Use a screen reader with the list view in OneNote

This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Microsoft 365 screen reader support content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

Use OneNote for iOS with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to work with to-do lists. You can quickly create a page with a list, add as many items as you want, check them off when they are done, delete unnecessary items altogether, and make checked items active again if necessary.

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

Create a list page and add list items

You can quickly create a new page with a list in your notebook.

  1. In the section where you want to create the list page, swipe right until you hear "New page with list, button," and double-tap the screen. The new page opens. It starts with one empty, unchecked list item. The focus moves to the list item text field.

  2. Use the on-screen keyboard to type text for the list item.

  3. To add a new empty list item, tap near the bottom of the screen with four fingers, swipe left until you hear "Return," and then double-tap the screen.

  4. When you are done adding list items, tap near the top of the screen with four fingers, swipe right until you hear "Untitled list, heading," and double-tap the screen.

  5. Use the on-screen keyboard to type the title of the list page.

  6. Tap near the bottom of the screen with four fingers, swipe left until you hear: "Done." Double-tap the screen to finish creating the list page.

Tip: To add more items later, swipe left or right until you hear "Add item, button," and then double-tap the screen. Use the on-screen keyboard to type the list item.

Check off list items

When you check off items on the list, they are hidden from view to remove clutter and keep your list page neat and tidy.

  1. Navigate to and open the list page which has an item you want to check off as done.

  2. Swipe left or right until you hear the list item you want, followed by "Checkbox, unchecked."

  3. Double-tap the screen to check off the selected list item.

Indent list items

You can use indentation to create nested lists to organize your list into main tasks and subtasks.

  1. Navigate to and open the list page which has an item you want to indent.

  2. Swipe left or right until you hear "Edit button," and double-tap the screen. The list editing mode activates.

  3. Swipe right or left until you hear the title of a list item you want to indent, and then double-tap the screen to select it. Repeat this step for each item you want to indent.

  4. Swipe left until you hear "Increase indent," and double-tap the screen.

  5. When you're done, swipe right until you hear "Done, button," and double-tap the screen. The list editing mode closes, and the focus returns to the page.

Delete list items

  1. Navigate to and open the list page which has an item you want to delete.

  2. Swipe left or right until you hear "Edit button," and double-tap the screen. The list editing mode activates.

  3. Swipe right or left until you hear the title of a list item you want to delete, and then double-tap the screen. Repeat this step for each item you want to delete from the list.

  4. Swipe left until you hear "Delete button," and double-tap the screen.

  5. When you're done, swipe right until you hear "Done, button," and double-tap the screen. The list editing mode closes, and the focus returns to the page.

Show or hide completed list items

You can review the items you have checked off and make them active and return them to the list again if necessary. You can also hide completed items to keep the list view neat and tidy for easier navigation.

  1. Navigate to and open the list page which has an item you have previously checked off.

  2. To show completed items, tap near the bottom of the screen with four fingers. VoiceOver announces the button and the number of completed list items. You hear, for example, "Show two completed, button, heading." Double-tap the screen.

  3. Swipe right to go through the items you have checked off, and then do one of the following:

    • To select the list items you want to uncheck and show one by one, swipe right or left until you hear the list item you want, followed by "Checkbox, checked," and double-tap the screen to select it. Repeat this step for each item you want to return to the list.

    • To uncheck and show all completed items at once, swipe right until you hear "Uncheck all," and double-tap the screen.

  4. To hide completed items again, swipe left or right until you hear "Hide completed, button, heading," and then double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert content to notebooks in OneNote

Use a screen reader to organize notebooks, sections, and pages in OneNote

Basic tasks using a screen reader with OneNote

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate OneNote

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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