Use Groove with Narrator on Xbox One

Groove works with Narrator, a built-in screen reader that reads text on your screen aloud and describes events, so you can use your Xbox One with partial or no vision.

There are keyboard shortcuts to help you do common actions. For best results, connect a USB keyboard to your Xbox One when using Narrator. The following info assumes the use of an Xbox One controller and a connected USB keyboard.

Start Narrator

Press and hold the Xbox  button on your controller, then press the Menu  button. Press these buttons again to turn Narrator off.

If you’re using a keyboard, press the Windows logo key+ Enter together to start and stop Narrator. On many keyboards, the Windows logo key is located on the bottom row of keys, to the left or right of the Alt key.

Open the app

1. Sign in with your profile on Xbox One.
2. From the Home screen, go to My games & apps and press Enter.
3. Press the Down arrow once to get to Apps, then go to the sort menu and press Enter.
4. Use the Up and Down arrows to focus on Sort A-Z, then press Enter.
5. Go to the first app in your apps list, then press the Right arrow until you reach Groove Music. Press Enter to open it.

To close the app, press the Xbox  button to go to the Home screen. If you go home from the app, Groove Music will be in focus. Press the Menu  button on your controller and select Quit.

Navigation

Using Narrator requires the use of a USB keyboard connected to your Xbox console.

The Xbox version of Groove has four main areas: Search, Home, Movies, and TV. Personal videos are available in the PC app, but not on Xbox.

The main areas are linked to a navigation pane that opens to the left of the main screen. To open it, go left from wherever you are using your controller. Search is at the top; Tab takes you to Your Groove and Settings. Press the Down arrow from Your Groove to access Albums, Artists, Songs, and Playlists.

To get around the app with your keyboard, press the Right, Left, Down, and Up arrows. With your controller, you can use either the left stick or D-pad, with the A  button to select and the B  button to go back.

Keyboard shortcuts

The following shortcuts are available in the app with a connected USB keyboard:

From Now Playing:

In song lists:

Add music

If you store your songs in OneDrive, they’ll automatically be added to Groove.

Search for music

1. Press Ctrl + Q, then press Enter.
2. Type a search phrase and then press Enter.
3. Use the Right arrow to review your search results, and press Enter to select one.

Play music

To shuffle, sort, or filter your music:

1. Use your controller to go left.
2. Use the Down arrow to select your albums, artists, or songs.
3. Using the Up arrow, go one step up for Shuffle all or right to sort or filter before playing.

Control playback

While music is playing, press an arrow key to open play controls, then use the Right and Left arrows in combination with Enter to pause, skip to next or previous songs, shuffle, repeat, or save currently playing songs as a playlist.

For support for Narrator or other Microsoft assistive technology, contact Xbox Support.