Use a screen reader to work with templates in word

Screen reader content

This article is for people with visual impairments who use a screen reader program with the Office products and is part of the Office Accessibility content set. For more general help, see Microsoft Support home.

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Use Word with your keyboard and a screen reader to quickly write, for example, cover letters, resumes, and event flyers using accessible Word templates. You don't need to worry about formatting and styles, those are ready for you in the template. 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.

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 Office.

Create a new document from a template

In Word, you can find several accessible templates to quickly write reports, resumes, flyers, and more.

When the screen reader focus moves around the template, you hear the placeholder texts in the template form fields. You replace the placeholder texts in the form fields by simply typing your own texts.

The changes you make in a document that is based on a template won't affect the original template. When you create a new document based on a template, it is always a separate file. So, remember to save your file.

For instructions on how to create your own template, refer to Create a template.

1. Do one of the following:

   • Open Word. The focus is on the Blank document button. Press the Tab key until you hear with Narrator: "Hyperlink, more templates." With JAWS and NVDA, you hear: "More templates, link." Press Enter to select, and then press Alt+N, S.

   • If you're already editing a document and want to create a new one from a template, press Alt+F, N, S.

2. The focus moves to the Search for online templates text field. Type "accessible templates," and then press Enter. A page listing available accessible templates opens. To browse for a suitable template, use the arrow keys. You hear the template names as you go through them.

3. To select a template, press Enter. The template preview opens, and you hear the template name. To start working with the document, press Enter. The document opens for editing.

4. In the document, to move through the form fields, press the Up or Down arrow key, the Tab key, or Shift+Tab. Type your own content into the form fields. To delete a placeholder field you don't need, press Delete when the focus is on the field. You can also insert images to the document. For instructions, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word.

5. When you're done, save your work. For instructions on how to save a document, refer to Use a screen reader to save a document in Word.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Use Word for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in MacOS screen reader, to quickly write, for example, cover letters, resumes, and event flyers using Word templates. You don't need to worry about formatting and styles, those are ready for you in the template.

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.

• 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.

• We recommend you read and edit documents in Print Layout View. VoiceOver may not work reliably in other view modes.

Create a new document from a template

In Word, you can find several templates to quickly write reports, resumes, flyers, and more.

When the screen reader focus moves around the template, you hear the placeholder texts in the template form fields. You replace the placeholder texts in the form fields by simply typing your own texts.

The changes you make in a document that is based on a template won't affect the original template. When you create a new document based on a template, it is always a separate file. So, remember to save your file.

For instructions on how to create your own template, refer to Create a template.

1. Do one of the following:

   • Open Word for Mac. Press Control+Option+Right arrow key until you hear "New radio button," and press Control+Option+Spacebar.

   • If you're already editing a document and want to create a new one from a template, press Shift+Command+P.

2. The New tab listing all available templates opens. Press the Tab key until you hear: "Leaving collection, entering a collection, collection one item selected, welcome to Word, template." Then use the arrow keys until you hear the name of the template you want, and press Return. The document opens for editing.

3. In the document, use the arrow keys to move through the form fields. Type your own content into the form fields. To delete a placeholder field you don't need, press Backspace when the focus is on the field. You can also insert images to the document. For instructions, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word.

4. When you're done, save your work. For instructions on how to save a document, refer to Use a screen reader to save a document in Word.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to check spelling and grammar in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Use Word for iOS with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to quickly write, for example, cover letters, resumes, and event flyers using Word templates. You don't need to worry about formatting and styles, those are ready for you in the template.

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.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in iOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, visit Apple accessibility.

• We recommend you read and edit documents in Print Layout View. VoiceOver may not work reliably in other view modes.

Create a new document from a template

In Word, you can find several templates to quickly write reports, resumes, flyers, and more.

When the screen reader focus moves around the template, you hear the placeholder texts in the template form fields. You replace the placeholder texts in the form fields by simply typing your own texts.

The changes you make in a document that is based on a template won't affect the original template. When you create a new document based on a template, it is always a separate file. So, remember to save your file.

1. Do one of the following:

   • Open Word for iOS.

