How to Fix Warning: Powershell Detected That You Might Be Using a Screen Reader and Has Disabled PSReadLine Error

PowerShell, a versatile command-line shell and scripting language, has gained popularity among developers and system administrators for its powerful capabilities. However, some users have recently encountered a warning message stating, “PowerShell detected that you might be using a screen reader and has disabled PSReadLine.” This error has caused frustration among visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to navigate and interact with digital content. In this article, we will explore some potential solutions to fix this error and restore the functionality of PSReadLine in PowerShell.

Before we delve into the solutions, it is important to note that addressing accessibility issues requires a collaborative effort between developers and users with diverse needs. If you encounter this error, consider providing feedback to the PowerShell development team, highlighting the importance of accessibility and the impact of this error on your workflow. Your input can contribute to raising awareness and fostering positive changes in future versions of PowerShell.

Now, let’s explore a few potential fixes for the “PowerShell detected that you might be using a screen reader and has disabled PSReadLine” error:

Method 1:

1. Search PowerShell ISE.

2. Right-Click on PowerShell ISE & Click “Run as Administrator”.

3. Click “New Script” icon.

4. Copy The Below Code.

Add-Type -TypeDefinition '
using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

public static class ScreenReaderFixUtil
{
    public static bool IsScreenReaderActive()
    {
        var ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
        try
        {
            ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(sizeof(int));
            int hr = Interop.SystemParametersInfo(
                Interop.SPI_GETSCREENREADER,
                sizeof(int),
                ptr,
                0);

            if (hr == 0)
            {
                throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
            }

            return Marshal.ReadInt32(ptr) != 0;
        }
        finally
        {
            if (ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
            {
                Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);
            }
        }
    }

    public static void SetScreenReaderActiveStatus(bool isActive)
    {
        int hr = Interop.SystemParametersInfo(
            Interop.SPI_SETSCREENREADER,
            isActive ? 1u : 0u,
            IntPtr.Zero,
            Interop.SPIF_SENDCHANGE);

        if (hr == 0)
        {
            throw new Win32Exception(Marshal.GetLastWin32Error());
        }
    }

    private static class Interop
    {
        public const int SPIF_SENDCHANGE = 0x0002;

        public const int SPI_GETSCREENREADER = 0x0046;

        public const int SPI_SETSCREENREADER = 0x0047;

        [DllImport("user32", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
        public static extern int SystemParametersInfo(
            uint uiAction,
            uint uiParam,
            IntPtr pvParam,
            uint fWinIni);
    }
}'

if ([ScreenReaderFixUtil]::IsScreenReaderActive()) {
    [ScreenReaderFixUtil]::SetScreenReaderActiveStatus($false)
}

5. Paste The Code as Shown in Picture Below.

6. Now Click “Run Script” icon.

7. Done! Now Check if it is Still Showing Error.

Method 2:

1. Search Regedit.

2. Click Registry Editor.

3. Now Expand “HKEY_CURRENT_USER“.

4. Now Expand “Control Panel“.

5. Expand “Accessibility“

6. Click “Blind Access“.

7. Now Double Click on “On“.

8. Now Set Value to 0 & Click OK Button.

9. Close Registry Editor.

10. Done! Now Check if it is Still Showing Error.