JAWS - Change to convenient OCR in December 2025 update

JAWS - Change to convenient OCR in December 2025 update

Problem

JAWS users previously had a number of convenient OCR commands for different tasks they had to remember which made using the feature more complicated.

Applies to

  1. JAWS
  2. Fusion

Resolution

In the December update of JAWS/Fusion 2025 some changes have been made to make using convenient OCR easier to use. 

New single hotkey

A new single hotkey INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, ENTER can be used which automatically adapts its behaviour to the context in which it is used.   Below list provides examples of how it behaves:

  1. If you are in File Explorer, it recognizes the currently selected image file.
  2. If you are in Adobe Reader, it recognizes the currently open PDF document.
  3. If you are playing a YouTube video, it activates Background OCR and places the Invisible cursor in the video area so you can access any displayed text as it is recognized.
  4. If you are in a Teams or Zoom meeting where content is being shared, such as PowerPoint slides, it activates Background OCR and places the Invisible cursor in the shared content area so you can view the recognized text as it updates.
  5. In any other applications, it recognizes text in the current window that has focus.

Notes
Note
You can still use INSERT+SPACEBAR, O, A to scan from a camera or flatbed scanner.