Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Start a private chat and browse messages

• Press Ctrl+2 to open Chat.

• To start a new chat, press Ctrl+N. The focus is on the To: field.

  Note: Press Ctrl+Shift+N to start a new chat in a separate window.

• Start typing a name. Use the Down arrow key to browse results. When you hear the right contact, press Enter to add them.

  Tip: Repeat the same steps to add more recipients.

• When you are done adding people, press Enter to go to the Type a message edit field.

• Type your message, and then press Enter to send.

Open links and attachments in messages

When focus is on a message with a link, press Enter, then press Tab until you hear the link address and press Enter to open it in a new browser tab. 

When focus is on a message with an attachment: 

• Press Enter to open the message actions toolbar.

• Press Tab until you hear the name of the attachment, and then press Enter to open it directly in the Teams app.

To use additional attachment options: 

• Press Tab until you hear“Secondary toolbar”.

• Use the Right arrow key to select the More actions button, and press Enter to open the menu items.

• To open the attachment, press the Up or Down arrow until you hear “Open in menu item,” and then press Enter.  Use the Down arrow key to choose Teams (default), Desktop app, or Browser, and press Enter to open the attachment.

• To download the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Download menu item,” and then press Enter.

• To share the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Share menu item,” and then press Enter.

• To copy a link to the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Copy link,” and then press Enter.

Read chat messages in virtual or browse mode

You can read a focused chat or channel message in virtual or browse mode. This feature helps when messages contain long responses or structured content. 

To read a message in virtual or browse mode: 

1. Navigate to the message you want to read, and then press Ctrl+Enter.
   The message opens in virtual or browse mode. The narrator starts announcing the focused message word by word.

   Note: Now you can read the message as if you were reading a document using the arrow keys.​​​​​​​

2. To move the focus to the message list, press Esc.

Reply to messages in Teams

You can reply with a quoted response to either a message you received or one you sent.

Format a message

When focus is on the Type a message edit field, you can use both the Formatting toolbar and keyboard shortcuts: 

• When the focus is on the “Type a message” field, press Tab until you hear “Show formatting options,” then press Enter.

• Navigate to the formatting toolbar using Shift+Tab, then use the Right or Left arrow key to move through available options such as Bold, Italics, Underline, Bulleted lists, and more.

• Press Enter or Spacebar on the desired option to apply.​​​​​​​

  Tip: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Alongside formatting options, the toolbar also includes actions like Emojis and GIFs, Rewrite with Copilot, and Loop components.

• You can also use keyboard shortcuts directly while typing: 

  1. Press Ctrl+Shift+X to access formatting options.

  2. Press Ctrl+B to bold text.

  3. Press Ctrl+I to italicize text.

  4. Press Ctrl+U to underline text.

• After applying the formatting or adding other elements, press Ctrl+Enter to send.

Add an attachment

When the focus is on the Type a message edit field, do one of the following: 

• Press Alt+Shift+O to open the Attach file menu directly.

• Alternatively, press Tab once and use the Right arrow key until you hear “Actions and apps button,” and then press Enter. Press Tab until you hear “Attach file menu item,” and then press Enter.

Do one of the following:

• From cloud locations: Use the Tab key to select Attach cloud files option, then press Enter. Use Tab and arrow keys to browse folders. When focus is on the file, press Tab until you hear“Attach button,” then press Enter.

• From your device: Use Tab to reach Attach cloud files option, then press the Downarrow key until you hear “Upload from this device,” and press Enter. In the Open dialog, use Tab and arrow keys to find the file, then press Enter or Alt+O to attach it.

Add emoji, GIFs, and stickers

• In the Type a message edit field, press Tab until you hear “Show formatting options button.”

• Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Emoji, GIFs and stickers button,” and then press Enter. This opens a dialog, and focus moves to the Search box.

• Type search terms, then press Tab and use arrow keys to browse Emoji, GIFs, and Stickers, and then press Enter to insert.

Record video clip

• In the Type a message edit field, go to Action and apps button and press Enter.

• Press Tab to select Attach file option, then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Record video clip menu item,” then press Enter.

• Follow the instructions to record and insert the clip.

Turn off message previews in notification banners

Press Ctrl+Comma (,) to open Settings. The Settings window opens with the General tab selected, and focus is on the Find in settings edit box.

To turn off message previews:

• Press the Downarrow key until you hear “Notifications and activity tab,” and then press Enter.

