Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams
Applies To
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 chat, search, and organize your chats and channels. You’ll learn how to navigate the Teams, create and manage messages, use search commands, and customize your workspace using filters, sections, and view settings.
Notes:
-
To quickly view keyboard shortcuts in Teams, press Ctrl+Period (.).
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To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Open Microsoft Teams desktop app
Note: To download Microsoft Teams go to https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads, navigate to the Download Microsoft Teams for Windows button, and press Enter.
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Press the Windows key and type Microsoft Teams.
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You hear "Microsoft Teams app," and then press Enter to open the app.
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Type your email, phone and Skype name when your screen reader prompts you to log in.
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Press the Tab key to move to the Next button, and then press Enter.
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You will be prompted to select the method you want to use for authentication. Press the Tab key until you hear the option you want, and then press Enter.
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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.
Switch between combined and separate list views
You can choose between a combined list view, which shows all chats and channels in one list, and a separate list view, which divides chats and channels into different apps on the app bar.
For more information, go to Navigate the combined and separate list views.
Note: By default, Teams will show chats and channels in the combined list view.
Create a new message
Creating a new message is now easier than ever with updated keyboard shortcuts and options. You can quickly compose and send messages to individuals, groups, or entire teams, helping you share updates and stay connected.
-
Press Ctrl+N to open a new chat window.
-
Alternatively, press the Tab key until you hear “More list options button,” then use the Up or Down arrow key to select the New message button, and press Enter.
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Type the desired name, email, group, team channel, or tag in the search bar and press Enter.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “Type a message,” then start typing your message and press Enter to send.
Edit messages
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Navigate to the message you want to edit, and press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “Edit button," and then press Enter.
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You can now edit your message text in the box. You can also add emojis or attachments to your message.
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Once you're done, navigate to the Done button, and then press Enter.
Delete messages
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Navigate to the message you want to delete, and press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “More options button,” and then press Enter to open a dialog.
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Use the Down arrow key until you hear “Delete this message.” Press Enter to delete the selected message.
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To return the focus to the message list, press Esc.
Reply to a message
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Navigate to the message you wish to respond to, and then press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Reply with quote,” and then press Enter.
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Type your reply and press Enter to send the reply.
Use the search commands
In Microsoft Teams, the Search box at the top of the window allows you to quickly navigate, take actions using commands, and find people, messages, files, and more.
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To go to the Search box, press Ctrl+E.
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Do one of the following:
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Type a forward slash (/) to open the list of available commands. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate through the list. When you hear the command you want, press Enter. For example, by entering “/files,” you can instantly see a list of your recent files.
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Type your desired command directly in the Search box and press Enter to execute it.
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To search for content, type your search term and press Enter. You can refine your search by using filters, and the results page will include multiple sections such as People, Messages, Files, Images, Group chats, Meetings, and Channels.
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Press the Tab key to move between result sections, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate within each section.
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To view all results, press Tab until you reach View all results, then press Enter. Use the arrow keys to navigate the search results.
Tip: You can also use commands like /goto, /chat, or /call directly from the Search box to jump to specific views or actions.
Work with sections
You can organize your chats and channels into custom sections and sort them as per your preferences. This helps you stay focused and quickly access important conversations.
Create custom sections
You can organize related chats and channels into custom sections, making it easier to track important conversations. Custom sections let you group chats and channels by topic, project, or preference for quick access. This can be done in both the combined and separate list views.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “More list options button,” then use the Up or Down arrow key to select the New items button and press Enter.
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Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear “New section menu item,” then press Enter.
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Type the name of your section, then navigate to the Create button using the Tab key, and press Enter.
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Navigate to the chat or channel you want to add to the new section, open the More options menu, and select the Move to menu item. Then, choose the desired section name from the list.
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Alternatively, press Shift+F10 to open the context menu, then use the Up or Down arrow key to navigate to the Move to menu item and press Enter.
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Note: You can also rename or remove custom sections to keep your list organized.
Sort sections
Organize your chats and channels to keep important conversations accessible by adjusting the sort order in each section. The sorting options are:
-
Customized: This option arranges chats and channels manually in your preferred order. This is the default sort for Favorites and custom sections.
-
Most Recent: This option displays chats and channels based on the latest activity, with the most recently updated items at the top.
