Basic tasks using a screen reader with GroupMe

In this topic

• Send direct message

• Share a photo or video

• Start a group

• Make a group call

• Create a topic

• Remove a topic

• Connect with campus group

• Create a calendar event

• Use GroupMe polls

Send direct message

GroupMe allows you to chat with groups or individuals. Send direct messages to anyone in your contacts or in your groups on GroupMe using a screen reader on the web app.

Share a photo or video

Share photos, videos, GIFs, and other media with your contacts. Follow the below steps to share a photo or video:

1. Navigate to the group or chat where you want to share a photo or video, then press Enter to select.

2. Use the Tab key to move to the attachment button and press Enter.

3. Navigate to the photo or video from your computer and press Enter to select.

   Note: You can also type the name of the file or folder in the search box and then press the Enter to select it. 

4. Navigate to the preview, then press Enter to confirm your selection.

• You can also add some text to your message, by typing in the message input field. Then, press Enter to send your message.

Start a group

1. Press the Tab key until you hear “Chats,” then press Enter to open the Chat pane.

2. Navigate to Start a new chat and press Enter to expand a drop-down menu.

3. Press Enter to select Start Group.

4. Press Tab to move to the fields for entering your group name, description, and add a group avatar (profile picture).

5. Press Tab to select Create Group.

6. A new window titled Add Members will open. Type the name, phone number, or email of the member in the search edit box.

7. Navigate through your GroupMe contacts, and press Enter to select.

8. Select Add member(s), and your new group will appear in the Chats pane.

   • Edit the group settings related to privacy, messaging and personalization.

   • Then, navigate to the Close button and press Enter to close section's page.

Make a group call

GroupMe allows you to make group calls with up to 350 people at once. Follow the below steps to utilize the group calling feature efficiently:

1. In the chats pane, navigate to the desired group to initiate a call, then press Enter to open group chat.

2. Once inside the group, navigate to the Start Group Call button and press Enter to select.

3. Wait for the other members to join the call. You will hear a sound when someone joins or leaves the call.

4. Use the Tab key to navigate between participants during the call.

5. To share your screen during call, navigate to the Present your screen button and press Enter. 

   • Choose what you want to share, and press Enter to share.

6. To end the call, navigate to the Leave Call button and press Enter.

Create a topic

1. On the Chats pane, use the Down arrow key until you hear the name of group in which you would like to add a topic, then press Enter to open it.

   • Use the Down arrow key to navigate to More, displayed as three dots on the selected group. Navigate through the dropdown list using Tab, and then select New topic.

2. Use the Tab key to navigate and press Enter to select the group's avatar (group picture).

3. Navigate the drop-down list and select Add topic.

4. Enter the name, description (optional), and avatar (optional) for your topic.

Remove a topic

Follow these steps to remove a topic from a group: 

1. Open the group from which you wish to remove the topic.

2. Use the Down arrow key to select the topic you wish to remove and then press Spacebar.

3. Use the Tab key to go to Delete topic and then press Enter to remove the topic.

Connect with campus group

Follow the instructions to connect with campus groups on GroupMe: 

1. Navigate using the Tab key until you hear “Discover groups,” then press Enter.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear “Campus” and press Enter.

3. Verify your school email address to find your campus groups.

4. If the group is available as per your email, navigate to the group and press Enter to join.

Create a calendar event

There are two ways to add a calendar event. Follow these steps to know how to create a calendar event: 

1. Open the group or contact to which you want to create and send a calendar event.

2. Navigate and select Open to attach media content.

3. Press the Tab key to navigate to Create Event, and then press Enter.

4. Input the details of event and then press the Tab key to go to Create Event, and then press Enter to send out the event invitation.

Alternatively,

• Navigate the group or direct chat using Tab to go to Avatar of the group or contact.

• Press Tab to go to Calendar, and then press Enter.

• Press the Tab until you hear “Create A New Event,” then press Enter.

• Fill out the details of event and then press the Tab key to navigate to Create Event.

• Press Enter to create and send a calendar event invitation to your group or contact.

  Note: Only the event creator can edit the event’s details, such as the start and end times, location, reminders for the event, or cancel the event.

Use GroupMe polls

Create polls for group decisions, participate in group polls, and view poll results on GroupMe. 

See also

How do I sign up for GroupMe? 

How do I sync my contacts in GroupMe? 

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365 

Use a screen reader to navigate GroupMe

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.

In this topic

• Send direct message

• Share a photo or video

• Start a group

• Make a group call

• Create a topic

• Remove a topic

• Connect with campus group

• Create a calendar event

• Create an event call

• Use GroupMe polls

Send direct message

GroupMe allows you to chat with groups or individuals. You can start direct messages with anyone in your contacts or in your groups.  

Share a photo or video

Share photos, videos, GIFs, and other media with your contacts. Follow the below steps to share a photo or video: 

1. Flick right or left until you hear the chat name where you want to share the photo and double-tap on the chat to open it.

2. Flick to the Add an attachment button and double-tap to open the attachment menu.

3. Flick to move the focus to the Gallery option. You will hear "gallery, button". Double-tap to open your device's photo gallery.

