I've found Zoom unusable on Mac for professional meetings because it is so verbose when I use cmd accent to switch windows. Often, the message is "application space containing" and a whole lot of verbiage listing everything within ten miles, all of which obliterates whatever someone is saying to me. I've customized the VO verbosity setting for "window" to give name only, but without effect. I've turned off mmost things under verbosity for notifications, announcements, and hints. Is there a way to make Zoom less verbose when switchiing windows? Is there another keystroke that avoids the problem?
Thanks.
By Voracious P. Brain, 20 April, 2022
Forum
macOS and Mac Apps
Comments
Hi, I don't use Zoom on the…
Hi, I don't use Zoom on the Mac for professional calls, either, but for different reasons. I generally have VoiceOver muted, and I turned off literally every single screen reader announcement in the "accessibility" section in the Zoom preferences. If you switch windows via the window chooser, VoiceOver just announces:
And when I choose the window I want, VoiceOver simply announces:
I also don't duck my audio so I can hear VoiceOver if I need to type text or do other things while still paying attention to my call. I turn VoiceOver down to around 35%-40%.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Control key
It's not exactly ideal, but pressing the Control key as soon as VoiceOver starts speaking will cause speech to stop. Additionally, at least in my experience, the announcement you're describing typically occurs when full screen mode is enabled. Therefore, you may want to make sure the "Enter full screen when starting or joining a meeting" checkbox is not selected in Zoom preferences.
HTH
Full screen did it
Thank you, Tyler! Go to full screen was checked, and unchecking it cured the application space particular problem.