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 PowerPoint with your keyboard and a screen reader to save your desktop presentation to a local drive (such as your laptop), a network location, a CD, a DVD, or a flash drive. 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 can also save your presentation in a different file format or an earlier version of PowerPoint.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Save your presentation file
Follow these steps to name and save your presentation file using the default file type, which is PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx).
-
To open the Save As dialog box and browse through your drives and folders, press Alt+F, A, and then O. You hear: “Save As dialog.”
-
To navigate to the list of drives and folders, press the Tab key to move through the dialog box until you hear, with Narrator, the number of suggestions available and "Tree view, quick access." With JAWS and NVDA, you hear: "Tree view."
-
To find the drive or folder where you want to save your presentation, move through the list by pressing the Down or Up arrow key.
-
To select the drive or folder, press Enter.
-
To move the focus to the folders and files within the selected drive or folder, press the Tab key.
-
To browse through the contents of the selected location, press the Down or Up arrow key. To open a folder, press Enter.
-
After you choose the location you want, press the Tab key until you hear: "File name."
-
To save your presentation, type the file name you want and press Enter. The Save As dialog box closes.
To save new changes to a file that’s already been saved in the correct location with the name you want, press Ctrl+S.
Save your presentation in a different file format
You have many file format options to choose from for saving a presentation. Follow these steps:
-
To open the Save As dialog box, press Alt+F, A, and then O.
-
If necessary, navigate to the location and name the file. To learn how, go to Save your presentation file.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear "Save as type," followed by the default file format.
-
To move through the list of file formats available in the Save as type combo box, press the Up or Down arrow key. To select a file format, press Enter.
Tip: To move quickly to a specific file format name, type the first letter of that name. For example, repeatedly typing the letter O moves through the list of all file formats that begin with the letter O, like Office Theme, Outline/RTF, and OpenDocument Presentation.
-
To save the file in the selected file format, press Enter. The Save As dialog box closes.
Note: For more details about saving a file in PDF (.pdf) or XPS (.xps) file format, refer to Save or convert to PDF or XPS in Office Desktop apps.
Save your presentation in an earlier version of PowerPoint
PowerPoint uses an XML-based .pptx file format. With this format, files can be opened in earlier versions of PowerPoint without special add-ins or loss of functionality. For more information, refer to Open XML Formats and file name extensions.
Follow these steps to save your presentation in a format compatible with an earlier version of PowerPoint:
-
To open the Save As dialog box, press Alt+F, A, and then O.
-
If necessary, navigate to the location and name the file.
-
Press the Tab key until you reach the Save as type combo box. The default file type is PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx).
Tip: When you open the Save As dialog box, the focus is in the File name box. If the file is already in the location you want, press the Tab key until you reach the Save as type combo box.
-
To move quickly to the various PowerPoint file formats, repeatedly press P.
-
When you hear "PowerPoint 97 to 2003 Presentation," that file format is selected.
-
To save your file in the earlier version of PowerPoint, press Enter.
See also
Use a screen reader to create a presentation from a template in PowerPoint
Use a screen reader to print presentations in PowerPoint
Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations
Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations
Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a screen reader
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use PowerPoint with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in macOS screen reader, to save presentations on your Mac or a network location. You can also save your presentation in a different file format or even an earlier version of PowerPoint.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
This topic assumes that you are using the built-in macOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, go to VoiceOver Getting Started Guide.
In this topic
Save your presentation file in default format
Save your presentation in the default file format, PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx). You can save to your Mac or to an online location, such as OneDrive. OneDrive is available immediately when you sign in and start using PowerPoint.
-
To save your presentation file, press Shift+Command+S. You hear: “Save As, in dialog.”
-
Type the presentation file name. If you choose to not name your file here, the default name will be used.
-
To select the location where to save your file, do one of the following:
Note: The dialog box suggests the same location where you have saved your PowerPoint presentations previously, on your Mac or to an online location.
-
To select a location on your Mac, press the Tab key until you hear "On my Mac, button," and press Control+Option+Spacebar. Then press the Tab key until you hear the current save location, followed by "Where, pop-up button." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to open the folder list.