-
Unread Only: This option displays only unread messages, keeping the list compact and focused on new activity.
Apply filters
Use filters to focus on specific conversations within your chat or channel list. By default, filters like Unread, Chats, Meetings, and Unmuted are available in the Chat app, and the Unread filter is available in the Channels app. You can select multiple filters to refine your results further.
For more information, go to An overview of key changes.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “Filter options toolbar,” then press Enter.
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Use the arrow keys to select a filter, such as Unread or Unmuted, then press Enter to apply. To find more filters, navigate to the More filters button and press Enter. Alternatively, use the following shortcuts to directly apply the filters:
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To filter and view unread items, press Ctrl+Alt+U.
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To display unmuted items, press Ctrl+Alt+Q.
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To view all meetings, press Ctrl+Alt+B.
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To show all chat items, press Ctrl+Alt+C.
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To display all channel items, press Ctrl+Alt+A.
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To search for a specific chat, channel, or person by name, press Ctrl+Shift+F.
Note: The selected filters remain active even if you exit the list, allowing you to pick up where you left off. For more keyboard shortcuts, refer to Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams.
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To remove a filter, press the Tab key until you hear the active filter name and press Enter again.
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Alternatively, you can clear all filters in your list view by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z.
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Sign out of Microsoft Teams
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Press Ctrl+E to move to the search box.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Your profile, status your current status," and press Enter.
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Press the Down arrow key until you hear the Sign out menu item, 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 Microsoft Teams with your keyboard and a screen reader to chat, search, and organize your chats and channels. You’ll learn how to navigate Teams, create and manage messages, use search commands, and customize your workspace using filters, sections, and view settings.
Notes:
-
To quickly view keyboard shortcuts in Teams, press Command+Period (.).
-
To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Open Microsoft Teams desktop app
Note: To install Microsoft Teams, open https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads, navigate to the Download Microsoft Teams for Mac button, and press Ctrl+Option+Spacebar. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.
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Press Command+Spacebar to open Spotlight search, type Microsoft Teams, and press Return.
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You hear “Microsoft Teams, application,” then press Return to open the app.
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When the Sign in dialog opens, type your email address or phone number, and press Return.
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If prompted, press Tab until you hear “Next button,” and press Ctrl+Option+Spacebar.
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Follow the authentication prompts as VoiceOver announces them. For example, type your password, approve the sign-in request, or select your verification method, then press Return.
Switch between combined and separate list views
You can choose between a combined list view, which shows all chats and channels in one list, and a separate list view, which divides chats and channels into different apps on the app bar.
Note: By default, Teams shows chats and channels in the combined list view. For more information, go to Navigate the combined and separate list views.
Create a new message
Creating a new message is simple using keyboard shortcuts or menu navigation.
-
Press Command+N to open a new chat window.
-
Alternatively, press Tab until you hear “More list options button,” then use the Up or Down arrow key to select “New message button,” and press Return.
-
-
Type the name, email, group, team channel, or tag in the search bar, then press Return.
-
Press Tab until you hear “Type a message,” then type your message and press Return to send it.
Edit messages
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Navigate to the message you want to edit, and press Return. The Reactions and message actions toolbar opens.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “Edit button,” and press Return.
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The message text becomes editable. Make your changes or add emojis or attachments.
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When finished, press Tab until you hear “Done button,” and press Return.
Delete messages
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Navigate to the message you want to delete, and press Return. The Reactions and message actions toolbar opens.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “More options button,” and press Return to open the menu.
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Use the Down arrow key until you hear “Delete this message,” and press Return to confirm.
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To return focus to the message list, press Esc.
Reply to a message
-
Navigate to the message you want to reply to, and press Return. The Reactions and message actions toolbar opens.
-
Use the Right arrow key until you hear “Reply with quote,” and press Return.
-
Type your reply and press Return to send it.
Use the search commands
The Search box at the top of the window lets you quickly find people, messages, files, and perform actions using commands.
-
To go to the Search box, press Command+E.
-
Do one of the following:
-
Type a forward slash ( / ) to open a list of available commands. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate. When you hear the command you want, press Return.
-
Type your search term, such as a person’s name or keyword, and press Return to view results.
-
-
Press Tab to move between result sections (People, Messages, Files, etc.), then use the arrow keys to navigate within each section.
