Export, import and reset VoiceOver preferences on Mac
You can export, import and reset your VoiceOver preferences. You can also turn on VoiceOver in Recovery Mode so you can temporarily use VoiceOver with the default settings.
Tip: If you want to easily use your settings on other Mac computers and keep an up-to-date copy of your current settings always available, use portable preferences. See Use VoiceOver portable preferences.
Note: VO represents the VoiceOver modifier that you press with additional keys to enter VoiceOver commands. By default, you can press Control and Option together or just press Caps Lock.
Export preferences
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File > Export Preferences, select where to save the file, choose the type of preferences to export from the pop-up menu, then click Save.
The default filename indicates the type of preferences exported and has the filename extension “voprefs”. The file will not reflect changes you make to preferences after the export.
Import preferences
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File > Import Preferences, select the preferences file to import, then click Open.
VoiceOver replaces the current preferences of that type with those in the file. If you’re importing window spots or labels, VoiceOver merges them with your existing window spots or labels.
When you import preference files, preferences that are no longer available in VoiceOver are not imported.
Reset preferences
Important: Export your preferences first so you have a backup copy.
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Choose File, then choose to reset basic VoiceOver preferences, custom VoiceOver preferences, or all VoiceOver preferences to their default values.
If you have portable preferences on an external drive and reset basic or all VoiceOver preferences on your Mac, VoiceOver no longer recognises the portable preferences drive and doesn’t sync VoiceOver preferences on your Mac and the drive. To sync VoiceOver preferences again, you must set up the portable preferences drive again.
Use VoiceOver in Recovery Mode
Start VoiceOver in Recovery Mode so you can temporarily use VoiceOver with the default settings. This can be useful if you change a setting by mistake and VoiceOver no longer works as you expect. In Recovery Mode, you can use VoiceOver Utility to change individual settings or restore all VoiceOver settings to their defaults.
Turn off VoiceOver if it’s on.
To start VoiceOver in Recovery Mode, turn VoiceOver on, then quickly press and hold the Shift key. Continue to hold the Shift key for at least 5 seconds.
Open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-Fn-F8 when VoiceOver is on).
Change any settings as needed. Or to restore all VoiceOver settings to their defaults, choose File > Reset All VoiceOver Preferences.
Turn off VoiceOver, then turn it on again to use it with the updated settings.
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