Category: The Orca Modifier

This page was last edited on February 21, 2026

Orca has a special modifier key that works like:

Shift, Ctrl, and Alt

It is designed specifically to perform Orca commands and do so without introducing conflicts with the commands of other applications.

Which key the "Orca Modifier" is bound to, by default, is determined by which keyboard layout you are using – the Ocra Desktop Layout or the Orca Laptop Layout):

  • The default Desktop Layout Modifier is Insert and KP_Insert
  • The default Laptop Layout Modifier is CapsLock

NOTE: KP_Insert is the same key as KP_0

Changing the Orca Modifier

You can select a different modifier key in Orca Preferences and maintain your current keyboard layout.

You can do so by performing the following steps:

Step One:

Open the Orca Preferences dialog by pressing:

    Orca Modifier+Space

Alternatively, you can open Orce Preferencesterminal window, or the Run dialog, by typing the following command:

          
            orca -s

or

          
            orca --setup

Step Two:

Navigate to the Key Bindings page

Step Three:

Navigate to the Screen Reader Modifier Key(s) combobox

Step Four:

Arrow up or down to the desired modifier.

The available options are:

  • Insert, KP_Insert
  • KP_Insert
  • Insert
  • Caps_Lock

Step Five:

Press the Apply button