NVDA key in virtual machine

By Justin Harris, 12 July, 2022

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hello,
I am using UTM to run a Windows VM, and for the most part, it works very very well. However, I have yet to find a good solution to get caps lock to work as nvda key as it should. I've tried following tutorials that worked in the past on Intel Devices. I'm running on the m1 MacBook Air, if that makes any difference. If you are using UTM and have gotten caps lock working as NVDA key, please let me know how you did it. If not, I am curious as to what key you are using so as to not have to use radically different keyboard shortcuts. It would be good, if I can't get caps lock to work, to have the fn key work as NVDA, but not sure sharp keys can do that one either.
Ideas and suggestions are much appreciated.

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Comments

By techluver on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 - 23:15

I haven't figured this out yet. I hope I can soon. For now I use an external windows keyboard but that's not optimal by any means.

By Johann on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 - 04:07

I use SharpKeys for this, remap grave accent to insert.

By Jonathan Chacón on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 - 04:42

Hello,

I developed an AppleScript to change the behaviour of the capslock key.

It is in a project in my personal Github page. Here is the description of the project:

Change keyboard for Virtual machine
AppleScript to change the behaviour of the caps lock key for Virtual machines

Description
This AppleScript modifies the behaviour of the caps lock key changing it for other key.

This function is usefull for blind developers who needs to use a screen reader in a Virtual machine.

When a Windows virtual machine is running the screen readers usually use the Insert key as the HotKey for the screen reader but this key is not available in a MacOS keyboard.

Using this script the key Caps lock can be changed for other key to manage a screen reader in the Virtual machine.

You can find the script in my Github page: https://github.com/TyflosAccessibleSoftware/ChangeKeyForVM

Please, give stars for the project in Github if the script is useful for you

Regards

By Justin Harris on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 - 13:49

Took a look at your script. I understand I can probably just put this on the desktop and run before launching the vm, but it would be nice to have a more permanent solution. Any way to have this done automatically upon Mac OS startup? I never use the caps lock in Mac OS, so would not be bothered by having it modified entirely.

By Jonathan Chacón on Monday, July 18, 2022 - 08:06

Hello,

You can convert an appleScript in an App.
After it you can add the app as a startup item in the system preferences pane.