Use a screen reader to add steps and set importance to a task in To Do

Use To Do with your keyboard and a screen reader to make tasks easier to achieve by dividing them into multiple steps. 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. You'll also learn how to highlight tasks by marking them as important.

In this topic

• Add steps to a task
• Complete a step
• Mark a task as important
• Show important tasks as a list

Add steps to a task

Make a task easier to accomplish by dividing it into smaller steps.

1. In the detail view for a task, press the Tab key until you hear: "Add step."
2. For each step you want to add, enter a name for the step and then press Enter.
3. When you're done adding steps, to leave the list of steps, press the Tab key.
4. To close the detail view, press Esc.

Complete a step

When you are done with a step, mark it as completed.

1. In the detail view for a task, press the Tab key until you hear "Steps list" and the name of the first incomplete step.
2. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to browse to the step you want.
3. Press the Tab key once. You hear: "Uncomplete, checkbox not checked." Press Enter to mark the step completed. A sound cue confirms that you completed the step.
4. To close the detail view, press Esc.

Mark a task as important

To prioritize a task, mark it as important.

1. Press Ctrl+1 to expand the To Do sidebar.
2. Press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Lists," followed by the name of the currently selected list or filter option.
3. Press the Down or Up arrow key until you find the list containing the task you want, and then press Enter to open it.
4. To move to the task list content, press the Tab key until you hear "List options, button," and then press the Tab key once more.
5. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the task you want.
6. Press the Tab key until you hear "Mark as important," and then press Enter.

Show important tasks as a list

Tasks you have marked as important are added to the Important list. The Important list is a default list that is already set up when you start working with To Do.

1. Press Ctrl+1 to expand the To Do sidebar.
2. Press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Lists," followed by the name of the currently selected list or filter option.
3. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear: "Important." Press Enter to open the Important list.
4. To move to the task list content, press the Tab key until you hear "List options, button," and then press the Tab key once more.
5. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to browse the tasks in the list.

See also

Use a screen reader to show all tasks with a due date in the Planned list in To Do

Use a screen reader to work with lists in To Do

Use a screen reader to work with tasks in To Do

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate To Do

Use To Do for the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to make tasks easier to achieve by dividing them into multiple steps. We have tested it with Narrator in Microsoft Edge and JAWS and NVDA in Chrome, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll also learn how to highlight tasks by marking them as important.

In this topic

• Add steps to a task
• Complete a step
• Mark a task as important
• Show important tasks as a list

Add steps to a task

Make a task easier to accomplish by dividing it into smaller steps.

1. After opening the detail view for a task, press the Tab key until you hear "Mark task as important," and then press the Down arrow key once.
2. Press the Tab key once. You hear: "Add step, button." Press Enter.
3. For each step you want to add, enter a name for the step, and then press Enter.
4. When you're done adding steps, to leave the list of steps, press the Tab key once.

Complete a step

When you are done with a step, mark it as completed.

1. After opening the detail view for a task, press the Tab key until you hear the name of the first step. If it's not the step you want to complete, with Narrator, press the SR key+Right arrow key until you hear the step you want. With JAWS or NVDA, press the Down arrow key.
2. With Narrator, press the SR key+Right arrow key once. You hear: "Mark as completed, checkbox, unchecked." With JAWS or NVDA, press the Right arrow key once. You hear: "Mark as completed, checkbox, not checked."
3. Press Spacebar to mark the step completed. A sound cue confirms that you completed the step.

Mark a task as important

To prioritize a task, mark it as important.

1. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of a list, and then, with Narrator, press the SR key+Right or Left arrow key to browse the lists until you hear the name of the list containing the task you want. With JAWS or NVDA, press the Down or Up arrow key.
2. Press Enter to open the list. The focus moves to the Add a task text field.
3. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of a task, then, with Narrator, press the SR key+Right or Left arrow key to browse the list until you find the task you want. With JAWS or NVDA, press the Down or Up arrow key.
4. With Narrator, press the SR key+Right arrow key until you hear: "Mark task as important." With JAWS or NVDA, press the Tab key until you hear: "Mark task as important."
5. To mark the task as important, press Spacebar.

Show important tasks as a list

Tasks you have marked as important are added to the Important list. The Important list is a default list that is already set up when you start working with To Do.

1. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of a list, and then, with Narrator, press the SR key+Right or Left arrow key to browse the lists until you hear: "Important." With JAWS or NVDA, press the Down or Up arrow key.
2. Press Enter to open the list. The focus moves to the Add a task text entry field.
3. To move to the task list content, press the Tab key until you hear the name of a task in the list.
4. With Narrator, press the SR key+Right or Left arrow key to browse the tasks in the list. With JAWS or NVDA, press the Down or Up arrow key.

See also

Use a screen reader to show all tasks with a due date in the Planned list in To Do

Use a screen reader to work with lists in To Do

Use a screen reader to work with tasks in To Do

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate To Do