   • If you're already editing a document and want to create a new one from a template, tap near the top of the screen with four fingers, swipe right until you hear "Close file," and double-tap the screen.

2. Tap near the bottom of the screen with four fingers, swipe left until you hear "New tab," and then double-tap the screen.

3. On the New tab, swipe right until you hear the name of the template you want, and then double-tap the screen. The document opens for editing.

4. In the document, slide one finger around the screen to move through the form fields. VoiceOver announces the fields as you move. Double-tap the screen to edit the form fields and add your content. Use the on-screen keyboard to type your text or delete the placeholder content. You can also insert images to the document. For instructions, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word.

5. When you're done, save your work. For instructions on how to save a document, go to Use a screen reader to save a document in Word.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to check spelling and grammar in Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Use Word for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to quickly write, for example, cover letters, resumes, and event flyers using Word templates. You don't need to worry about formatting and styles, those are ready for you in the template.

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.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Android screen reader, TalkBack. To learn more about using TalkBack, go to Android accessibility.

Create a new document from a template

In Word, you can find several templates to quickly write reports, resumes, flyers, and more.

When the screen reader focus moves around the template, you hear the placeholder texts in the template form fields. You replace the placeholder texts in the form fields by simply typing your own texts.

The changes you make in a document that is based on a template won't affect the original template. When you create a new document based on a template, it is always a separate file. So, remember to save your file.

1. Do one of the following:

   • Open Word for Android.

   • If you're already editing a document and want to create a new one from a template, swipe left or right until you hear "Back button," and double-tap the screen.

2. Swipe right until you hear "New button," and double-tap the screen. You hear: "Blank document."

3. Swipe right until you hear the template you want, and then double-tap the screen. The document opens for editing.

4. In the document, slide one finger around the screen to move through the form fields. TalkBack announces the fields as you move. Double-tap the screen to edit the form fields and add your content. Use the on-screen keyboard to type your text or delete the placeholder content. You can also insert images to the document. For instructions, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word.

5. When you're done, save your work. For instructions on how to save a document, go to Use a screen reader to save a document in Word.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to check spelling and grammar in Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Use Word for the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to quickly write, for example, cover letters, resumes, and event flyers using Word templates. You don't need to worry about formatting and styles, those are ready for you in the template. We have tested it with Narrator in Microsoft Edge and JAWS and NVDA in Chrome, but it might work with other screen readers and web browsers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.

Notes: 

• If you use Narrator with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, you have to turn off scan mode in order to edit documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Office for the web. For more information, refer to Turn off virtual or browse mode in screen readers in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

• 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 Office.

• When you use Word for the web, switch to the full screen mode. Press F11 to toggle the full screen mode on and off.

• If you're using JAWS, switch to the focus navigation.

• When you use Word for the web, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Word for the web runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you'll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not Word for the web.

Create a new document from a template

In Word, you can find several templates to quickly write reports, resumes, flyers, and more.

When the screen reader focus moves around the template, you hear the placeholder texts in the template form fields. You replace the placeholder texts in the form fields by simply typing your own texts.

The changes you make in a document that is based on a template won't affect the original template. When you create a new document based on a template, it is always a separate file.

For instructions on how to create your own template, refer to Create a template.

1. Do one of the following:

   • In your browser, go to Office.com, sign in, and start Word for the web. You hear: "Create a new blank document, link." Then do one of the following:

     • To select one of the readily available templates, press the Tab key until you hear the template you want, and press Enter.

     • To browse for more templates, press the Tab key until you hear "Access more templates," and press Enter. Press the Tab key until you hear the template you want, and press Enter.

   • If you're already editing a document and want to create a new one from a template, press Alt+Windows logo key+F, N. Then press the Tab key until you hear "New, blank document," use the arrow keys to navigate to the template you want, and press Enter.

2. The document opens for editing in a new browser tab. In the document, to move through the form fields, use the arrow keys. Type your own content into the form fields. To delete a placeholder field you don't need, press Delete when the focus is on the field. You can also insert images to the document. For instructions, refer to Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word.

   Word for the web saves your changes automatically as you work.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

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.