-
To view all results, press Tab until you hear “View all results,” and press Return.
Tip: You can also type commands like /chat, /call, or /files directly in the Search box.
Work with sections
You can organize your chats and channels into custom sections and sort them as you prefer. This helps you stay focused and quickly access important conversations.
Create custom sections
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Press Tab until you hear “More list options button,” then use the arrow keys to select “New items button,” and press Return.
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Use the Up or Down arrow key until you hear “New section menu item,” and press Return.
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Type a name for your section, press Tab to move to the Create button, and press Return.
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Navigate to the chat or channel you want to move. Open the More options menu and select “Move to,” then choose the desired section name.
Note: You can rename or remove custom sections anytime.
Sort sections
Organize your chats and channels to keep important conversations accessible by adjusting the sort order in each section. The sorting options are:
-
Customized: This option arranges chats and channels manually in your preferred order. This is the default sort for Favorites and custom sections.
-
Most Recent: This option displays chats and channels based on the latest activity, with the most recently updated items at the top.
-
Unread Only: This option displays only unread messages, keeping the list compact and focused on new activity.
Steps to sort a section
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To sort, navigate to the desired section and press the Tab key until you hear “More options button,” then press Return.
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Use the Up or Down arrow key to select a sorting option and press Return to apply the selected sort order.
Tip: For an optimized view, Unread only mode will keep the list compact by displaying only unread items.
Apply filters
Use filters to focus on specific conversations within your chat or channel list. By default, filters like Unread, Chats, Meetings, and Unmuted are available in the Chat app, and the Unread filter is available in the Channels app. You can select multiple filters to refine your results further.
For more information, go to An overview of key changes.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear “Filter options toolbar,” then press Return.
-
Use the arrow keys to select a filter, such as Unread or Unmuted, then press Enter to apply. To find more filters, navigate to More filters and press Return. Alternatively, use the following shortcuts to directly apply the filters:
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To filter and view unread items, press Option+Command+U.
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To display unmuted items, press Option+Command+Q.
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To view all meetings, press Option+Command+T.
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To show all chat items, press Option+Command+C.
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To display all channel items, press Option+Command+A.
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To search for a specific chat, channel, or person by name, press Command+Shift+F.
Note: The selected filters remain active even if you exit the list, allowing you to pick up where you left off. For more keyboard shortcuts, refer to Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams.
-
-
To remove a filter, press the Tab key until you hear the active filter name and press Return again.
-
Alternatively, you can clear all filters in your list view by using the keyboard shortcut Opt+Cmd+Z.
Navigate the Mentions view
The Mentions view compiles all personal mentions in one convenient list, making it simple to stay updated on conversations that need your attention. This view includes notifications from team channels, chat messages, and meeting chats, ensuring you can respond quickly to relevant messages.
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Navigate to the Chats or Channels list in Microsoft Teams.
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Use the Tab and Up or Down arrow key to navigate to the Mentions option and press Return to open the view.
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Use the Up or Down arrow key to move through mention notifications, which will list messages from both chats and channels.
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To open the conversation and reply, navigate to the desired item and press Return.
Sign out of Microsoft Teams
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In Microsoft Teams, press Command+E to go to the Search box.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Your profile and your current status," and press Return.
-
Press the Down arrow key until you hear the Sign out menu item, and then press Return.
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 Microsoft Teams with VoiceOver, the built-in screen reader for iOS, to chat, search, and organize your chats and channels. You’ll learn how to navigate the Teams app, create and manage messages, use search commands, and customize your workspace using filters, sections, and view settings.
Note: This topic assumes that you are using the built-in iOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, visit Apple accessibility.
In this topic
Open Microsoft Teams and sign in
If not already installed on your phone, download and install the Microsoft Teams app from the App Store.
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On your phone, flick right until you hear “Teams,” and double-tap the screen.
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Flick right until you hear “Account text field,” and double-tap the screen.
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Enter the email address you want to sign in with. When done, flick right until you hear “Next button,” and double-tap the screen.
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The sign in page will open. Flick right until you hear “Enter password,” and double-tap the screen.
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Enter your password. When done, flick right until you hear “Sign in button,” and double-tap the screen.
