This article is for people with visual or cognitive impairments 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 Microsoft Teams with your keyboard and a screen reader to make and receive calls, and check your call history. 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.
Before you make a call, make sure that you have an audio device connected to your computer. It’s also a good idea to check that your audio device is working properly to make sure you’re all set.
Notes:
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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.
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Recent versions of JAWS no longer have the virtual PC cursor mode set as default for Microsoft Teams. For instructions on how to switch the virtual PC cursor mode on, go to Enable the JAWS virtual cursor.
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To quickly access the keyboard shortcuts list from within Microsoft Teams, press Ctrl+E, type the forward slash character followed by the word keys, and then press Enter.
In this topic
Make and end a call
- Screen reader navigation
- Focus navigation
- Virtual navigation
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Place the screen reader focus on a contact or group of contacts you want to call, for example, in the list pane.
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Do one of the following:
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To start an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+C.
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To start a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+U.
The call window opens and you hear the ringing sound.
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To end the call, press the Tab key until you hear "Hang up," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the chat window.
Note: In NVDA this is called the browse mode. In JAWS it is called the virtual cursor mode.
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Place the screen reader focus on a contact or group of contacts you want to call, for example, in the list pane.
-
Do one of the following:
-
To start an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+C.
-
To start a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+U.
The call window opens and you hear the ringing sound.
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-
To end the call, press B until you reach the Hang up button and then press Enter. The focus moves to the chat window.
Tip: You can also call someone using the Search field. Press Ctrl+E to move to the Search field, type the forward slash character (/) followed by the word call, press Enter, and then type the name of the person you want to call. To browse the search results, press the Down arrow key. When you hear the contact you want, press Enter to start the call.
Tip: If you have the Calls tab available in your region, you can use its options to directly call a contact, browse your call history, and check your voicemail. To go to the Calls tab, press Ctrl+5.
Answer or decline a call
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When a contact calls you, the Microsoft Teams notification window opens, and you hear the ringing sound, followed by the caller's name.
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Do one of the following:
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To answer an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+S.
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To answer a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+A.
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To decline the call, press Ctrl+Shift+D.
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Check your call history
The calls history table in the Calls view lists the name of the caller or recipient, the type of the call (incoming, outgoing, or missed), the duration, and the time of the call.
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In Microsoft Teams, press Ctrl+5 to access the Calls view. You hear: "Calls."
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Press the Down arrow key until you hear "History," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the calls history table.
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To navigate the calls history table, press the Up and Down arrow keys. You hear the call details.
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To call back or chat with the caller or recipient, press Spacebar, press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the option you want, and then press Enter.
See also
Use a screen reader to check recent activity 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 Microsoft Teams on Mac with VoiceOver, the built-in Mac OS screen reader, to quickly make and receive calls. Before you make a call, make sure that you have an audio device connected to your computer and that your audio device is working properly.
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.
-
You can easily access the keyboard shortcuts list from within Microsoft Teams. Press Command+E to go to the Search field, type /keys, and then press Return.
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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
Make and end a call
Note: Calling may not be supported for all regions and organizations.
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In Microsoft Teams, press Command+E to go to the Search field.
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Type /call, press Return, and type the name of the person you want to call. The search results are updated as you type.
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To navigate the list of results, press the Down or Up arrow key. When you hear the person you want to call, to start an audio call, press Return. To start a video call, press Command+Shift+U.
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To end the call, press the Tab key until you reach the Hang up button, and press Control+Option+Spacebar.
Answer or decline a call
-
When a contact calls you, the Microsoft Teams notification window opens, and you hear the caller's name.
-
Do one of the following:
-
To answer an audio call, press Command+Shift+S.
-
To answer a video call, press Command+Shift+A.
-
To decline the call, press Command+Shift+D.
-
Check your call history
-
In Microsoft Teams, press Command+5 to go to the Calls view. You hear: "Contacts."
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Press the Down arrow key until you hear "History," and then press Return. The calls history table opens. The table lists the name or number related with the call, the call type (incoming, outgoing, or missed), the duration and the date of the call.
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To navigate the table, press the Up and Down arrow keys. You hear the information as you move.
To call back, start a chat, or add the person or number to your speed dial, press Spacebar to open the More actions menu and then press the Down arrow key to move down in the menu. When on the option you want, press Return.
See also
Use a screen reader to check recent activity 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 Microsoft Teams in your browser with your keyboard and a screen reader to make and receive calls, and check your call history. 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.
Before you make a call, make sure that you have an audio device connected to your computer. It’s also a good idea to check that your audio device is working properly to make sure you’re all set.
Make sure you use Microsoft Edge for calling with Microsoft Teams, as the calling option might not be currently available for other browsers.
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.
-
Recent versions of JAWS no longer have the virtual PC cursor mode set as default for Microsoft Teams. For instructions on how to switch the virtual PC cursor mode on, go to Enable the JAWS virtual cursor.
-
To quickly access the keyboard shortcuts list from within Microsoft Teams, press Ctrl+E, type the forward slash character followed by the word keys, and then press Enter.
In this topic
Make and end a call
- Screen reader navigation
- Focus navigation
- Virtual navigation
-
Place the screen reader focus on a contact or group of contacts you want to call, for example, in the list pane.
-
Do one of the following:
-
To start an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+C.
-
To start a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+U.
The call window opens and you hear the ringing sound.
-
-
To end the call, press the Tab key until you hear "Hang up," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the chat window.
Note: In NVDA this is called the browse mode, in JAWS it is called the virtual cursor mode, and in Narrator it is called the scan mode.
-
Place the screen reader focus on a contact or group of contacts you want to call, for example, in the list pane.
-
Do one of the following:
-
To start an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+C.
-
To start a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+U.
The call window opens and you hear the ringing sound.
-
-
To end the call, press B until you reach the Hang up button and then press Enter. The focus moves to the chat window.
Tip: You can also call someone using the Search field. Press Ctrl+E to move to the Search field, type the forward slash character (/) followed by the word call, press Enter, and then type the name of the person you want to call. To start the call press Enter.
Tip: If you have the Calls tab available in your region or browser, you can use its options to directly call a contact, browse your call history, and check your voice mail. To go to the Calls tab, press Ctrl+Shift+5.
Answer or decline a call
To know that someone is calling you, make sure you have the Sound notifications turned on in the Microsoft Teams settings. To learn more on how to change your notification settings, refer to the section Customize the notification settings in Use a screen reader to check recent activity in Microsoft Teams.
-
When a contact calls you, the Microsoft Teams notification window opens, and you hear the ringing sound, followed by “Microsoft Teams, Notifications windows."
-
Do one of the following:
-
To answer an audio call, press Ctrl+Shift+S.
-
To answer a video call, press Ctrl+Shift+A.
-
To decline the call, press Ctrl+Shift+D.
-
Check your call history
The calls history table lists the name of the caller or recipient, the type of the call (incoming, outgoing, or missed), the duration, and the time of the call.
-
In Microsoft Teams, press Ctrl+Shift+5 to access the Calls view. You hear: "Calls list."
-
Press the Down arrow key until you hear "History," and then press Enter. The focus moves to the calls history table.
-
To navigate the calls history table, press the Up and Down arrow keys. You hear the details of the call.
-
To call back or chat with the caller or recipient, press Spacebar, press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the option you want, and then press Enter.
See also
Use a screen reader to check recent activity in Microsoft Teams
Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams
Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams
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.