• Press Tab until you hear “Chat message notifications combo box,” and then press Enter.

• To turn off message preview, press Up or Down arrow key until you hear “Off 1 of 2,” and then press Enter or Spacebar.

Change message density

• Press Ctrl+Comma (,) to open the Settings window.

• Press Tab to select the General section, then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Chats and channels tab,” and then press Enter.

• Press Tab until you hear “Message density” followed by the current value (Comfy or Compact).

• Use the Right or Leftarrow key to select the desired density.

Start a private chat and browse messages

• Press Command+2 to open Chat.

• Press Command+N. Focus moves to the New chat field.

  Note: Press Command+Shift+N to start a new chat in a separate window.​​​​​​​

• Type the name or email of the person. Use the Down arrow key to select a match and press Return.

• Focus moves to the message compose box. Type your message, then press Return to send.

Open links and attachments in messages

When focus is on a message with a link, press Return, then navigate using Tab until you hear the link address, then press Return again to open it.

When focus is on a message with an attachment:

• Press Return to open the message actions toolbar.

• Press Tab until you hear the name of the attachment, and then press Return to open it directly in the Teams app.

To use additional attachment options: 

• Press Tab until you hear“Secondary toolbar”.

• Use the Right arrow key to move through the toolbar until you reach “More options,” then press Return.

• Use the Down arrow key to navigate attachment menu items such as Open, Download, Share, and Copy link, and then press Return on the desired option.

Read chat messages in virtual or browse mode 

You can read a focused chat or channel message in virtual or browse mode. This feature helps when messages contain long responses or structured content. 

To read a message in virtual or browse mode: 

1. Navigate to the message you want to read, and then press Command+Enter. 
   The message opens in virtual or browse mode. The narrator starts announcing the focused message word by word. 

   Note: Now you can read the message as if you were reading a document using the arrow keys.​​​​​​​

2. To move the focus to the message list, press Esc.

Reply to messages

You can reply to a message with a quote or inline reply whether it's received or sent:

• Navigate to the message, and then press Return to open message actions toolbar.

• Use arrow keys to select Reply with quote menu item, then press Return.

• Type your reply. Press Return to send.

Add an attachment

Follow the below instructions, When the focus is on the Type a message edit field.

• Press Tab once and use the Right arrow key until you hear “Actions and apps button,” and then press Return. Press Tab until you hear “Attach file menu item,” and then press Return.

Do one of the following:

• From cloud locations: Use the Tab key to select Attach cloud files option, then press Return. Use Tab and arrow keys to browse folders. When focus is on the file, press Tab until you hear“Attach button,” then press Return.

• From your device: Use Tab to reach Attach cloud files option, then press the Downarrow key until you hear “Upload from this device,” and press Return. In the Open dialog, use Tab and arrow keys to find the file, then select the file and press Return or Command+O to attach.

Add emoji, GIFs, or stickers

• In the Type a message edit field, press Tab until you hear “Show Formatting options button.”

• Press Right arrow key until you hear “Emoji, GIFs and stickers button,” then press Return. This opens a dialog, and focus moves to the Search box.

• Type search terms, then use arrow keys to browse items. Press Return to insert.

  Note: You can also type common character combinations to create emojis, such as “:)" for a smile.

Record video clip

• In the Type a message edit field, go to Action and apps button and press Return.

• Press Tab to select Attach file option, then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Record video clip menu item,” then press Return.

• Follow the instructions to record and insert the clip.

Filter your chats

Use filters to find chats by name or content type.

• In the Chat list, press Command+Shift+F to move focus to “Filter by name or group name” edit field.

• Type the desired name. Use Down arrow to navigate and press Return to open a chat.

• To filter by type, press Tab until you hear “More filters button,” then press Return.

• Use arrow keys to select filters like Unread, Muted, etc., then press Return to apply or remove.

Turn off message previews in notification banners

• Press Command+Comma (,) to open Settings.

• Press the Downarrow until you hear “Notifications and activity tab,” and then press Return.

• Press Tab until you hear “Chat message notifications combo box,” and then press Return.

• Navigate to “Chat message notifications” combo box. Use arrow keys to select “Off,” then press Return.

Change message density

• In Settings, Press Tab to select the General section, then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Chats and channels tab,” and then press Return.

