:bit MakeCode editor appears in the bottom right when the window is narrow or with high page zoom.

When the area overlay is shown you can also use Tab and Shift+Tab to navigate to the next and previous area.

Workspace controls

The following shortcuts are also available when you are already in the workspace:

Action	Windows	Mac
Open context menu	Ctrl+Enter	⌘+Enter
Block and toolbox navigation	Arrow keys	Arrow keys
Move in or along a block	Left and right arrow keys	Left and right arrow keys
Edit or confirm	Enter or Space	Enter or Space
Open toolbox	T	T
Move block	M then arrow keys	M then arrow keys
Drag block	M then Ctrl + arrow keys	M then ⌥ + arrow keys
Format code	F	F
Delete	Delete or Backspace	Delete or Backspace
Disconnect block	X	X
Select workspace	W	W
Copy	Ctrl+C	⌘+C
Paste	Ctrl+V	⌘+V
Cut	Ctrl+X	⌘+X
Undo	Ctrl+Z	⌘+Z
Redo	Ctrl+Y or Shift+Ctrl+Z	Shift+⌘+Z
Duplicate	D	D
Navigate to next stack of blocks	N	N
Navigate to previous stack of blocks	B	B

Moving and Dragging blocks

Blocks added from the Toolbox are placed on the Workspace in move mode:

Press Enter to confirm the position. Or use arrow keys to move the block to another position and then Enter to confirm.

Hold Ctrl and arrow keys to drag a block around the workspace (to any position not connected to existing blocks) and then Enter to confirm.

Search box

The search box in the Toolbox can be useful for keyboard users.

After pressing T (or Ctrl+B then 3), just start typing and the text will appear in the search box. Matching search results are shown immediately. Press Enter to navigate to the search results.

Pop-up help messages

Some actions display a helpful pop-up message at the bottom of the workspace.

Tab trapping

Dialogs

Sometimes MakeCode shows a dialog on top of the editor. When a dialog is displayed, keyboard navigation is restricted to just the elements inside the dialog.

To close a dialog, press the Escape key or navigate to the close button (shown as an X at the top right or top left corner) and press Enter or Space.

JavaScript and Python editor navigation

These keyboard shortcuts are used in the JavaScript editor:

By default, pressing Tab in the editor will insert the tab character. Toggle this behavior by pressing Control+M on Windows or Control+Shift+M on Mac. In order to jump to the toolbox from the editor. Press Control+Alt+T on Windows or ⌘+Alt+T on Mac.

Drop-down menu

When navigating through the editor with the keyboard, focus is shown with a blue outline around the interactive element. When a contextual menu opens, the Top and Bottom arrow keys navigate into, through, and out of the menu. The Enter or Space keys validate the selection. Pressing Tab or Shift+Tab moves to the next or previous interactive element outside of the current drop-down menu.

Documentation

The documentation for Microsoft MakeCode is also accessible. Just like on the main editor page, a hidden menu is available to access some shortcuts, such as jumping to the main content of the page.

The side bar menu is accessible with the Tab key. Some menu items are cascading (a hierarchical view is shown with an arrow on the side of the menu item):

Use the Left or Right arrow keys to expand or collapse menu items.

Immersive reader

Some MakeCode editors will have an option to use the Microsoft Immersive Reader when certain text is displayed. The Immersive Reader is a tool to help with reading comprehension. It adds the ability to change colors, themes, font size, spacing, and highlight parts of speech. Along with its other capabilities, it will also read the text aloud. When available, the Immersive Reader icon appears near instructions or other information it will read.

The Immersive Reader opens in a separate window to show and read the text.

MakeCode Arcade and the Immersive Reader

The MakeCode Arcade editor has the Immersive Reader available when displaying tutorial instructions.

Screen readers

Several screen readers are available to help to use MakeCode. Currently the MakeCode block editor is not accessible to screen readers, but users can use the Javascript or Python editors instead. Screen reader access for the micro:bit MakeCode block editor is in development, provisionally aiming for a MakeCode release in summer 2026.

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) Screen Reader

JAWS is a popular commercial screen reader for Windows.

|Download JAWS|

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)

NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows.

|Download NVDA|

Narrator

Narrator is the built-in screen reader that is part of Windows. To start Narrator:

Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu, type “Narrator”, and press Enter.

– OR –

Use the Ease Of Access section in the Windows settings. Set Narrator to On.

Voice Over

Voice Over is the built-in screen reader provided with the Mac. To start Voice Over:

Press the ⌘+F5 keys.

– OR –

Use the Universal Access pane of System Preferences.

Zoom and responsive layout

MakeCode editors feature responsive, adaptive layouts that work at high levels of zoom, remaining usable at zoom levels of at least 200% and beyond. Different areas of the interface will automatically reflow and collapse to allow continued access to all areas.

Zoom level 1

Zoom level 2

Zoom level 3

High Contrast

The high contrast helps people to locate and distinguish between the different visual elements in the MakeCode editor. This is enabled by each MakeCode target with its own use of color and contrast. So, a high contrast view and dark view are not always available in every instance of a MakeCode editor (partner editions).

Where they are available, these modes are available even when the operating system configuration hasn’t enabled it. If available, in MakeCode, Tab to the Settings menu and choose Theme then choose from the available options.

JavaScript and Python editors

Read more about accessibility for the JavaScript or Python editor (keyboard navigation, screen readers and high contrast) in the Monaco Editor Accessibility Guide.

Accessibility guidance for specific editors

Some MakeCode editors have more detailed accessibility information and guidance specific to its own platform.