Use a screen reader to work with files in Microsoft Teams

In this topic

• Open a file

• Create a new file

• Upload a file

Open a file

1. In a channel, press the Tab key until you hear: "Posts." Then press Option+Right arrow key to move to Files, and press Return. VoiceOver starts reading the information of the first attached file.

2. Use the Down and Up arrow keys to find the file you'd like to open, and then press Return to open it in the file viewer.

   Tip: To quickly find a file, press Command+E to move to the Search field, type /file, press Return, and then type the name of the file. To browse the search results use the Down arrow key. When you hear the file you want to open, press Return to open it in the File Viewer.

3. To edit the file, press the Tab key until you reach the button for editing options and press Control+Option+Spacebar to select. A submenu opens.

4. In the submenu, use the Down and Up arrow keys until you hear "Edit in app," then press Return to open the file for editing in the associated Office app.

   Note: When opening Office files, you'll be prompted to open the file in the Online version of the Office product, and an additional sign-in may be required.

5. Edit the file in the app. Your edits are automatically saved.

6. To close the file in an Office app, press Command+Q to close the app. Then press the Tab key until you reach the Close button and press Return.

Create a new file

1. In a channel, press the Tab key until you hear: "Posts." Press Option+Right arrow key to move to Files, and press Return.

2. Press Shift+Tab key until you reach the New button on the toolbar, and press Return.

3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear the file type you'd like to create, and then press Return.

4. Type a name for your file, press the Tab key until you reach the Create button, and press Return.

5. Add your content in the file. The file is automatically saved in the channel's Files tab.

Upload a file

1. In a channel, press the Tab key until VoiceOver announces "Posts," Then press Option+Right arrow key to move to Files, and press Return. VoiceOver starts reading the information of the first attached file.

2. Press Shift+Tab key until you reach the New button.

3. Press the Right arrow key until you reach Upload. Press Return to open the file dialog.

4. In the dialog, use the Tab key and arrow keys to navigate. Use Spacebar to select.

5. When you've found and selected the file, press Return.

   The file is uploaded and available on the Files tab in your channel.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Open and edit a file

1. In a channel, swipe right or left until you hear "Files and tabs tab, two of two," and then double-tap the screen.

2. Swipe right or left until you hear "Files button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. The focus is on the back button. Swipe right or left until you hear the file you'd like to open, and then double-tap the screen. The file opens in a file viewer or the related Microsoft 365 app. For more information about using the Microsoft 365 apps with a screen reader, refer to Use a screen reader with Microsoft 365 apps.

4. When you're done viewing the file, do one of the following:

   • In a file viewer, swipe right or left until you hear “Close button,” and then double-tap the screen.

   • In a file-specific application, swipe right or left until you hear “Close file button,” and then double-tap the screen. The file list for the application opens. Drag your finger around the top of the screen until you hear “Return to Teams button,” and then double-tap the screen.

5. You can edit the file directly if it opens in a file-specific application. If the file opens in a file viewer, first swipe right or left until you hear "Edit button," and then double-tap the screen. Your edits are automatically saved when you edit the file.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Open and edit a file

1. After you have activated a channel in the Teams tab, swipe right or left until you hear "Files tab," and then double-tap the screen.

2. If there are any files in the channel, the focus is on the first item in the list. Swipe right or left until you hear the file you'd like to open, and then double-tap the screen. The file opens in a file viewer or the related Microsoft 365 app. For more information about using the Microsoft 365 apps with a screen reader, refer to Use a screen reader with Microsoft 365 apps.

   When you're done viewing the file, swipe right or left until you hear "Back button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. You can edit the file directly if it opens in the file-specific application. If the file opens in a file viewer, first swipe right or left until you hear "Open button," and then double-tap the screen. Your edits are automatically saved when you edit the file.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

In this topic

• Open a file

• Upload a file

Open a file

1. In a channel in the Teams view, press the Tab key until you hear: "Posts," and then press the Right arrow key to move to Files. Press Enter to open the Files tab.

2. The focus moves to the first item in the list. Use the Down and Up arrow keys to find the file you'd like to open.

3. To open the file in a new browser tab in the related Microsoft 365 app, press the Right arrow key until you hear "Show action button," and press Spacebar. You hear: "Open submenu." Press the Right arrow key to expand the menu. You hear: "Open in browser." Press Enter. A new browser tab opens and the focus moves there.

   You can now navigate inside the file, hear the screen reader read the contents and edit if you like. For more information about using the Microsoft 365 apps with a screen reader, refer to Use a screen reader with Microsoft 365 apps.

4. When you're done with the file, save and close it as you would normally do. To switch the focus back to Microsoft Teams on the web, press Ctrl+Tab until you hear: "List of folders, files, or items."

Upload a file

See also

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

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams