JAWS - Remove JAWS window from taskbar and ALT+TAB order

JAWS - Remove JAWS window from taskbar and ALT+TAB order

Problem

A JAWS user would like to remove JAWS from the Windows taskbar and alt+tab order.

Applies to

  1. JAWS

Detail

By default JAWS runs just like any regular application where it appears as a program in the taskbar and also is available in the ALT+TAB order when switching applications.  Whilst this is convenient, it does carry with it the slight risk that a user may unwittingly accidentally close JAWS by mistake when attempting to close other windows running on their system.. You can set JAWS to run from system tray to remove it from ALT+TAB list and therefore avoid accidental closure of the screen reader.

Resolution

Using the steps below you can take JAWS out of the ALT+TAB order and have JAWS run as a system tray icon instead. 


Tip
Before making JAWS run from system try it is advisable you are familiar with the hotkeys INSERT+J or CONTROL+SHIFT+CAPSLOCK+J to access the JAWS if need requires in future.

  1. Open JAWS window by pressing JAWSKey+J or 
  2. Then press ALT+O for Options menu.
  3. Then press ENTER on Basics.
  4. In Basics dialogue press TAB until you reach the item Run JAWS From System Tray, then press SPACEBAR to check the options.
  5. Then press TAB to reach OK button and press SPACEBAR on it.  On some systems you may have to respond to user account control prompt, if so press TAB to the Yes button and press SPACEBAR to complete the adjustment.
  6. Press JAWSKey+SPACEBAR followed by  to restart JAWS or just restart the computer for the change to take effect.

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