Teams Meetings and JAWS

About Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform designed to bring people, conversations, and content together in one interface. It is used for messaging, video meetings, and calendar access. It also makes it easy for groups of people to access information and files collaboratively.

Whilst Teams can be accessed via a web browser, the desktop app is preferable for screen reader users.

Launching the Teams app in Windows with JAWS

• Open the Windows Start Menu by pressing either the Windows key or Ctrl+Esc.
• In the Search Box type 'Teams'. You will hear "Microsoft Team app."
• To open the app, press Enter.

Apps

Activity App

• Ctrl + 1 is the default shortcut to open the Activity app in Teams.
• The panes are:
  1. A horizontal navigation pane, at the top of the screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  2. A vertical apps pane, on the left of screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  3. A vertical list pane, next to the apps pane, which lists recent activities from across Teams, such as mentions, replies, reactions and meeting recaps. At the top of pane is a filters toolbar containing buttons for 'Unread', '@Mentions' and 'Tag Mentions'. Below is the activity list. ; and
  4. An activity content pane, to the right, which displays details about each activity.
• When using Ctrl + 1 to open Activity, focus falls on the activity list. Use the arrow keys to move up and down the list. Selecting an activity in the list pane automatically loads the activity details in the content pane.
• When in the activity list, pressing Tab moves focus to the activity details.

Chat App

• Ctrl + 2 is the default shortcut to open the Chat app in Teams.
• The panes are:
  1. A horizontal navigation pane, at the top of the screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  2. A vertical apps pane, on the left of screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  3. A vertical list pane, next to the apps pane, which lists recent chats. At the top of pane are buttons for  'More list options',  'Show list filters text box',  'New message' and  'New items'. Below that is a filters toolbar containing buttons for 'Unread', 'Chats' and 'Meeting chats'. Below that is a chat list. ; and
  4. A chat content pane, to the right, which is where you read and respond to chat messages.
• When using Ctrl + 2 to open Chat, focus falls on the chat list. Use the arrow keys to move up and down the list. Selecting a chat in the list pane causes the entire chat to be loaded in the content pane.
• Microsoft has detailed instructions in Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams. Some key shortcuts are:
  • Ctrl + M = Move to the chat messages list.
  • Ctrl + J = Move to the latest chat message.
  • Ctrl + R = Move to the compose box.
  • Ctrl + M or Esc = Return to the chat list.
  • Ctrl + F = Find in chat.
  • Ctrl + N = Start a new chat.
• See also Freedom Scientific's Training video Read and Manage Chat Messages in Microsoft Teams.

Teams App

• Ctrl + 3 is the default shortcut to open the Teams collaboration app.
• By default, the panes are:
  1. A horizontal navigation pane, at the top of the screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  2. A vertical apps pane, on the left of screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps; and
  3. A teams content pane, to the right, which lists the teams that you are a member of. Clicking on a team splits the content pane into two panes: a channels list pane, on the left, and a channel content pane on the right.
• By default, the content pane displays in grid view. It is recommended that you change it to list view so that it is consistent with other apps. You can do this by:
  • To change the default app for files, press Ctrl + Comma key (,) to open the Settings page.
  • Tab down to the 'General' tab and then use the arrow keys to move to 'Chats and channels' and press Enter.
  • Press tab to move down to Layout. Use the arrow key to select 'List'.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to create and modify teams in Microsoft Teams.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to add members to a team in Microsoft Teams.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to set up and use guest access in Microsoft Teams.

Meet App

• Ctrl + 4 is the default shortcut to open the video meeting app.
• The Meet app is great for:
  • Joining meetings;
  • Messaging in coming meetings, i.e. I'm running late;
  • Checking meeting agendas and participants;
  • Checking meeting recaps and recordings;
  • Creating new meetings, including scheduling availability and the use of a scheduling poll in an email to offer available times to people.
• The panes are:
  1. A horizontal navigation pane, at the top of the screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps;
  2. A vertical apps pane, on the left of screen. This remains visible in all Teams apps; and
  3. A meeting content pane, to the right, where you can join a meeting with an ID, start a meeting, schedule a meeting, or view lists of upcoming and recent meetings.
• Some useful meeting shortcuts are:
• Ctrl + Shift + M = Mute or unmute your microphone.
• Ctrl + Shift + O =  Turn your camera on or off.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to manage Microsoft Teams meetings.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to create a poll in Microsoft Teams.

Calendar App

• The Calendar app can be used to view upcoming meetings and schedule new meetings.
• By default, the Calendar app might not appear in the App pane. If it doesn't, use the arrow keys to move down to the 'View More Apps' button. Clicking it brings up a list of commonly used apps. In the search bar, type 'Calendar' and then press Tab. Clicking the Calendar button will temporarily add it to the apps panel.  To pin the app permanently,  select the app button and press Shift + F10 and then select 'Pin'.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to join a meeting in Microsoft Teams.
• Find out how to Use a screen reader to schedule a meeting in Microsoft Teams.
• See also Freedom Scientific's Training video Microsoft Teams: Scheduling a Meeting (Method 1).
• See also Freedom Scientific's Training video Microsoft Teams: Scheduling a Meeting (Method 2).

Microsoft Teams Accessibility Conformance

• As at June 25, 2025, Microsoft's Accessibility Conformance Report states that there are no known accessibility issues with teams.
• Never-the-less, some JAWS users are not impressed. See Rant about MS Teams Accessibility.

More Information

• Screen reader support for Microsoft Teams, Microsoft.