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Accessibility testing for Quick Shell

Quick Shell is a PowerToys Command Palette extension. Most UI (search box, list chrome, keyboard routing) is rendered by Command Palette. This checklist covers what you ship: list item text, context actions, Adaptive Card forms, and the folder picker.

Only check "This product has been tested to meet accessibility guidelines" in Partner Center if you have verified the scenarios below. See Accessibility in the Store and Product declarations.

Quick start

  1. Install the build you plan to ship (MSIX recommended):

    powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/deploy.ps1

  2. In PowerToys Command Palette, run Reload Command Palette Extension.

  3. Open Windows accessibility tools:

    powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/open-a11y-settings.ps1

Primary scenarios to test

Test each flow with keyboard only, then again with Narrator on.

# Scenario Pass criteria
1 Search and open a workspace Arrow keys select a row; Enter launches the terminal
2 Create a new workspace Enter on Create workspace; Tab through all fields; Save workspace works
3 Edit / favorite / duplicate / delete Context shortcuts below work on a selected row; Ctrl+K opens full More menu
4 Open as administrator Available in More actions when not always-admin
5 Browse for folder Browse button activatable; folder picker usable with keyboard
6 Refresh terminal list Refresh terminal list in Quick Shell settings runs without error

Keyboard navigation (Command Palette)

Key Action
Win+Alt+Space Open Command Palette (default; may differ in your PowerToys settings)
Arrow keys Move selection in the results list
Enter Run the selected command
Ctrl+Enter Open as administrator (when available)
Ctrl+E Edit workspace (main list only)
Ctrl+F Favorite or unfavorite workspace
Ctrl+Shift+D Duplicate workspace
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Y Redo
Ctrl+Alt+Up / Ctrl+Alt+Down Move favorite workspace up or down
Ctrl+Delete Delete workspace
Ctrl+K More menu (all actions)
Tab (in More menu) Move focus from search box into the action list (required for Narrator to read each item)
Esc Go back / close

Note: Shift+F10 opens the context menu for the focused control. If focus is in the search box, you will see Paste/Undo — not workspace actions. Use arrow keys to select a list item, then Ctrl+K for extension actions.

Narrator

Turn on Narrator (Win+Ctrl+Enter) and verify:

  • Workspace Title is announced clearly (the workspace name)
  • Subtitle adds useful context without being unreadable noise
  • Form fields announce their labels (Name, Home keyword, Folder path, Command, Terminal)
  • Browse folder and Save workspace are identifiable by name
  • Save/delete/favorite actions give understandable feedback (toast or list update)

More menu (Ctrl+K) and Narrator

When the More menu opens, focus starts in the Search commands... box at the bottom. In that state, Up/Down only changes the highlighted row; Narrator may not read each option.

Press Tab once to move focus into the action list. After that, Narrator announces each item as you move with Up/Down.

Other options (no menu required)

Direct shortcuts on a selected workspace row still work without opening More:

  • Ctrl+E edit, Ctrl+F favorite, Ctrl+Shift+D duplicate, Ctrl+Delete delete, Ctrl+Enter open as admin, Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y undo/redo

You can also highlight a row and press Enter from the filter box to run it, even if Narrator has not read the name yet.

Visual accessibility

  • Test at 125% and 150% display scale — form text and list rows are not clipped
  • Test at least one contrast theme (Aquatic or Desert) — list and form remain readable
  • Information is not conveyed by color alone (e.g. Admin and Favorite badges have tooltips, not only icon/color)
  • Body text meets roughly 4.5:1 contrast where you control styling (Adaptive Card defaults are usually fine; avoid custom low-contrast HTML in cards)

Automated tools (limited scope)

Tool What to run it on
Accessibility Insights for Windows Folder browse dialog (WinForms)
Inspect Folder picker UIA tree
UIAVerify Same — resolve Priority 1 issues if reported

Command Palette list UI runs inside PowerToys; you cannot attach Insights to it from the Quick Shell process. Rely on keyboard + Narrator for CmdPal chrome.

Extension content checklist

  • Every workspace has a descriptive Name (not only a home keyword)
  • Adaptive Card inputs have labels and errorMessage on required fields
  • Folder picker can be completed without a mouse
  • More actions reachable via Ctrl+K on a selected workspace
  • Primary scenarios tested with Narrator
  • Primary scenarios tested at increased DPI and one high-contrast theme

Store submission notes

In Notes for certification, include:

  1. Requires Microsoft PowerToys with Command Palette enabled.
  2. Install Quick Shell, run Reload Command Palette Extension, search Quick Shell.
  3. Test create workspace, open workspace, and Ctrl+K More actions.

Declare accessibility only for your extension content (names, forms, picker). You are not certifying all of Command Palette — that shell is owned by PowerToys.

References