• Press Tab until you hear “Message density” followed by the current value (Comfy or Compact).

• Use the Right or Leftarrow key to select the desired density.

Start a private chat and browse messages

• In the navigation bar, flick right until you hear “New message button,” then double-tap to start a new chat.

• Focus moves to the Search field. Type a contact name. VoiceOver announces the number of matching contacts.

• Flick right to navigate the suggestions, and double-tap to select.

• Flick right to “Type a message text field”, double-tap, enter your message, and double-tap on the Send button.

Open links and attachments in messages

Navigate to the message that contains a link or attachment. Double-tap to open.

• For links, select the desired browser to open the link, and then double-tap the screen.

• For attachments, double-tap to open the attachment in the associated app.

• You can choose Open, Preview, or Share from the system menu, and then double-tap the screen.

Reply to messages

You can reply with a quoted response to either a message you received or one you sent.

• While focus is on a message, triple-tap the screen to open Reactions and message actions toolbar.

• Flick to Reply with quote button, double-tap, and the quoted message appears above the compose box.

• Type your reply, flick to the Send button, and then double-tap the screen.

Add an attachment

• Navigate to the desired chat, and flick left until you hear Compose options button, then double-tap the screen.

• In the compose area, Flick right to Attach button, then double-tap the screen.

• Choose from OneDrive, SharePoint, and This device, and then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to select the item, and double-tap on the Open button.

Add emoji and GIFs

• When the focus is on Type a message text field, flick right until you hear “Expression picker button,” then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to select the Emoji or GIFs button, and then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to navigate through categories or search field, and then double-tap on an item to insert.

Navigate the chat view

Learn how to explore the chat list, open conversations, read recent messages, and move to the compose area.

1. Open Teams, flick right until you hear Chat tab, then double-tap to open it.
   The chat view opens, and focus moves to the list of chats.

2. Flick right or left to move through chats. TalkBack announces the chat name and preview. Double-tap a chat to open it.

3. In the message thread, flick right to move through messages.

4. To go to the compose box, flick right until you hear “Type a message,” and then double-tap to activate the edit field.

5. Type using the onscreen keyboard, then flick right to Send button, and double-tap to send.

Start a private chat and browse messages

1. In the navigation bar, flick right until you hear “New conversation button,” then double-tap.

2. Focus moves to the Search field. Type a contact name. TalkBack announces the number of matching contacts.

3. Flick right to navigate the suggestions, and then double-tap to select.

4. Flick right to “Type a message text field”, double-tap, enter your message, and double-tap on the Send button.

Open links and attachments in messages

Navigate to the message that contains a link or attachment. Double-tap to open.

• For links, select the desired browser to open the link, and then double-tap the screen.

• For attachments, double-tap to open the attachment in the associated app.

• You can choose Open, Preview, or Share from the system menu, and then double-tap the screen.

Reply to messages

You can reply with a quoted response to either a message you received or one you sent.

1. While focus is on a message, triple-tap the screen to open Reactions and message actions toolbar.

2. Flick to Reply with quote button, double-tap, and the quoted message appears above the compose box.

3. Type your reply, flick to the Send button, and then double-tap the screen.

Add an attachment

• Navigate to the desired chat, and flick left until you hear Compose options button, then double-tap the screen.

• In the compose area, Flick right to Attach button, then double-tap the screen.

• Choose from OneDrive, SharePoint, and This device, and then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to select the item, and double-tap on the Select file button.

Add emoji and GIFs

• When the focus is on Type a message text field, flick right until you hear “GIFs and emojis picker button,” then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to select the Emoji or GIFs button, and then double-tap the screen.

• Flick right or left to navigate through categories or search field, and then double-tap on an item to insert.

Turn off notifications

• Navigate to the More menu button, and double-tap the screen

• Flick right or left until you hear “Notifications button,” and then double-tap the screen.

• Flick through available notification options and double-tap to turn items on or off as needed.

Start a private chat and browse messages

• Press Ctrl+Shift+2 to open Chat.

• To start a new chat, press Ctrl+N. The focus is on the To: field.

• Start typing a name. Use the Down arrow key to browse results. When you hear the right contact, press Enter to add them.

  Tip: Repeat the same steps to add more recipients.

• When you are done adding people, press Enter to go to the Type a message edit field.

• Type your message, then press Enter to send.

