Use a screen reader to explore and navigate SharePoint Online
Applies ToSharePoint in Microsoft 365

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 SharePoint in Microsoft 365 with your keyboard and a screen reader to explore and navigate the app main views and elements, and to move between views and functions. We have tested it with Narrator, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.

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.

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

  • When you use SharePoint in Microsoft 365, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because SharePoint in Microsoft 365 runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

In this topic

Cycle through the main areas

To navigate in SharePoint in Microsoft 365 and to cycle through the screen elements, press the Tab key (forward) and Shift+Tab key (backward). The main areas are:

  • Banner and site header

  • Search bar

  • Toolbar

  • Navigation pane

  • Main content area

Navigate the navigation pane

After you've signed in, SharePoint in Microsoft 365 opens to the main view. In the main view, the navigation pane lists links to, for example, sites that you're following and recent sites. Press the Tab key to move between sections of the navigation pane, and use the Up and Down arrow keys to browse the list within each section. Press Enter to make a selection.

Navigate the toolbar

In the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 main view, the toolbar allows you to, for example, create a new site or news post. Use the Left and Right arrow keys to browse the toolbar, and press Enter to make a selection.

See also

Use a screen reader to explore Following and Recent sites list in SharePoint Online

Keyboard shortcuts in SharePoint Online

Basic tasks using a screen reader with SharePoint Online

Make your SharePoint site accessible to people with disabilities

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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