Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams
Applies ToTeams Microsoft Teams

This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Windows tools or features and Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Accessibility help & learning content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

Use Microsoft Teams with your keyboard and a screen reader to work seamlessly with your team. We have tested it with JAWS and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll learn how to install and open the desktop app, join a team, and sign in and out. You also learn how to find, read, edit, delete, and post messages in a channel.  

Notes: 

  • New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.

  • You can easily access the keyboard shortcuts list from within Microsoft Teams. Press Ctrl+E to go to the Search field, type /keys, and then press Enter.

  • To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.

  • Recent versions of JAWS no longer have the virtual PC cursor mode set as default for Microsoft Teams. For instructions on how to switch the virtual PC cursor mode on, go to Enable the JAWS virtual cursor.

In this topic

Install Microsoft Teams desktop app

  1. Open a browser on your computer and browse to https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads. Navigate to the download button that's applicable to your version of Windows, and press Enter.

  2. Press Alt+N to jump to the download notification, and press Enter to select Run. The Microsoft Teams app starts installing. When done, the Microsoft Teams login window opens and you can enter your credentials to sign in.

Open Microsoft Teams desktop app

  1. On your computer, press the Windows logo key, and type Microsoft Teams.

  2. You hear: "Microsoft Teams, app." To open the app, press Enter.

  3. When you hear the login window, type your work, school, or Microsoft account in the Sign-in address field.

  4. Press the Tab key to move to the Sign in button and press Enter to select.

  5. You're prompted to select the sign-in account and method you want to use. Press the Tab key until you hear the option you want, and then press Enter.

  6. Depending on the sign-in method, follow and act on the prompts as the screen reader announces them. For example, type your password or select your smart card certificate and type the PIN code, and then press Enter. If needed, press the Tab key to move to the Sign in button, and then press Enter.

Join an existing public team

  1. In Microsoft Teams, press Ctrl+3 to access the Teams view.

  2. Press the Tab key to move to the Join or create a team button, and press Enter. The focus moves to the Create a team tile in the Join or create a team view, if the team creation functionality is open to you, or to the Join a team with a code tile if it is not. If necessary, to move focus out of the Enter code text field, press Esc.

  3. To search for a team to join, press Shift+Tab until you hear: "Search for teams."

  4. Type the name of the team you'd like to join, and then press Enter to submit your search.

    Tip: To quickly find and join a team, press Ctrl+E to move to the Search field. Type / join, press Enter, and type the team name. Press the Down arrow key and then press Enter or Shift+Enter.

  5. Press the Tab key until you hear the first result.

  6. Use the Right or Left arrow key to cycle through the search results.

  7. When on the team you want, press Enter to join.

    You are added to the team and you can find the team in your list of teams in the Teams view.

Change your availability status

  1. Press Ctrl+E to move the focus to the Search field, and then press the Tab key. You hear: "Profile, app settings, and more, menu item."

  2. Press Enter. You hear your current availability status.

  3. Press Enter to open the status options menu. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the status option you want, and press Enter to apply your selection. Your availability status is changed and the focus returns to Profile and app settings menu item.

    Note: You can set your status as Appear Offline. When appearing offline, you still receive notifications if anyone messages you, but you are able to work in Microsoft Teams while appearing invisible to others.

Find and read new messages in a channel

Tip: You can quickly go to your unread messages using the Search field. To move to the Search field, press Ctrl+E. Type /unread and then press Enter.

Post messages to channels

  1. Tip: With JAWS, make sure the virtual cursor mode is off. To switch it off, press Insert+Z. With JAWS 2019 and newer, this is no longer needed.

    On the Posts tab, with JAWS, press C to move the focus to the message compose box. With NVDA, press the Tab key until you hear "Start a new conversation. Type @ to mention someone."

    Tips: 

    • To expand the compose box to access more editing options, press Ctrl+Shift+X. To collapse the box, press Ctrl+Shift+X again.

    • To make sure your team members see the message, press Ctrl+Shift+I in the compose box to mark the message as important. You hear: "Block quote style removed." Important messages show an Important! label in the channel, and appear as notifications in the Activity Feed for team members.

  2. Type your message. You can also add attachments or even emoji, stickers, or memes.

  3. To send the message, press Ctrl+Enter. You hear: "Sending."

    Tip: When the compose box is not expanded, press Enter to send the message.

For more information on how to write group and private messages and attach files, images, emoticons, stickers, and memes, refer to Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams.

Edit messages

You can edit messages that you've posted to a channel.

Delete messages

You can delete messages that you've posted to a channel.

Reply to a message

Enable notifications for a conversation

When notifications are enabled for a conversation, replies to the conversation will appear in the Activity Feed. Notifications are automatically enabled for conversations that you have started or replied to.

Use the Search field commands

In Microsoft Teams you can use the Search field to quickly do things by entering commands.

  1. To go to the Search field, press Ctrl+E.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Type / to open the list of available commands. Navigate the list using the Up and Down arrow keys until you hear the command you want and press Enter to select it.

    • If you know the command you wish to use, type the command in the Search field, and press Enter.

Check if you're a team owner or member

Team owners have additional privileges, such as editing the team settings.

  1. To access the Teams view, press Ctrl+3.

  2. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate to the team you want to check.

  3. Press Shift+F10 to open the More Options menu.

  4. Press the Down arrow key until you hear: “Manage team.”

  5. Press Enter. You hear: “Members.”

  6. To search for yourself in the members list, press the Tab key to move to the search box, and type your name.

  7. Press the Tab key until you hear the screen reader read your name, title, location, and role.

Sign out of Microsoft Teams

  1. Press Ctrl+E to move to the Search field.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Profile, app settings and more," and press Enter.

  3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear the sign-out option and then press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to create and modify teams in Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Video: What is Microsoft Teams?

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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