This issue often occurs when JAWS is updated or when certain Excel settings get toggled. JAWS 2025 has specific verbosity settings for Microsoft Office applications that control exactly what gets announced when you navigate through cells.
To get JAWS to announce "has formula" again without having to press F2, you can use the following methods and workarounds: Method 1: Adjust JAWS Quick Settings for Excel (Easiest Fix) JAWS allows you to customize how much detail it reads within Excel on the fly. Open your Excel sheet. Press JAWS Key + V (The JAWS key is usually Insert or Caps Lock). This will open the Quick Settings dialog specifically for Excel. In the search box, type "Formula". Press the Down Arrow to navigate to the option labeled "Formula Detection" or "Has Formula Announcement". Press the Spacebar to toggle this setting until it says "Announce" or "On". Press Tab to go to the OK button and press Enter. Method 2: Change JAWS Settings Center (Permanent Fix) If the Quick Settings don't hold, you can change it permanently in the main Settings Center. Open Excel. Press JAWS Key + Number 6 (on the number row, not the numpad) to open the JAWS Settings Center. To ensure you are modifying the Excel-specific settings, make sure it says Microsoft Excel.jcf at the top. Press Tab to move to the search box and type "Formula". Press Down Arrow to move into the tree view. Look for "Formula Detection" under the Speech Verbosity or Office settings. Use the Spacebar to change the setting from Ignore to "Announce 'Has Formula'". Press Tab to select Apply, then OK. Method 3: Toggle the Excel Accessibility Schema JAWS 2025 uses modern accessibility APIs to communicate with Excel. Sometimes, switching the reading schema forces JAWS to reload its speech rules for cells. While in Excel, press JAWS Key + Alt + S. This opens the Select Speech Scheme dialog. Check if switching between the Classic schema and the Attributes and Font Info schema restores the formula announcement. Quick Workaround: The JAWS Keystroke If you want to check for a formula instantly without entering edit mode via F2: Move to the cell and press Ctrl + Shift + F2. JAWS will immediately read the formula inside the current cell (if one exists) without actually opening the cell for editing. By the way, I'm using Numbers app on MacBook. It's very accessible and interface is very easy to understand." Accessibility of the Numbers App with VoiceOver on macOS If you ever consider switching to a Mac, Apple's Numbers app is an excellent and highly accessible alternative for visually impaired users. Its integration with macOS's built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, works flawlessly: Easy Grid and Table Navigation: The Numbers app interface differs from traditional spreadsheets by allowing multiple independent tables on a single canvas. Using VO + Arrows, you can seamlessly navigate through tables, and VoiceOver clearly announces row and column coordinates. Precise Formula Announcement: When you land on a cell containing a formula, VoiceOver immediately reads the value and explicitly announces that the cell has a formula, without requiring any extra keystrokes or causing lag. Clean Canvas Interface: Thanks to its streamlined design, the screen reader does not suffer from frequent reloading or stuttering issues often experienced with Excel on Windows. Toggling between the toolbar, sidebar (Format Inspector), and sheets is direct and intuitive. Smart Formula Editor: When you begin typing a formula, VoiceOver guides you by clearly speaking function suggestions and their arguments, making complex data management much easier to handle. My Personal Recommendation: Ultimately, it is my firm belief that all training centers dedicated to the visually impaired should also include comprehensive training for macOS apps, specifically Numbers, Pages, and Keynote. Providing training on these accessible native tools would significantly broaden the professional and technological avenues available to visually impaired individuals. If anyone wants to learn visit to Mr. Srinivas Youtube channel “Apple Voice”. > On 2026 May 23, at 5:34 PM, BHAWANI SHANKAR VERMA <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Dear Accessindia! > > > I am using MS-excel 2016 with jaws2025. My jaws not anouncing any particular > cell having formula "the cell has a formula." earlier version of jaws read > the figures on the cell and also anounce "has a formula". I havve to press f2 > to read the cell if it is having formula. > > How to fix this issue? > > > thanks, > > > Bhawani > > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/d11eabd1-f501-412f-8f10-987ab9557533%40gmail.com. -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. 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