Configure accessibility settings in managed guest sessions on ChromeOS devices

This guide explains how to configure accessibility settings within managed guest session on ChromeOS devices using Hexnode UEM.

Accessibility settings allow users to personalize how they interact with a device through visual, auditory, and input adjustments, making technology more inclusive. In managed guest sessions, where users don’t sign in, these settings play a vital role in usability, especially in places like schools, clinics, or assessment centers. For example, a student with low vision may need screen magnification to use a Chromebook during an exam. Similarly, a patient using a hospital kiosk might rely on the spoken feedback feature to navigate the interface independently.
With Hexnode UEM, IT admins can remotely configure and enforce accessibility options. This ensures a consistent and supportive experience across all managed ChromeOS devices regardless of who uses them.

Configure accessibility settings on ChromeOS

To configure accessibility settings,

1. Login to your Hexnode UEM portal.
2. Navigate to Policies > New Policy. Assign a suitable name and description (optional) for the policy. You can also choose to continue with an existing policy.
3. Go to ChromeOS > Managed Guest Session > Accessibility Settings.
4. Click Configure.

Settings	Description	Supported OS versions
Spoken feedback	This option assists users by reading aloud text and UI elements on the screen. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 29+
Select-to-Speak	Allows users to select text on the screen and have it read aloud on demand. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 77+
High contrast	Adjusts colors on the screen to improve readability by increasing contrast between text and background. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 29+
Screen magnifier	Magnifies screen content to aid visibility. There are 4 options: User can choose: Allows the user to manually enable or disable magnification via device settings. Disabled: Prevents the user from using any screen magnification features. Enable full screen magnifier: Automatically enables full-screen magnification, enlarging the entire screen. Enable docked magnifier: Enables a docked magnifier at the top of the screen that shows a magnified portion of the area around the cursor.	ChromeOS 29+
Sticky keys	Let users press modifier keys like Ctrl or Shift one at a time instead of holding them together for shortcuts. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 76+
Virtual keyboard	Displays a digital keyboard on the screen for typing when a physical keyboard is unavailable or not being used. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 34+
Touch virtual keyboard	Shows an on-screen keyboard when no physical keyboard is connected, and the device is in tablet mode. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 37+
Dictation	Allows users to input text using their voice through the microphone by activating the built-in speech-to-text feature. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Keyboard focus highlighting	Adds a highlight around elements when they receive keyboard focus, helping users see where they are navigating. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Caret highlight	Highlights the text cursor (caret) with a visible indicator to make it easier to track while typing or editing. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Auto-click	Automatically triggers a mouse click when the cursor remains still for a specified time, helping users perform clicks without physically pressing buttons. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Large cursor	Increases the cursor size to make it more visible on the screen, especially useful on high-resolution displays. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 29+
Cursor highlight	Adds a colored ring around the mouse pointer to make it easier to locate on the screen during movement. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Primary mouse button	Allows setting the primary mouse button to left or right, or lets users choose their preferred button layout. There are 3 options: User can choose Right button is primary Left button is primary	ChromeOS 81+
Mono audio	Combines left and right audio channels into one, playing the same sound in both ears for consistent audio output. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 78+
Accessibility shortcuts	Enables keyboard shortcuts that allow quick toggling of various accessibility features. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 81+
Accessibility options in system tray	Controls the visibility of the accessibility options menu in the system tray for quick access to accessibility features. There are 3 options: User can choose Hide Show	ChromeOS 27+
Image descriptions	Determines whether image descriptions are generated, and if Google’s services should be used to provide detailed descriptions. There are 3 options: User can choose Do not use Google services Use Google services to provide descriptions	ChromeOS 84+
Colour correction	Adjusts colors on the screen to correct color vision deficiencies, improving visual clarity. There are 3 options: User can choose Disabled Enabled	ChromeOS 117+
Customize system shortcuts	Check the option to allow customization of system-wide keyboard shortcuts for accessibility and navigation.	ChromeOS 127+
Modify the insert key	Controls behavior of the Insert key; either disabled or remapped to a shortcut involving the Search key. There are 2 options: Hide Use the shortcut that contains the search modifier	ChromeOS 123+
Modify the Home/End keys	Controls Home/End key functions; can be disabled or remapped using Alt or Search key combinations. There are 3 options: Disabled Use the shortcut with alt modifier Use the shortcut with search modifier	ChromeOS 123+
Modify the PageUp/PageDown keys	Controls PageUp/PageDown keys; can be disabled or remapped using Alt or Search key combinations. There are 3 options: Disabled Use the shortcut with alt modifier Use the shortcut with search modifier	ChromeOS 123+
Modify the Delete key	Controls Delete key behavior; can be disabled or remapped using Alt or Search key combinations. There are 3 options: Disabled Use the shortcut with alt modifier Use the shortcut with search modifier	ChromeOS 123+
Modify the F11 key	Controls F11 key functions; options include disabling or remapping with Alt, Shift, or Ctrl+Shift key combinations. There are 4 options: Disabled Use the shortcut with alt modifier Use the shortcut with shift modifier Use shortcut with ctrl+shift modifier	ChromeOS 123+
Modify the F12 key	Controls F12 key behavior with options to disable or remap using Alt, Shift, or Ctrl+Shift key combinations. There are 4 options: Disabled Use the shortcut with alt modifier Use the shortcut with shift modifier Use shortcut with ctrl+shift modifier	ChromeOS 123+

Associate the policy with target entities

1. Navigate to Policy Targets > Domains/OUs.
2. Click on +Add Domain/OUs. From the list, select the Google Workspace account integrated with Hexnode.
3. The parent OU will be listed and indicated with a briefcase icon to differentiate it from other domains.
4. Click on the dropdown next to the parent OU to view its child’s OUs. Select the required Organizational Units and click OK.
5. Associate the policies to the OUs to which the target devices are assigned.
6. Click Save to associate the policy with the selected Organization Units.

What happens at the device end?

Once the Accessibility policy is applied to a ChromeOS device, users can view the changes by navigating to Settings > Accessibility.