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The app asks for your permission to send you notifications and access the microphone for calls. To allow, flick right until you hear “Allow button,” and double-tap the screen.
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Follow any additional prompts from Microsoft Teams to complete the sign in. Microsoft Teams opens the Activity view.
Switch between combined and separate list views
You can choose between a combined list view, which shows all chats and channels in one list, and a separate list view, which divides chats and channels into different apps on the app bar.
-
Flick left or right until you hear the “More button,” then double-tap to activate it.
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Flick right until you hear “Customize view button,” then double-tap to activate it.
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Flick right to select the Combined button, and double-tap to activate the combined view.
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To switch to the separate view, double-tap on the Separate button.
For more information, go to Navigate the combined and separate lists.
Create a new message
You can quickly compose and send messages to individuals, groups, or entire teams, helping you share updates and stay connected.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “New message button,” then double-tap to start a new chat.
-
Type the name, chat, channel, email, or tag in the search bar and double-tap.
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Flick right to navigate the suggested list, and double-tap to start the chat.
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Flick right until you hear “Type a message,” then type your message.
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Flick right to the Send button and double-tap to send.
Edit messages
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Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to edit, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
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Flick right until you hear “Edit,” and double-tap.
-
The edit box opens with your existing message text. Make the necessary changes. You can also insert emojis or attachments if needed.
-
Flick right until you hear “Send,” and double-tap to save your edits.
Delete messages
-
Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to delete, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Delete,” and double-tap.
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When prompted to confirm, flick right to the Delete button, and double-tap.
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VoiceOver announces that the message has been deleted, and focus returns to the message list.
Reply to a message
-
Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to reply to, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Reply with quote,” and double-tap.
-
The focus moves to the message compose area with the quoted message above it. Type your reply.
-
Flick right to the Send button and double-tap to send your reply.
Use the search commands
In Microsoft Teams for iOS, the Search field allows you to quickly find people, messages, files, and more.
-
Flick right or left until you hear “Search,” and double-tap to place focus in the search field.
-
To search for content, type your search term and double-tap Search on the keyboard. The results screen includes sections such as People, Files, Group chats, Meetings, and Teams and Channels.
-
Flick right or left to move between the result sections, and double-tap a section to open it.
-
Within a section, flick right or left to navigate the search results.
-
To view all results, flick until you hear “See all,” and double-tap.
Work with sections
You can organize your chats and channels into custom sections and sort them as per your preferences. This helps you stay focused and quickly access important conversations.
Create custom sections
You can organize related chats and channels into custom sections, making it easier to track important conversations. Custom sections let you group chats and channels by topic, project, or preference for quick access. This can be done in both the combined and separate list views.
-
In the Chats or Channels list, flick left or right to find the desired contact or channel and double-tap to open it.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “Profile” or “Channel name,” then double-tap to activate it.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “Move to button,” then double-tap to activate it.
-
Flick right until you hear “New section button,” then double-tap to create a section.
-
Type a name for your new section, then flick to the Done button and double-tap to save it.
Note: You can also rename or remove custom sections to keep your chat and channel lists organized.
Sort sections
Organize your chats and channels to keep important conversations accessible by adjusting the sort order in each section.
The sorting options are:
-
Customized: Arrange chats and channels manually in your preferred order. This is the default sort for Favorites and custom sections.
-
By recency: Display chats and channels based on the latest activity, with the most recently updated items at the top.
Steps to sort a section:
-
Flick to the desired section and double-tap when you hear “More options button.”
-
Flick left or right to select a sorting option, and double-tap to apply the selected sort order.
Apply filters
Apply filters to focus on specific conversations within the Chat or Channels app. Access filters like Unread, Mentions, Chats, Channels, Meetings, and Muted through the Filters menu. You can select multiple filters to refine your results further.
For more information, go to An overview of key changes.
-
Flick left or right until you hear filter options such as “Unread,” “Meetings,” or “Chats,” then double-tap to apply.
-
To find more filters, flick right until you hear “More button,” and double-tap to view all the filters.
Note: The selected filters remain active even if you exit the list, allowing you to resume from where you left off.
-
To remove the filter, flick left or right until you hear the active filter name and double-tap to deactivate.
Sign out of Microsoft Teams
You can sign out of Microsoft Teams when you no longer need to stay signed in or want to switch accounts.