4. Flick to navigate through the photos and double-tap on the photo that you want to share.

5. Flick to move the focus to the Send button and double-tap to share the photo in the chat.

Start a group

To create a new group in GroupMe, follow these steps: 

1. Tap the Chats tab, and double-tap to open it.

2. Flick left to reach the Start button and double-tap to activate.

3. Double-tap Group from the list to initiate a new group.

4. Enter the new group’s name, description, and set an avatar (profile picture).

5. Flick to Next and double-tap to add members to your group.

6. Type the member's name, email, or phone number in the edit box to search the contact.

   • Navigate through your GroupMe contacts and select members to add to the group.

7. Tap Done twice to navigate to Advanced settings.

   • Adjust the Privacy controls and Personalization options as needed, then double-tap Done to finalize the advanced settings.

     Note: You can always adjust this later from Settings. 

8. Your new group will appear in the Chats tab.

Make a group call

GroupMe is more than just a messaging app. It lets you make group calls with up to 350 people at once. Follow the below steps to make a group call on your android device: 

1. Flick right or left with one finger until you hear the desired group name and then double-tap to open the group chat screen.

2. Flick to the phone icon. TalkBack will announce "Video call button."

3. Double-tap to start the group call. Wait for other group members to join the call.

   1. To mute or unmute your microphone, flick until you hear "Mute" or "Unmute" and then double-tap to activate it.

   2. To switch between speaker and earpiece, flick until you hear "Speaker" or "Earpiece" and then double-tap to activate it.

   3. To view the list of participants, flick until you hear "Participants" and then double-tap.

   4. Flick to browse the list of the group members who are in the call.

4. To end the call, flick until you hear “Hang up button” then double-tap to activate it. TalkBack will announce "Call ended" and you will return to the group chat screen.

Create a topic

1. On the Chats tab, flick right or left until you hear the name of the group you want to add a topic, and then double-tap to open it.

2. Double-tap the group’s avatar and navigate through the options.

3. Flick right until you hear “topics.”

4. Flick right again to reach the Add button, then double-tap to activate.

5. Type a name, description (optional), and add an avatar (optional) to customize your topic.

6. Flick right and double-tap Next to add the new topic.

Remove a topic

Follow these steps to remove a topic from a group: 

1. On the Chats tab, flick right or left until you hear the name of the group you want to remove a topic, and double tap to open it.

2. Flick right to reach the topic you’d like to remove and double-tap to open it.

3. Double-tap the topic name and flick right to until you hear “more options.”

4. Flick right until you hear “delete topic” and double tap to delete the topic.

5. Double-tap Delete to confirm the selection.

Connect with campus group

GroupMe allows you to communicate with your friends, classmates, colleagues, and more. Follow the instructions to connect with campus groups: 

1. Flick until you hear "Discover" and double-tap to open the groups screen.

2. Flick to navigate through the available groups and then double-tap to join or request to join if it’s a private group.

3. To join your campus groups, flick until you hear “join your campus” and then double-tap to activate it.

4. Enter your school email address to find your campus groups.

5. If the group is available as per your email, flick to navigate to the group and then double-tap to join.

Create a calendar event

To create and send a calendar event, follow these steps:

1. Double-tap the chat for which you want to create calendar event.

2. Flick right until you hear “Add an attachment, button” and double-tap to open it.

3. Flick right until you hear “Calendar event” and double-tap to select it.

4. Double tap the Create new event to access new event page.

5. Flick right and enter the below details:

   1. Your event name

   2. Start date and time

   3. End date and time

   4. Video call

   5. Photo

   6. Location

   7. Description

   8. Reminders

      Note: Video call, photo, location, and description are optional.

6. Flick left to reach the Done button and double-tap to create the event and send invitation to the group.

Create an event call

Event call is a feature of GroupMe that allows you to create and join voice or video calls with your group members.

1. Flick right or left until you hear the name of the chat or group you want to create an event for, and double-tap to open it.

2. Flick until you hear "Add an attachment, button" and double-tap to open the menu.

3. Flick until you hear "Create new event," then double-tap to activate it.

4. Flick until you hear "Event name button," then double-tap to enter the name of your event.

5. Flick until you hear "Start date button," then double-tap to select the date of your event.

6. Flick until you hear "Start time button," then double-tap to select the time of your event.

   Note: Optionally, you can add photo, location, and a description for the event.

7. Flick until you hear "Done," then double-tap to create your event and send invitations to your group.

Use GroupMe polls

Create polls for group decisions, participate in group polls, and view poll results on GroupMe. 

See also

How do I sign up for GroupMe? 

How do I sync my contacts in GroupMe? 

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365 

Use a screen reader to navigate GroupMe

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.

In this topic

• Send direct message

• Share a photo or video

• Start a group

• Make a group call

• Create a topic

• Remove a topic

• Connect with campus group

• Create a calendar event

• Create an event call

• Use GroupMe polls

Send direct message

GroupMe allows you to chat with groups or individuals. Send direct messages with anyone in your contacts or in your groups on GroupMe. 