To move in the list, press the Up or Down arrow key. You hear the options in the list. To select the drive or folder, press Control+Option+Spacebar.
Press the Tab key until you hear "Save, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
-
To save to an online location, such as OneDrive, press the Tab key until you hear: "Online locations button." Then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
To add a new online location, press the Tab key until you hear "Show more options, collapsed," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Tab key until you hear "Add a place button," and press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Tab key until you hear the location you'd like to add, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. Then follow the instructions as your screen reader announces them.
Press the Tab key until you hear "Save, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
-
Save your presentation in a different file format
You can save your presentation file in several different file formats. Save your file as a PDF if you want to, for example, send your slides in an email as handouts to your audience. You can also save the file in ODP format to share your presentation in multiple applications and platforms.
-
To save your presentation file, press Shift+Command+S. You hear: "Save As, in dialog."
-
Name your file and select the location where you want to save it as instructed in Save your presentation file in default format.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear the current file format, followed by "File format, pop-up button." To open the file format list, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Down arrow key until you hear the file format you'd like to choose, for example, PDF or OpenDocument Presentation, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear "Save, default, button" or "Export, default, button," depending on which file format you chose, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
Save your presentation in an earlier version of PowerPoint
You can save your PowerPoint files in a format that can be opened in earlier versions of PowerPoint, without special add-ins. For more information, refer to Open XML Formats and file name extensions.
-
To save your presentation file, press Shift+Command+S. You hear: “Save As, in dialog.”
-
Name your file and select the location where you want to save it as instructed in Save your presentation file in default format.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear the current file format, followed by "File format, pop-up button." To open the file format list, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Down arrow key until you hear: "PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
-
Press the Tab key until you hear "Save, default, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.
See also
Use a screen reader to work with slides in PowerPoint
Use a screen reader to print presentations in PowerPoint
Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations
Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations
Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a screen reader
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use PowerPoint with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to save presentations on your iPhone or OneDrive. You can also save your presentation in a different file format.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
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
Save your presentation file
Save your presentation in the default file format, PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx).
-
In your presentation, tap near the top of the screen with four fingers, swipe right until you hear "More options, button," and then double-tap the screen.
-
Swipe right until you hear "Save button," and double-tap the screen. The focus is on the Name text field.
-
Double-tap the screen to open the on-screen keyboard and type in the file name. To exit the keyboard, slide one finger near the lower-right corner of the on-screen keyboard until you hear "Done," and then double-tap the screen.
-
To choose where to save, swipe right until you hear the name of a location, for example "Documents, OneDrive" or "On my iPhone," and then double-tap the screen.
-
Swipe left until you hear "Save button," and then double-tap the screen. The presentation is saved in .pptx format, and the focus moves to the presentation.
Save your presentation in a different file format
You can save your presentation file in ODP format to share your presentation in multiple applications and platforms, or in PDF format to share your presentation and make sure the content and formatting remains intact.
-
In your presentation, tap near the top of the screen with four fingers, swipe right until you hear "More options, button," and then double-tap the screen.
-
Swipe right until you hear "Export button," and then double-tap the screen. The focus is on the ODP format, and you hear: "OpenDocument Presentation, star ODP."
-
Do one of the following:
-
To export the presentation to ODP format, double-tap the screen.
-
To export the presentation to PDF format, swipe right until you hear "PDF, star PDF," and then double-tap the screen.
-
-
The Export menu opens, with the focus on the Name text field. Double-tap the screen to open the on-screen keyboard and type in the file name. To exit the keyboard, slide one finger near the lower-right corner of the on-screen keyboard until you hear "Done," and then double-tap the screen.
-
To choose where to save the file, swipe left until you hear the name of a location, for example "Documents, OneDrive" or "On my iPhone," and then double-tap the screen to select.
Tip: You can quickly find previously used locations. To go to the locations list, swipe right or left until you hear: "Storage, back button." Then double-tap the screen.
-
Swipe left until you hear "Export button," and then double-tap the screen. The presentation is exported to .odp or .pdf format, and the focus moves to the presentation
Note: If you get a notification Allow online file conversion?, swipe right until you hear "Allow," and then double-tap the screen.