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Flick right until you hear “Navigation button,” then double-tap to open the navigation menu.
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Flick right until you hear “Settings,” and double-tap to open it.
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Flick right until you hear “Sign out button,” and double-tap.
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When the Sign out confirmation dialog opens, flick right until you hear “Sign out button,” and double-tap to confirm.
Note: After you sign out, you return to the Teams sign in screen.
See also
Use a screen reader to work with files in Microsoft Teams
Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use Microsoft Teams for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to chat, search, and organize your chats and channels. You’ll learn how to navigate the Teams app, create and manage messages, use search commands, and customize your workspace using filters, sections, and view settings.
Note: This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Android screen reader, TalkBack. To learn more about using TalkBack, go to Android accessibility.
In this topic
Open Microsoft Teams and sign in
If not already installed on your phone, download and install the Microsoft Teams app from the Play Store.
-
On your phone, flick right until Talkback announces the Microsoft Teams app, and double tap the screen to open it.
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The sign in screen will open. Flick right until you hear "Sign in button," then double-tap the screen.
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Use the on-screen keyboard to type the email address or phone number associated with the account you want to sign in with. When done, flick right to move to the Next button, and double-tap the screen.
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Flick right until you hear "Edit box," and double-tap the screen. Use the on-screen keyboard to type your password. When done, flick right until you hear "Sign in button," and double-tap the screen.
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The Welcome to Microsoft Teams page will open. To hear the page contents, flick right. To move to the next page, flick left with two fingers. When you reach the last page, flick right until you hear "Got it button," and double-tap the screen.
Switch between combined and separate list views
You can choose between a combined list view, which shows all chats and channels in one list, and a separate list view, which divides chat and teams into different tabs.
For more information, go to Navigate the combined and separate list views.
Create a new message
Creating a new message is now easier than ever with updated keyboard shortcuts and options. You can quickly compose and send messages to individuals, groups, or entire teams, helping you share updates and stay connected.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “New conversation button,” then double-tap to create a new message.
-
Type the name, email, group, team channel, or tag in the search bar and double-tap.
-
Flick left or right until you hear "Type a message," then type your message.
-
Flick right to the Send message button and double-tap to send.
Edit messages
-
Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to edit, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Edit,” and double-tap.
-
The edit box opens with your existing message text. Make the necessary changes. You can also insert emojis or attachments if needed.
-
Flick right until you hear “Send,” and double-tap to save your edits.
Delete messages
-
Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to delete, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Delete,” and double-tap.
-
When prompted to confirm, flick to “Delete” again, and double-tap.
-
TalkBack announces that the message has been deleted, and focus returns to the message list.
Reply to a message
-
Flick right or left until you hear the message you want to reply to, then double-tap and hold to open the message actions menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Reply,” and double-tap.
-
The focus moves to the message compose area with the quoted message above it. Type your reply.
-
Flick right to the Send button and double-tap to send your reply.
Use the search commands
In Microsoft Teams for Android, the Search field at the top of the screen allows you to quickly find people, messages, files, and more, or take actions using commands.
-
Flick right or left until you hear “Search,” and double-tap to place focus in the Search field.
-
To search for content, type your search term and double-tap Search. The results screen includes sections such as People, Files, Group chats, Meetings, and Teams andChannels.
-
Flick right or left to move between the result sections, and double-tap a section to open it.
-
Within a section, flick right or left to navigate the search results.
-
To view all results, flick until you hear “See all,” and double-tap.
Work with sections
You can organize your chats and channels into custom sections and sort them as per your preferences. This helps you stay focused and quickly access important conversations.
Create custom sections
You can organize related chats and channels into custom sections, making it easier to track important conversations. Custom sections let you group chats and channels by topic, project, or preference for quick access. This can be done in both the combined and separate list views.
-
In the Chats or Channels list, flick left or right to find the chat or channel you want to move, and double-tap to open it.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “Chat details button,” then double-tap to activate it.
-
Flick left or right until you hear “Move to button,” and double-tap to open the move options.
-
Flick right until you hear “New section button,” then double-tap to create a section.
-
Type a name for your new section, then flick to the Done button and double-tap to save it.
Note: You can also rename or remove custom sections to keep your chat and channel lists organized.
