Use a screen reader to set up your email account in Outlook

In this topic

• Start the Outlook app for the first time

• Add additional email accounts after the first setup

• Set a default email account

• Add a storage account

Start the Outlook app for the first time

With VoiceOver, you can quickly set up your first account in Outlook to get going. The first account can be any supported account type. Since all email accounts are different, the instructions below provide general guidelines for setting up an account when you open Outlook for the first time.

1. Open the Outlook app. A startup screen appears. Swipe right until you hear "Get Started button," and then double-tap the screen.

2. You hear: "Be notified." You're prompted to select whether to receive notifications on important emails and calendar events. Swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

   If you hear further alerts about the notifications, swipe left or right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

3. You hear: "Add account, heading." Swipe right until you hear "Email address, text field," and then double-tap the screen.

4. The on-screen keyboard opens. Type the address of the email account that you want to add to Outlook.

5. Swipe right until you hear "Add account button," and then double-tap the screen.

6. If prompted, swipe left or right until you hear the account you want to add, and then double-tap the screen.

7. You hear: "Password, secure text field." Double-tap the screen, and then type your password.

8. Swipe left or right until you hear "Sign-in, button," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Done." The focus moves to the Inbox.

Add additional email accounts after the first setup

You can easily add additional email accounts after the initial email setup. The subsequent account can be any supported account type. Since all email accounts are different, the instructions below provide general guidelines for setting up an additional email account.

1. In the messages list, swipe left until you hear "Menu," followed by the currently active email account, and then double-tap the screen. The Navigation pane opens.

2. In the Navigation pane, swipe right until you hear "Add a new email account, button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. Swipe right until you hear "Add email account," and then double-tap the screen.

4. You hear: "Text field, is editing, Email address." The on-screen keyboard opens. Type the email address that you want to add.

5. Swipe left or right until you hear "Add account button," and then double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear the email type you want to add, for example, "Outlook.com," and then double-tap the screen.

7. You hear: "Password, secure text field." Double-tap the screen, and then type your password.

8. When you're done, swipe left or right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Done."

Set a default email account

If you've added several email accounts in Outlook, you can set the one that you use the most as your default account. Your outgoing emails are sent using the default account.

1. In the messages list, swipe left until you hear "Menu," followed by the currently active email account, and then double-tap the screen. The Navigation pane opens.

2. In the Navigation pane, swipe right until you hear "Settings, button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. In the Settings window, swipe right until you hear "Default," followed by the name of the current default account. Double-tap the screen.

4. To change the default account, swipe right until you hear the name of the account you want, and then double-tap the screen. The default account is changed and the focus moves to the Close button in the Settings window.

5. To close the window, double-tap the screen. The focus returns to the messages list.

Add a storage account

You can add a storage account such as OneDrive, OneDrive for work or school, Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive to Outlook. The files from the storage account will appear in the Files list in Outlook, and you can access them directly from Outlook.

1. In the messages list, swipe left until you hear "Menu," followed by the currently active email account, and then double-tap the screen. The Navigation pane opens.

2. In the Navigation pane, swipe right until you hear "Settings, button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. Swipe right until you hear "Add storage account." Double-tap the screen.

4. Swipe right until you hear the storage type you want to add, for example, OneDrive, and then double-tap the screen.

5. The sign-in window for the selected account opens and prompts you to enter the account sign-in info. The sign-in procedure depends on the account you selected.

   Swipe left or right until you hear the editable text fields for the required email address or password, which might or might not be entered in the same window.

6. In a text field, double-tap the screen, and the on-screen keyboard opens. Type your email address or password.

7. To move to a possible next step in the procedure, swipe left or right until you hear "Next button," and then double-tap the screen.

8. When you've finished entering your credentials, swipe left or right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen.

   Depending on the account, you might be asked to provide more information, such as sign in to Microsoft 365 or your organization network.

9. When you're done, swipe left or right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Done."

10. To access your storage account from Outlook, in the Inbox, swipe right until you hear "Files, tab," and then double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with the calendar in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

In this topic

• Set up your first account

• Add an additional email account

• Set a default email account

• Add a file storage account

Set up your first account

With TalkBack, you can quickly set up your first account in Outlook to get going. The first account can be any supported account type. Since all email accounts are different, the instructions below provide general guidelines for setting up an account when you open Outlook for the first time.