Share a photo or video

Share photos, videos, GIFs, and other media with your contacts. Follow the below steps to share a photo or video: 

1. Flick right until you hear the chat name where you want to share the photo or video and double tap to open it.

2. Flick right until you hear “Open compose options” and double-tap to open the menu.

3. Flick right to move the focus to the Photo library. Double-tap to open your device's photo gallery.

4. Flick to navigate through the “Photo album” and double-tap on the photo that you want to share.

5. Flick right until you hear “Send the selected image button” and then double-tap to share the photo.

6. Add a message if you want, then flick right to move the focus to the Send button and double-tap to share the photo in the chat.

   Note: You can also share a photo directly from your device's camera by choosing the camera option in the open compose options.

Start a group

To create a new group in GroupMe, follow these steps:

1. Tap the Chats icon, and double-tap to open it.

2. Flick right to reach the “new chat button” and double-tap to activate it.

3. Double-tap Group to initiate a new group.

4. Enter the new group’s name, description, and add an avatar (profile picture).

5. Flick to Next and double-tap to add members to your group.

6. Type the member's name or phone number in the edit box to search the contact.

   • Navigate through your GroupMe contacts and select members to add to the group.

7. Tap Done twice to navigate to Advanced settings.

   • Adjust the Privacy controls and Personalization options as needed, then double-tap Done to finalize the advanced settings.

     Note: You can always adjust this later from Settings. 

8. Your new group will appear in the Chats tab.

Make a group call

GroupMe is more than just a messaging app. It lets you make group calls with up to 350 people at once. Follow the below steps to make a group call on your iOS device: 

1. Flick right until you hear the desired group name and then double-tap to open the group.

2. Flick to the video call button and double-tap to activate it.

3. Double-tap the Join call to start the group call.

4. To view the list of participants, flick until you hear "Participants," then double-tap.

   1. To mute or unmute your microphone, flick until you hear "Mute" or "Unmute" and double-tap to activate it.

   2. To switch between speaker and earpiece, flick until you hear "Speaker" or "iPhone" and then double-tap to activate it.

5. To leave the call, flick until you hear “Leave, button” then double-tap to activate it.

6. Double-tap the Leave button to end the call.

Create a topic

1. On the Chats tab, flick right or left until you hear the name of the group you want to add a topic, and then double-tap to open it.

2. Double-tap the group’s avatar and navigate through the options.

3. Flick right until you hear “topics.”

4. Flick right again to reach the Add button, then double-tap to activate it.

5. Enter a name, description (optional), and set an avatar (optional) for your topic.

6. Flick right and double-tap Next to add the new topic.

Remove a topic

Follow these steps to remove a topic from a group: 

1. On the Chats tab, flick right or left until you hear the name of the group you want to remove a topic, and double tap to open it.

2. Flick right to reach the topic you’d like to remove and double-tap to open it.

3. Double-tap your topic name and flick right to until you hear “more options.”

4. Flick right until you hear “delete topic” and double tap to delete the topic.

5. Double-tap Delete to confirm the selection.

Connect with campus group

Follow the instructions to connect with campus groups on GroupMe: 

1. Flick right and select Discover option, then double tap to view the campus groups.

2. Flick to navigate through the available groups and then double-tap to join or request to join if it’s a private group.

3. Double-tap the Join group button to access the Answer Questions page.

   Note: Please ensure to include all essential details in the "Write your answer" column. 

4. To send the joining request, tap the Send button twice.

5. Double-tap the Join your campus button to join your campus groups.

6. Flick right until you hear “Enter school email” and then type you school email id.

7. Double-tap the Send PIN button and search the groups.

8. If the group is available as per your email, flick to navigate to the group and double-tap to join.

Create a calendar event

To create and send a calendar event, follow these steps: 

1. Double-tap the chat for which you want to send a calendar event.

2. Flick right until you hear “add an attachment, button” and double-tap to open it.

   Note: If you encounter a pop-up, double-tap Keep Current Selection to dismiss it. 

3. Flick right until you hear “calendar event” and double-tap to select it.

4. Double tap the Create new event to access new event page.

5. Flick right and enter the below details:

   1. Your event name

   2. Start date and time

   3. End date and time

   4. Video call

   5. Photo

   6. Location

   7. Description

   8. Reminders

      Note: Video call, photo, location, and description are optional. 

6. Flick left to reach the Done button and double-tap to create the event and send invitation to group.

Create an event call

Event call is a feature of GroupMe that allows you to create and join voice or video calls with your group members.

1. Double-tap to open the chat where you want to create calendar event.

2. Flick right until you hear “Open compose options” and double-tap to open the options.

3. Flick right until you hear “Calendar event” and double-tap to select it.

4. Double tap the Create new event to access new event page.

5. Flick right and provide the following details:

   • Event name

   • Start date and time

   • End date and time

   • Video call

   • Photo

   • Location

   • Description

   • Reminders

     Note: Video call, photo, location, and description are optional. 

6. Flick left until you hear "Send button” and double tap to create the event and send invitation to group.

Use GroupMe polls

Create polls for group decisions, participate in group polls, and view poll results. 

See also

How do I sign up for GroupMe?

How do I sync my contacts in GroupMe? 

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365 

Use a screen reader to navigate GroupMe

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.