Use a screen reader to move or copy a folder or file in a document library in sharepoint online

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 Office Support home.

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Use SharePoint in Microsoft 365 with your keyboard and a screen reader to move or copy one or more folders or files from one location to another location within the same document library. 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.

• When you use SharePoint in Microsoft 365, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because SharePoint in Microsoft 365 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 SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

In this topic

• Move folders or files in a document library

• Copy folders or files in a document library

Move folders or files in a document library

1. Sign in to your organization's Microsoft 365 account, start the SharePoint app, and then open your document library.

   Tip: Document libraries in SharePoint Online have two different views: classic and SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience. For most people, SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience is the default. However, if you hear "Check it out button" when navigating your document library, you're using the classic experience. To view SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document libraries, when you hear "Check it out button," press Enter. After the view of your document library changes to the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience and the focus moves from the Check it out button to the New link, you hear the name of your document library, followed by "New."

2. To view SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document libraries, press the Tab key until you hear "Check it out button." Press Enter. After the view of your document library changes to the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience and the focus moves from the Check it out button to the New link, you hear the name of your document library, followed by "New."

   Tip: If you don't hear "Check it out button," you're already using the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience.

3. In List view or Tiles view, navigate to the file or folder you want to move by using the arrow keys, and select it by pressing Spacebar. You can select more than one file or folder.

4. Move the focus to the menu bar by pressing Shift+Tab until you hear: "Share."

5. Press the Right arrow key until you hear "Move to," and press Enter. The Move item to: dialog opens.

6. To move to the destination list, press the Tab key until you hear: "Top destinations list."

7. To select a destination, press the Down arrow key until you hear the destination you want, and then press Enter. The Move item to: dialog closes, and the item is moved to the destination.

   Tips: To create a new folder for the files:

   1. In the Move item to: dialog, select a destination you want to create the folder at, and then press Enter.

   2. Press the Tab key until you hear "New folder," and then press Enter. You hear: "Enter your folder name."

   3. Type a name for the folder.

   4. To move to the Create button, press the Tab key, and then press Enter. The new folder is created, and the focus moves to the folder.

   5. To move the item to the new folder, press Enter.

Copy folders or files in a document library

1. Sign in to your organization's Microsoft 365 account, start the SharePoint app, and then open your document library.

   Tip: Document libraries in SharePoint Online have two different views: classic and SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience. For most people, SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience is the default. However, if you hear "Check it out button" when navigating your document library, you're using the classic experience. To view SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document libraries, when you hear "Check it out button," press Enter. After the view of your document library changes to the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience and the focus moves from the Check it out button to the New link, you hear the name of your document library, followed by "New."

2. To view SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document libraries, press the Tab key until you hear "Check it out button." Press Enter. After the view of your document library changes to the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience and the focus moves from the Check it out button to the New link, you hear the name of your document library, followed by "New."

   Tip: If you don't hear "Check it out button," you're already using the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience.

3. In List view or Tiles view, navigate to the file or folder you want to copy by using the arrow keys, and select it by pressing Spacebar. You can select more than one file or folder.

4. Move the focus to the menu bar by pressing Shift+Tab until you hear: "Share."

5. Press the Right arrow key until you hear "Copy to," and press Enter. The Copy item to: dialog opens.

6. To move to the destination list, press the Tab key until you hear: "Top destinations list."

7. To select the destination for the item, press the Down arrow key until you hear the destination you want and then press Enter. The Copy item to: dialog closes, and the item is copied to the destination.

   Tips: To create a new folder where you can place the copied file:

   1. In the Copy item to: dialog box, select a destination you want to create the folder at, and then press Enter.

   2. Press the Tab key until you hear "New folder," and then press Enter. You hear: "Enter your folder name."

   3. Type a name for the folder.

   4. To move to the Create button, press the Tab key and then press Enter. The new folder is created, and the focus moves to the folder.

   5. To copy the item to the new folder, press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to copy the link for a file or folder in SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to create a folder in a document library in SharePoint Online

Keyboard shortcuts in SharePoint Online

Basic tasks using a screen reader with SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate SharePoint Online

Use SharePoint in Microsoft 365 with your keyboard and a screen reader to move or copy one or more folders or files from one location to another location within the same document library. 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.

• When you use SharePoint in Microsoft 365, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because SharePoint in Microsoft 365 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 SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

In this topic

• Move folders or files in a document library

• Copy folders or files in a document library

Move folders or files in a document library

1. Open the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document library where the file or folder you want to move is located.

2. To move to the list of folders and files, press the Tab key until you hear: "Toggle selection for all items."

3. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you find the file or folder you want.

4. To open the context menu for the file or folder, press Shift+F10.

5. Press the Tab key until you hear "Move to," and then press Enter. The Move item to dialog box opens.

6. To move to the destination list, press the Tab key until you hear: "Top destinations list."

7. To select a destination, press the Down arrow key until you hear the destination you want, and then press Enter. The Move item to dialog box closes, and the item is moved to the destination.

   Tips: To create a new folder for the files:

   1. In the Move item to dialog box, select the destination you want to create the folder at, and then press Enter.

   2. Press the Tab key until you hear "New folder," and then press Enter. You hear: "Enter your folder name."

   3. Type a name for the folder.

   4. To move to the Create button, press the Tab key, and then press Enter. The new folder is created, and the focus moves to the folder.

   5. To move the item to the new folder, press Enter.

Copy folders or files in a document library

1. Open the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document library where the file or folder you want to copy is located.

2. To move to the list of folders and files, press the Tab key until you hear: "Toggle selection for all items."

3. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you find the file or folder you want.

4. To open the context menu for the file or folder, press Shift+F10.

5. Press the Tab key until you hear "Copy to," and then press Enter. The Copy item to dialog box opens.

6. To move to the destination list, press the Tab key until you hear: "Top destinations list."

7. To select a destination, press the Down arrow key until you hear the destination you want, and then press Enter. The Copy item to dialog box closes, and the item is copied to the destination.

   Tips: To create a new folder for the files:

   1. In the Copy item to dialog box, select the destination you want to create the folder at, and then press Enter.

   2. Press the Tab key until you hear "New folder," and then press Enter. You hear: "Enter your folder name."

   3. Type a name for the folder.

   4. To move to the Create button, press the Tab key, and then press Enter. The new folder is created, and the focus moves to the folder.

   5. To copy the item to the new folder, press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to copy the link for a file or folder in SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to create a folder in a document library in SharePoint Online

Keyboard shortcuts in SharePoint Online

Basic tasks using a screen reader with SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate SharePoint Online

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.

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