1. Open Outlook. The startup screen opens. Swipe right until you hear "Get Started button," and then double-tap the screen.

2. You hear: "Add account." The focus is on the email address text field. The on-screen keyboard opens. Type the email address of the account you want to add.

3. Swipe right until you hear "Continue button," and then double-tap the screen.

4. Depending on the account you're adding, you might need to give your password or accept your email service provider's terms of use before you can continue. Swipe left or right to browse the fields and move to buttons. To activate the on-screen keyboard and type your password, you might need to double-tap the screen.

5. Swipe right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Outlook, Account added."

6. To go to the Inbox of your primary account, swipe right until you hear "Skip button," and then double-tap the screen.

Add an additional email account

You can easily add additional email accounts after the initial email setup. The subsequent account can be any supported account type. Since all email accounts are different, the instructions below provide general guidelines for setting up an additional email account.

1. In Inbox, swipe left until you hear "Open navigation drawer," and double-tap the screen.

2. Swipe right until you hear "Add account," and then double-tap the screen.

3. You hear: "Add an account." Double-tap the screen.

4. Swipe right until you hear "Email address," and then double-tap the screen. The on-screen keyboard opens. Type the email address of the account you want to add.

5. Swipe right until you hear "Continue button," and then double-tap the screen.

6. Depending on the account you're adding, you might need to give your password or accept your email service provider's terms of use before you can continue. Swipe left or right to browse the fields and move to buttons. To activate the on-screen keyboard and type your password, you might need to double-tap the screen.

7. Swipe right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen. The focus returns to the Settings menu.

Set a default email account

If you've added several email accounts in Outlook, you can set the one that you use the most as your default account. Your outgoing emails are sent using the default account.

1. In Inbox, swipe left until you hear "Open navigation drawer," and double-tap the screen.

2. Swipe right until you hear "Settings," and double-tap the screen.

3. Swipe right until you hear "Change your default Sent from mail," followed by the name of the current default account. To select, double-tap the screen.

4. A list of the email accounts added in Outlook opens. Swipe left or right until you hear the account you want, and then double-tap the screen. The default account is changed and the focus returns to the Settings window.

Add a file storage account

You can add a storage account such as OneDrive, OneDrive for work or school, Dropbox, or Box to Outlook. The files from the storage account will appear in the Files list in Outlook, and you can access them directly from Outlook.

1. In Inbox, swipe left until you hear "Open navigation drawer," and double-tap the screen.

2. Swipe right until you hear "Settings," and double-tap the screen.

3. Swipe right until you hear "Add a storage account," and then double-tap the screen.

4. Swipe right until you hear the storage account type you want, and then double-tap the screen.

5. The account-specific sign-in window opens. Type your account user name. You might need to type the password in another window. Swipe left or right to browse the fields and move to buttons. To activate the on-screen keyboard and type your password, you might need to double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "Sign in button," and then double-tap the screen. The focus returns to the Settings menu.

7. To access your storage account from Outlook, in Inbox, swipe right until you hear "Selected, Files," and then double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with the calendar in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

Sign in to Outlook

If you're signing in with an Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN email account:

1. Using a web browser, go to the Outlook.com sign-in page.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Sign in," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the Email, phone, or Skype text field.

3. Type your email address, phone number, or Skype name, and then press Enter. A new page opens, the focus moves to the Password text field, and you hear: "Password."

4. Type your password, and press Enter.

5. Outlook opens, with the focus on the message list from your Inbox.

If you're signing in to your work or school account in Microsoft 365:

1. Using a web browser, go to the Microsoft 365 sign-in page.

2. Do one of the following:

   • If you are signing in for the first time, type the email address, and then press the Tab key.

   • If you have previously signed in to an account, and you want to sign in to it, press the Tab key until you hear the account, and then press Enter.

   • To log in to a new account, press the Tab key until you hear: "Use another account, link," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the email text field, then type the email address, and press the Tab key.

3. If required, the focus moves to the password text field. Type your password and press Enter.

4. Your Microsoft 365 opens. To go to Outlook on the web, press the Tab key until you hear "Go to your email, link," and then press Enter.

5. Outlook opens in a new window, with the focus on the message list from your Inbox.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to schedule appointments or meetings in Outlook

Use a screen reader to set up your email account in Outlook for Mac

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with the calendar in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

Use a screen reader to insert a hyperlink in Outlook

Screen reader support for Outlook