See also
Use a screen reader to work with slides in PowerPoint
Use a screen reader to print presentations in PowerPoint
Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations
Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a screen reader
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use PowerPoint for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to save presentations on your phone or OneDrive. You can also save your presentation in a different file format.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
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
Save your presentation file
Save your presentation in the default file format, PowerPoint Presentation (*.pptx), in your preferred storage location with the name you want. PowerPoint for Android automatically saves your presentation as you work with a default file name and format.
-
Do one of the following:
-
In the Editing view, swipe left or right until you hear "More options menu," and double-tap the screen.
-
In the Reading view, swipe left or right until you hear "Menu," and double-tap the screen.
-
-
Swipe right until you hear "Save as button," and then double-tap the screen.
-
The Save as page opens, with the focus on the file name text field. Double-tap the screen, and then use the on-screen keyboard to type in the file name. To close the keyboard, swipe down-then-left.
-
To choose where to save the file, swipe left until you hear the name of a location, for example "OneDrive" or "This device, presentations," and then double-tap the screen.
-
To select a folder, swipe left to browse the folders and double-tap the screen to select.
-
Swipe right until you hear "Save button," and then double-tap the screen. The presentation is saved in .pptx format, and the focus moves to the presentation.
Save your presentation in a different file format
You can save your presentation file in the ODP format to share your presentation in multiple applications and platforms.
-
Do one of the following:
-
In the Editing view, swipe left or right until you hear "More options menu," and double-tap the screen.
-
In the Reading view, swipe left or right until you hear "Menu," and double-tap the screen.
-
-
Swipe right until you hear "Save button," and then double-tap the screen.
-
Swipe right until you hear "Export this file to ODP," and then double-tap the screen.
-
The Export page opens, with the focus on the file name text field. Double-tap the screen, and then use the on-screen keyboard to type in the file name. To close the keyboard, swipe down-then-left.
-
To choose where to save the file, swipe left until you hear the name of a location, for example "OneDrive" or "This device, presentations," and then double-tap the screen.
-
To select a folder, swipe left to browse the folders and double-tap the screen to select. The folder names are announced as you move.
-
Swipe right until you hear "Export button," and then double-tap the screen.
If you hear "Allow online file conversion," swipe right until you hear "Allow," and then double-tap the screen.
The presentation is exported to the ODP format, and the focus moves to the presentation.
See also
Use a screen reader to work with slides in PowerPoint
Use a screen reader to read or add speaker notes and comments in PowerPoint
Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations
Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a screen reader
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Use PowerPoint for the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to save your presentation with a new name to OneDrive or to download a copy of a presentation to your local device. We have tested it with Narrator in Microsoft Edge and JAWS and NVDA in Chrome, but it might work with other screen readers and web browsers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.
Notes:
-
New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.
-
To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
-
When you use PowerPoint for the web, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because PowerPoint for the web runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not PowerPoint for the web.
-
When you use PowerPoint for the web with a screen reader, switch to the full screen mode. Press F11 to toggle the full screen mode on and off.
In this topic
Rename your presentation
PowerPoint for the web automatically saves your presentation to OneDrive using a generic name such as Presentation1.pptx. You can change that generic name to a name you want.
-
In the Editing view, press Alt+Windows logo key, F, A, R. A save dialog box opens and the focus is on the File Name text field.
-
Type a new name for the presentation, and then press Enter. The presentation is saved in OneDrive with the new name.
Download a copy of a presentation to your device
PowerPoint for the web automatically saves your presentation to OneDrive as you work. You can download and save a copy of your presentation to your local device. If you modify the local copy, the original presentation in OneDrive won't be updated.
You don't need to have editing permissions to download a copy of a presentation.
-
Press Alt+Windows logo key, F, A, C. You hear: "Your presentation is ready, Download button." The focus is on the Download button.
-
Press Enter. The file is downloaded to the Downloads folder on your computer.
See also
Use a screen reader to work with slides in PowerPoint
Use a screen reader to add and format text in PowerPoint
Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations
Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations
Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a screen reader
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.
