Use a screen reader to explore and navigate the Microsoft 365 Copilot app

This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Windows tools or features and Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Accessibility help & learning content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

Copilot is your AI assistant, ready to help you be more creative and more productive. In the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, you can upload or create files, ask questions, collaborate on AI-generated content, and set up agents that help you work more efficiently. Use the app with your keyboard and a screen reader to explore, search, and interact with your content and agents.

Notes:

This article assumes you are signed in with your Microsoft 365 work or school account.
To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.

Open the Microsoft 365 Copilot app

You can open the app from the Windows Start menu or by searching for it.

To open the app on Windows:

Press the Windows key, type Microsoft 365 Copilot, and press Enter. The app opens, and focus moves to the Copilot chat area.
To start a conversation, type your message, and then press Enter.
Press Tab or Shift+Tab to switch focus between the navigation pane, the chat pane, and other sections.
In the navigation pane, use the Downarrow key to move through items such as Search, Library, Create, Agents, Notebooks, and Apps.
When you hear the section you want, press Enter to open it.

Note: Some options might not be available depending on your Microsoft 365 account type or organization settings. For more information, go to Welcome to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.

Chat with Copilot

When you open the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, the default focus is on the New Chat tab. This area lets you start a new conversation, switch between Work and Web modes, explore suggested prompts, and open a temporary chat.

To navigate the new chat tab:

After the app opens, focus is on the Message Copilot edit field. Type your question or prompt, and then press Enter to send it.

Note: To start a new conversation, press Tab until you hear “Start a new chat, button,” and then press Enter.
Press Tab to move to the suggested prompts and use the arrow keys to move through the available suggestions.
When you hear the desired suggestion, press Enter to insert it into the message field.
Complete the prompt, and then press Enter to send it.
To go to Settings or Recent pages, press Tab until you hear “Copilot chat and more button,” and then press Enter.
Use the Down arrow key to move through available options, and press Enter to open the one you want.

Note: To try GPT-5, navigate to the Try GPT-5 toggle button, and press Enter. To switch back, press Enter again on the GPT-5 on the toggle button.

Work and Web toggle

Press Tab to move to the Work or Web toggle button, and then press Enter to apply your selection.

To start a temporary chat

Press Tab until you hear the “Temporary chat button,” and then press Enter to expand or collapse the Temporary chat pane.

Note: To add content, use voice input, or learn how Copilot Chat works with or without a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, refer to Get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.

Use Search to find your content

The Search tab lets you find files, chats, or other items across your Microsoft 365 environment using Copilot.

To use Search:

Press Tab until you hear the “Side navigation panel button,” and then press Enter to expand if not already expanded.
Press Tab until you hear “New chat button,” and then use the Down arrow key to move through the navigation options.
When you hear the “Search button,” press Enter to open it.
Type your keywords or query, and then press Enter to search.

Below the search field, the Quick access section appears, which includes the Recent, Shared, and Favorites tabs to help you find content quickly.

Press Tab until you hear “Recent tab item,” then use the Left or Right arrow key to move between tabs and Enter to open the desired one.
- Recent: This tab shows your most recently accessed files or content.
- Shared: This tab displays files that others have shared with you.
- Favorites: This tab lists items you’ve marked as favorites for quick access.

More actions menu

When focus is on a file or item in the Quick access list, press Enter to open it in the main area.

To open the More actions menu for a file:

Press the Tab key until you hear the desired file name.
Press the Right or Left arrow key again until you hear “More actions button,” and then press Enter.
Use the Down arrow key to move through the available options, and press Enter to select one.

The menu includes the following options:

Open: Select this option to open the file directly in the associated app.
Share: Select this option to open sharing options to send or copy the file link.
Add to: Select this option to view the options, then choose one of the following:
- Calendar: Select this option to schedule a meeting to collaborate on the file in Microsoft Teams.
- To Do: Select this option to create a To Do item linked to the file for follow-up.
Add to Favorites: Select this option to mark the file as a favorite for easy access.
Download: Select this option to save a local copy of the file.
Delete: Select this option to remove the file from the list.
Convert to PDF: Select this option to create a PDF version of the selected file.

Note: If you’re using a work or school account, search results include files and messages you have permission to access in your organization.

Explore your Library

You can browse and open your files directly from the library.

Press Tab until you hear “Side navigation panel button,” and then press Enter to expand if not already expanded.
Press Tab until you hear the “New chat button,” and then use the Down arrow key until you hear the “Library button,” and press Enter to open it.
Use Tab and arrow keys to move through your saved items.
When you hear the name of the file or document you want, press Enter to open it.

Create with Copilot

The Create tab allows you to generate new content using Copilot prompts, such as documents, emails, or presentations.

To open the Create tab:

Press Tab until you hear “Side navigation panel button,” and then press Enter to expand it if it’s not already expanded.
Press Tab until you hear “New chat button,” then use the Down arrow key until you hear “Create button,” and press Enter to open it.

To create content:

Use the arrow keys to move through available options, such as Image, Video, Infographic, Story, Poster, Edit an image, and more. Press Enter to select the desired option.
Press Tab until you hear “Describe what you want to create, edit.” Type your prompt and press Enter or press Tab to move to the Create button and press Enter. Copilot generates the result.
Use Tab and arrow keys to navigate through generated results, and press Enter to select or open any generated content.

Tip: To explore more creative options such as designing posters, creating forms, or editing images, go to the Get started with Create in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Explore your agents

The Copilot app includes a few agents that specialize in different tasks. You can access your agents from the Agents tab in the navigation pane.

Each agent is designed to help you perform a specific type of work:

Researcher: This agent helps you find information, summarize documents, and generate insights to support your work.
Analyst: This agent assists you with data interpretation and visualization to help you identify patterns and trends.
Files: This agent lets you explore and work with your OneDrive and SharePoint files directly from the Copilot app.
Employee Self-Service: This agent helps you complete organization-related actions, such as checking leave or benefits information.
Surveys: This agent assists you in creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys for actionable feedback.
Writing Coach: This agent offers writing feedback and suggestions to improve clarity, tone, and style.
Prompt Coach: This agent helps you refine your prompts to improve Copilot’s understanding and responses.
Idea Coach: This agent assists you with brainstorming and creative thinking by generating and expanding ideas.

Note: The availability of agents depends on your Microsoft 365 account type and organizational settings.

To open or switch between agents:

Press Tab until you hear “Side navigation panel button,” and then press Enter to expand if not already expanded.
Press Tab until you hear “New chat button,” and then use the Down arrow key until you hear the “Agents button,” and then press Enter.
Use the Down arrow key until you hear the desired agent, press Enter to open it.

Tip: You can pin your most used agents for quicker access from the navigation pane.

Note: For more details on available agents or to build and share your own, refer to the Use and create agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Navigate to Apps

The Apps tab provides quick access to other Microsoft 365 applications and connected experiences.

To open an app:

Press Tab until you hear the “Apps button,” and then press Enter.
Use the Tab or arrow key to browse through the list of apps, and then press Enter to open the selected app.

Note: You can pin frequently used apps to the navigation pane for quicker access. Some apps might not be available to everyone, depending on your Microsoft 365 account type and organizational settings.

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.