Open links and attachments in messages

When focus is on a message with a link, press Enter, then press Tab until you hear the link address and press Enter to open it in a new browser tab. 

When focus is on a message with an attachment: 

• Press Enter to open the message actions toolbar.

• Press Tab until you hear the name of the attachment, and then press Enter to open it directly in the Teams app.

To use additional attachment options: 

• Press Tab until you hear“Secondary toolbar”.

• Use the Right arrow key to select the More actions button, and press Enter to open the menu items.

• To open the attachment, press the Up or Down arrow until you hear “Open in menu item,” and then press Enter.  Use the Down arrow key to choose Teams (default), Desktop app, or Browser, and press Enter to open the attachment.

• To download the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Download menu item,” and then press Enter.

• To share the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Share menu item,” and then press Enter.

• To copy a link to the attachment, press the Down arrow until you hear “Copy link,” and then press Enter.

Read chat messages in virtual or browse mode

You can read a focused chat or channel message in virtual or browse mode. This feature helps when messages contain long responses or structured content. 

To read a message in virtual or browse mode: 

1. Navigate to the message you want to read, and then press Ctrl+Enter. 
   The message opens in virtual or browse mode. The narrator starts announcing the focused message word by word.

   Note: Now you can read the message as if you were reading a document using the arrow keys.

2. To move the focus to the message list, press Esc.

Reply to messages in Teams

You can reply with a quoted response to either a message you received or one you sent.

Format a message

Use formatting toolbar to format a message while sending:

• When the focus is on the Type a message edit field, press Tab until you hear “Show formatting options,” then press Enter.

• Navigate to the formatting toolbar using Shift+Tab, then use the Right or Left arrow key to move through available options such as Bold, Italics, Underline, Bulleted lists, and more.

• Press Enter or Spacebar on the desired option to apply it.

Alongside formatting options, the toolbar also includes actions like Emojis and GIFs, Rewrite with Copilot, and Loop components.

• You can also use keyboard shortcuts directly while typing:

  1. Press Ctrl+B to bold text.

  2. Press Ctrl+I to italicize text.​​​​​​​

  3. Press Ctrl+U to underline text.

• After applying the formatting or adding other elements, press Ctrl+Enter to send.

Add an attachment

When the focus is on the Type a message edit field, do one of the following:

• Press Alt+Shift+O to open the Attach file menu directly.

• Alternatively, press Tab and use the Right arrow key until you hear “Actions and apps button,” then press Enter. Press Tab until you hear “Attach file menu item,” then press Enter.

Do one of the following:

• From cloud locations: Use Tab to select Attach cloud files, then press Enter. Use Tab and arrow keys to browse folders. When focus is on the file, press Tab until you hear “Attach button,” then press Enter.

• From your device: Use Tab to reach Attach cloud files, then press the Down arrow key until you hear “Upload from this device,” and press Enter. In the dialog, use Tab and arrow keys to find the file, then press Enter to attach it.

  Note: When you first open the Attach file menu, Teams shows a list of Suggested cloud files. Press Down arrow to browse the list and press Enter to attach a file directly.

Add emoji, GIFs, and Stickers

• In the Type a message edit field, press Tab until you hear “Show Formatting options button.”

• Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Emoji, GIFs and stickers button,” then press Enter.

• The dialog opens, and focus moves to the Search box.

• Type search terms, then press Tab and use arrow keys to browse Emoji, GIFs, and Stickers. Press Enter to insert.

  Note: You can also type character combinations like “:)” to create simple emojis.

Record video clip

• In the Type a message edit field, go to the Actions and apps button and press Enter.

• Press Tab to select Attach file, then use the Down arrow until you hear “Record video clip menu item,” then press Enter.

• Follow the instructions to record and insert the clip.

Turn off message previews in notification banners

Press Ctrl+Shift+Comma (,) to open Settings. The Settings pane opens with the General tab selected, and focus is on the Find in settings edit box.

To turn off message previews:

1. Press the Downarrow until you hear “Notifications and activity tab,” and then press Enter.

2. Press Tab until you hear “Chat message notifications combo box,” and then press Enter.

3. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear “Off,” then press Enter.

Change message density

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Comma (,) to open Settings.

2. Press Tab to select the General section, then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Chats and channels tab,” and then press Enter.

3. Press Tab until you hear “Message density” followed by the current value (Comfy or Compact).

4. Use the Right or Leftarrow key to select the desired density.