Use a screen reader to work with files in Microsoft Teams

Use Microsoft Teams with your keyboard and a screen reader to open files shared by your team and upload your files for team members to view. We have tested it with JAWS and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.

In this topic

• Open a file
• Upload a file

Open a file

1. In a channel, 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 file or folder 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 an Microsoft 365 app, press the Right arrow key until you hear "Show actions button," and press Spacebar. You hear: "Open submenu." Press the Right arrow key to expand the menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Open in app," and press Enter.
   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 in the app as you would normally do, and press Alt+Tab to switch the focus back to Microsoft Teams.

Upload a file

Screen reader navigation

Focus navigation

1. In a channel, 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. Press the Tab key until you hear: "New."
3. Press the Right arrow key until you hear "Upload," and then press Enter. The Windows Open file dialog opens.
4. Navigate to the file you want to upload from your computer. To move between the areas in the dialog, press the Tab key. To move within an area, use the arrow keys. To select, press Enter or Spacebar.
5. When you've found and selected your file, press Alt+O to upload it. The focus returns to the files list.

Virtual navigation

1. In a channel, press Ctrl+F6 until you hear "Teams and Channels list," then press the Down arrow key until you hear "Files."
2. Press Enter to open the Files tab.
3. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "List", and then press the Left or Right arrow key until you hear "Upload."
4. To open the Windows Open dialog, press Enter.
5. Navigate to the file you want to upload from your computer. To navigate between the areas in the dialog, press the Tab key. To navigate within an area, use the arrow keys. To select, press Enter or Spacebar.
6. When you've found and selected your file, press Alt+O to upload it. The focus returns to the files list.

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

Use Microsoft Teams on the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to open files shared by your team and upload your files for team members to view. 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.

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

Screen reader navigation

Focus navigation

1. In a channel, 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. Press the Tab key until you hear: "New."
3. Press the Right arrow key until you hear "Upload," and then press Enter. The Windows Open dialog opens.
4. Navigate to the file you want to upload from your computer. Press the Tab key to move between the areas in the dialog. To move within an area, press the arrow keys. Press Enter or Spacebar to select.
5. When you've found and selected your file, press Alt+O to upload it. The focus returns to the files list.

Virtual navigation

1. In a channel, press Ctrl+F6 until you hear "Teams and Channels list," then press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Files." With Narrator, press D or Shift+D until you hear the conversation name, then press Shift+I until you hear: "Files."
2. Press Enter to open the Files tab.
3. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "List", and then press the Left or Right arrow key until you hear "Upload."
4. To open the Windows Open dialog, press Enter. With Narrator, press Shift+Enter.
5. Navigate to the file you want to upload from your computer. To move between the areas in the dialog, press the Tab key. To move within an area, use the arrow keys. To select, press Enter or Spacebar.
6. When you've found and selected your file, press Alt+O to upload it. The focus returns to the files list.

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