Sort sections
Organize your chats and channels to keep important conversations accessible by adjusting the sort order in each section. The sorting options are:
-
Customized: Arrange chats and channels manually in your preferred order. This is the default sort for Favorites and custom sections.
-
By recency: Display chats and channels based on the latest activity, with the most recently updated items at the top.
Steps to sort a section
-
Flick to the desired section and double-tap when you hear “More options button.”
-
Flick left or right to select a sorting option, and double-tap to apply the selected sort order.
Apply filters
Apply filters to focus on specific conversations within the Chat or Channels tab. Access filters like Unread, Mentions, Chats, Channels, Meetings, and Muted through the Filters menu. You can select multiple filters to refine your results further.
For more information, go to An overview of key changes.
-
Flick left or right until you hear filter options such as “Unread, Meetings, Chats, etc.,” then double-tap to apply. To find more filters, flick right until you hear “More button,” and double-tap to view all the filters.
Note: The selected filters remain active even if you exit the list, allowing you to resume from where you left off.
-
To remove the filter, flick left or right until you hear the active filter name and double-tap to deactivate.
Navigate the Mentions view
The Mentions view compiles all personal mentions in one convenient list, making it simple to stay updated on conversations that need your attention. This view includes notifications from team channels, chat messages, and meeting chats, ensuring you can respond quickly to relevant messages.
-
Open Microsoft Teams and flick left or right until you hear “button mentions,” then double-tap to activate it.
-
Flick left or right to browse through mention notifications, which will list messages from both chats and channels.
-
To open the conversation and reply, navigate to the desired item and double-tap to open it.
Sign out of Microsoft Teams
You can sign out of Microsoft Teams when you no longer need to stay signed in or want to switch accounts.
-
Flick right until you hear “Navigation button,” then double-tap to open the navigation menu.
-
Flick right until you hear “Open settings,” and double-tap to open it.
-
Flick right until you hear “Sign out button,” and double-tap.
-
When the Sign out confirmation dialog opens, flick right until you hear “OK button,” and double-tap to confirm.
Note: After you sign out, you return to the Teams sign in screen.
See also
Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams
Use a screen reader to like and save messages in Microsoft Teams
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use Microsoft Teams on the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to chat, search, and organize your chats and channels. You’ll learn how to navigate to the Teams, create and manage messages, use search commands, and customize your workspace using filters, sections, and view settings.
Notes:
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To quickly view keyboard shortcuts in Teams, press Ctrl+Period (.).
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To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Open Microsoft Teams and sign in
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On your computer, open Microsoft Edge, and browse to https://teams.microsoft.com.
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A sign in page will open with a focus on the Email, phone or Skype edit field.
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If there are no previously used account details, type your details in the box.
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If there are several accounts to choose from, press the Tab key to browse the options. To select, press Enter.
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Press the Tab key until you reach the Next button, and then press Enter.
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Type your password, then press Enter to sign in.
Note: Depending on the sign in method chosen, follow and act on the prompts as the screen reader announces them.
Switch between combined and separate list views
You can choose between a combined list view, which shows all chats and channels in one list, and a separate list view, which divides chats and channels into different apps on the app bar.
For more information, go to Navigate the combined and separate list views.
Note: By default, Teams will show chats and channels in the combined list view.
Create a new message
Creating a new message is now easier than ever with updated keyboard shortcuts and options. You can quickly compose and send messages to individuals, groups, or entire teams, helping you share updates and stay connected.
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Press Alt+Shift+N to open a new chat window.
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Alternatively, press the Tab key until you hear “More list options button,” then use the Up or Down arrow key to select the New message button, and press Enter.
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Type the desired name, email, group, team channel, or tag in the search bar and press Enter.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “Type a message,” then start typing your message and press Enter to send.
Edit messages
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Navigate to the message you want to edit, and press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “Edit button," and then press Enter.
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You can now edit your message text in the box. You can also add emojis or attachments to your message.
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Once you're done, navigate to the Done button, and then press Enter.
Delete messages
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Navigate to the message you want to delete, and press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Use the Right arrow key until you hear “More options button,” and then press Enter to open a dialog.
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Use the Down arrow key until you hear “Delete this message.” Press Enter to delete the selected message.
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To return the focus to the message list, press Esc.
Reply to a message
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Navigate to the message you wish to respond to, and then press Enter. The Reactions and message actions toolbar will open.
