Basic tasks using a screen reader with OneDrive
Applies ToOneDrive (home or personal) OneDrive for Windows

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 your keyboard and a screen reader with OneDrive for Windows to store, search for, and share your files across devices. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.

OneDrive is built into Windows and appears automatically in File Explorer and as a location to save files. Files that you save to OneDrive are available online at OneDrive.com as well as offline on your computer, so you can use them anytime—even when you’re not connected to the internet. When you reconnect, OneDrive syncs the online files with the files on your computer.

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Start OneDrive

With Windows, you can open OneDrive by using either Cortana or File Explorer. OneDrive opens as a folder in File Explorer.

Open OneDrive using Cortana

  1. To select the Cortana Search bar, press the Windows logo key. You hear: "Search box."

  2. In the Search box, type OneDrive. The window updates with a list of suggestions. You can browse the suggestions with the Up and Down arrow keys.

  3. When you hear “OneDrive desktop app,” press Enter. OneDrive opens with the focus on the Items view. To move to the folder or file you want, use the Up and Down arrow keys.

Open OneDrive from File Explorer

  1. To open File Explorer, press the Windows logo key+E. File Explorer opens with the focus in the Items view.

  2. Press Shift+F6 to move to the Navigation pane. You hear: "Tree view." Use the arrow keys until you hear “OneDrive,” and then press Enter.

  3. To return to the Items view, press the Tab key once.

  4. To move to the folder or file you want, use the Up and Down arrow keys.

Open an item

In File Explorer, move to the item you want to open, press Spacebar to select it, and then press Enter.

Upload an item to OneDrive

Upload an item from File Explorer

  1. To open File Explorer, press the Windows logo key+E.

  2. Browse to and select the folder or file you want to upload to OneDrive, and press Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key. The context menu opens, and you hear: “Context menu.”

  3. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear “Move to OneDrive,” and then press Enter. The file is moved to your OneDrive folder in Windows File Explorer, and will be uploaded to your OneDrive online.

Save a file directly to OneDrive

When you work on a file in an Microsoft 365 app, you can save it directly to OneDrive, so you don't have to upload it separately.

  1. Open the file you want to upload.

  2. To select the Save As command, press Alt+F, A. You hear: “Save as.”

  3. To select OneDrive, press the Tab key, and then press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear: “OneDrive.” Press Enter. You hear: "Pick a folder."

    Tip: If you want to save the file in a specific location within your OneDrive folder, press the Tab key until you hear: "Items." Use the Up and Down arrow keys to browse the folders and files in OneDrive. Press Enter to select the folder you want, and then press Shift+Tab until you hear: "Pick a folder."

  4. To open the Save As dialog box, press Enter. The dialog box opens with the focus on the File name text field.

  5. Type a name for the file.

  6. To save the file, press the Tab key until you hear "Save," and then press Enter.

Download an item from OneDrive

By default, all items in your OneDrive folder are available both online on the web and offline on your computer, but you can also download an item separately.

  1. In File Explorer, navigate to the item you want to download in your OneDrive. When on the item, press Ctrl+C.

  2. Move to the folder where you want to save the item on your computer, and press Ctrl+V to paste it.

Share an item from OneDrive

Choose from the following scenarios for more information:

Share a view-only link to an item

  1. Select the folder or file you want to share, and then press Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key. The context menu opens, and you hear: “Context menu, Open.”

  2. Press the Down arrow key until you hear “Share,” and then press Enter. The Share window opens.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Copy link," and press Enter.

  4. To paste the link in a document or message, press Ctrl+V.

Anyone you send this link to will be able to open and view the file.

Manage permissions

If you have shared a file or folder with specific people, you can change whether they are permitted to edit the file or folder, or stop sharing it with them.

  1. Select the folder or file whose permissions you want to change, and then press Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key. The context menu opens, and you hear: “Context menu, Open.”

  2. Press the Down arrow key until you hear “Share,” and then press Enter. The Share window opens.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Manage access," and then press Enter. The Manage Access dialog box opens. It lists sharing links you have created for the item, and any people you have shared the item with.

  4. Press the Tab key until you hear "More options," and press Enter.

  5. Do one of the following:

    • To stop sharing the item through a sharing link, press the Tab key until you hear the sharing link you want to remove. Press the Tab key again. You hear: "Remove link." Press Enter. To confirm removing the link, in the Remove link dialog box, press the Tab key until you hear "Delete link," and then press Enter.

    • To modify permissions for a specific person you have shared the item with, navigate to the list of people. Press the Tab key until you hear: "Shared Users list." Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move to the person whose permissions you want to change, press the Tab key once, and then press Enter. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select between "Allow edit," "Change to view only," and "Stop sharing," and then press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate OneDrive

Keyboard shortcuts for OneDrive for work or school

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

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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