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 Excel with your keyboard and a screen reader to create descriptive column headers in an existing table. 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.
Table headers also help people who use screen readers understand what the column is all about. In a long table, table headers replace the worksheet column headings so that they stay visible when you move through the table data. Table headers should not be confused with worksheet column headings or the headers for printed pages.
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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.
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To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
Add column headers to an existing table
You can add column headers to a table even if you created your table without headers. You can also change the default header names directly in the worksheet.
For instructions on how to add column headers when creating a table, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a table in an Excel worksheet.
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Place focus anywhere in the table.
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Press Alt+J, T, and then O to add column headers.
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To edit the default column header name, press the arrow keys until you hear with Narrator the column cell you want to edit, followed by "Editable, column," and the default header name. With JAWS, you hear the default header name and the cell, followed by "Column header." With NVDA, you hear the default header name and the cell.
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Type the new header name.
See also
Use a screen reader to insert a table in an Excel worksheet
Use a screen reader to title a table in Excel
Basic tasks using a screen reader with Excel
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
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.