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Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Reply with quote,” and then press Enter.
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Type your reply and press Enter to send the reply.
Use the search commands
In Microsoft Teams, the Search box at the top of the window allows you to quickly navigate, take actions using commands, and find people, messages, files, and more.
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To go to the Search box, press Ctrl+Alt+E.
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Do one of the following:
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Type a forward slash (/) to open the list of available commands. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate through the list. When you hear the command you want, press Enter. For example, by entering “/files,” you can instantly see a list of your recent files.
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Type your desired command directly in the Search box and press Enter to execute it.
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To search for content, type your search term and press Enter. You can refine your search by using filters, and the results page will include multiple sections such as People, Messages, Files, Images, Group chats, Meetings, and Channels.
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Press the Tab key to move between result sections, then use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate within each section.
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To view all results, press Tab until you reach View all results, then press Enter. Use the arrow keys to navigate the search results.
Tip: You can also use commands like /goto, /chat, or /call directly from the Search box to jump to specific views or actions.
Work with sections
You can organize your chats and channels into custom sections and sort them as per your preferences. This helps you stay focused and quickly access important conversations.
Create custom sections
You can organize related chats and channels into custom sections, making it easier to track important conversations. Custom sections let you group chats and channels by topic, project, or preference for quick access. This can be done in both the combined and separate list views.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “More list options button,” then use the Up or Down arrow key to select the New items button and press Enter.
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Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear “New section menu item,” then press Enter.
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Type the name of your section, then navigate to the Create button using the Tab key, and press Enter.
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Navigate to the chat or channel you want to add to the new section, open the More options menu, and select the Move to menu item. Then, choose the desired section name from the list.
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Alternatively, press Shift+F10 to open the context menu, then use the Up or Down arrow key to navigate to the Move to menu item and press Enter.
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Note: You can also rename or remove custom sections to keep your list organized.
Sort sections
Organize your chats and channels to keep important conversations accessible by adjusting the sort order in each section. The sorting options are:
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Customized: This option arranges chats and channels manually in your preferred order. This is the default sort for Favorites and custom sections.
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Most Recent: This option displays chats and channels based on the latest activity, with the most recently updated items at the top.
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Unread Only: This option displays only unread messages, keeping the list compact and focused on new activity.
Apply filters
Use filters to focus on specific conversations within your chat or channel list. By default, filters like Unread, Chats, Meetings, and Unmuted are available in the Chat app, and the Unread filter is available in the Channels app. You can select multiple filters to refine your results further.
For more information, go to An overview of key changes.
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Press the Tab key until you hear “Filter options toolbar,” then press Enter.
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Use the arrow keys to select a filter, such as Unread or Unmuted, then press Enter to apply. To find more filters, navigate to the More filters button and press Enter. Alternatively, use the following shortcuts to directly apply the filters:
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To filter and view unread items, press Ctrl+Alt+U.
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To display unmuted items, press Ctrl+Alt+Q.
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To view all meetings, press Ctrl+Alt+B.
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To show all chat items, press Ctrl+Alt+C.
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To display all channel items, press Ctrl+Alt+A.
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To search for a specific chat, channel, or person by name, press Ctrl+Shift+F.
Note: The selected filters remain active even if you exit the list, allowing you to pick up where you left off. For more keyboard shortcuts, refer to Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams,
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To remove a filter, press the Tab key until you hear the active filter name and press Enter again.
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Alternatively, you can clear all filters in your list view by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Z.
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Navigate the Mentions view
The Mentions view compiles all personal mentions in one convenient list, making it simple to stay updated on conversations that need your attention. This view includes notifications from team channels, chat messages, and meeting chats, ensuring you can respond quickly to relevant messages.
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Navigate to the Chats or Channels list in Microsoft Teams.
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Use the Tab and arrow keys to navigate to the Mentions option and press Enter to open the view.
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Use the Up or Down arrow key to browse through mention notifications, which will list messages from both chats and channels.
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To open the conversation and reply, navigate to the desired item and press Enter.
Sign out of Microsoft Teams
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In Microsoft Teams, Press Ctrl+Alt+E to move to the search box.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Your profile, status your current status," and press Enter.
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Press the Down arrow key repeatedly until you hear the sign out option, and 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
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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