Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in skype for business

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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Most of the time, joining a Skype for Business meeting is as simple as selecting the meeting link in your calendar and pressing Enter. But sometimes, you might need to join in a different way. Use a keyboard and Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, to join meetings directly from Skype for Business.

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.

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts for Skype for Business.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Windows screen reader, Narrator. To learn more about using Narrator, go to Complete guide to Narrator.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with a PC. Some navigation and gestures might be different for a Windows phone or tablet.

In this topic

• Join an online meeting

• Exit an online meeting

Join an online meeting

The Skype Meetings view displays a list of your meetings for the day. You can join a Skype meeting right from the Meetings tab.

Tip: The default Narrator behavior is to lower the volume of other audio sources while Narrator is running. This means the volume in Skype for Business calls and meetings can be too low to hear well. To turn off this setting, press the Windows logo key+I to open Windows Settings, and then type Narrator in the search box and press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Narrator settings." Press Enter, and then press the Tab key until you hear: "On, Lower the volume of other apps when Narrator is running, toggle switch." Then press Spacebar to toggle the setting on or off.

1. In the Skype for Business main window, press the Tab key until you hear "Contacts," "Conversations," "Chat rooms" (only available for some Skype for Business accounts), "Phone," or "Meetings." What you hear depends on which tab is currently selected.

2. Press the Left or Right arrow key until you hear "Meetings," and then press Enter. The Meetings tab opens.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear: "Today." Press the Down arrow key to move through your list of meetings for the day. You hear each meeting time and subject as you move.

4. To join the currently selected meeting, press Enter.

5. If you get the Join Meeting Audio dialog, select the audio option you prefer, and then press Enter.

6. If you are not the meeting organizer, your microphone may be automatically muted when you join a meeting. To unmute your microphone, press the Windows logo key+F4 or press the Tab key until you find the Unmute button, and then press Enter.

7. During the meeting, the following options are available:

   • To start a chat, press Ctrl+W, and then type your message. To send the message, press Enter.

   • To start a video, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

   • To mute your speaker, press the Windows logo key+F4.

   • To add participants, press Alt+V. The Invite by Name of Phone Number window opens. Type the contact, and then press Enter.

   • To access the dialpad, press Ctrl+Shift+D. You hear "Skype call out."

   • To share content, such as your screen or PowerPoint slides, press the Tab key until you hear "Share content button," and then press Enter.

   • To access more options, for example, to start recording your call, press the Tab key until you hear "More options button," and then press Enter.

Exit an online meeting

1. To leave the online meeting, press Alt+Q. A How was the call quality? dialog opens. To close it, press Esc.

2. The focus moves to the Conversation window. If you want to rejoin the call, press the Tab key until you hear "Rejoin Skype Meeting button," and then press Enter. If you have no intention to rejoin the call, to close the Conversation window, press Esc.

See also

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to add people to your contacts in Skype for Business

Keyboard shortcuts for Skype for Business

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Make your meeting more accessible with Skype for Business

Use Skype for Business for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in Mac OS screen reader, to join an online meeting.

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.

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts in Skype for Business.

• 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.

In this topic

• Join a meeting from Meetings view

• Exit an online meeting

Join a meeting from Meetings view

The Skype Meetings view displays a list of your meetings for the day, and you can join a Skype meeting directly from the Meetings view, if the meeting was set up by someone in your company.

Tip: If you did not sign out of Skype for Business for Mac the last time you used it, the app opens without prompting you to sign in.

1. To turn VoiceOver on, press Command+F5.

2. In the Skype for Business for Mac main window, press Control+Option+Shift+the Down arrow key to open the main navigation group.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Meetings, selected, toggle button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

4. Press the Tab key until you hear "Meetings, table," and then press Control+Option+the Right arrow key to move through your list of meetings. You hear each meeting time and subject as you select it.

5. To join the currently selected meeting, press Spacebar.

Tip: Your microphone may be automatically muted when you join a meeting. To unmute your microphone, press the Tab key until you hear "Muted, Unmute button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

Exit an online meeting

To quickly exit a meeting, press the Command+W.

See also

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to add people to your contacts in Skype for Business

Keyboard shortcuts in Skype for Business

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Learn how to navigate Skype for Business using accessibility features

Use Skype for Business with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to join an online meeting.

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.

• This topic assumes that you are using an iPhone. Some navigation and gestures might be different for an iPad.

• The user interface (UI) elements in Skype for Business vary by meeting type.

In this topic

• Join a meeting

• Exit a meeting

Join a meeting

1. Open Skype for Business and sign in if necessary.

   Tip: If you did not sign out of Skype for Business the last time you used it, the app opens without prompting you to sign in. For sign-in help, refer to Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business.

2. Swipe right until you hear "Meetings button," and then double-tap the screen.

3. In the Meetings list, swipe right until you hear the meeting you want to join. VoiceOver announces the meeting details and if it's a Skype meeting. Double-tap the screen. The Meeting details window opens. You hear: "Meetings, Back button."

   Tip: If you need to open your Outlook calendar to find the meeting, in the Meetings list, swipe right until you hear "Open calendar button," and then double-tap the screen. For instructions on how to read meeting invitations, go to Basic tasks using a screen reader with the calendar in Outlook.

4. In the Meeting details window, swipe right until you hear "Join meeting button," and then double-tap the screen. You've now joined the meeting, and the focus moves to the meeting screen.

5. Your microphone is automatically muted when you join the meeting, unless you're the meeting organizer. To unmute your microphone, swipe right until you hear "Selected, Call muted button," and double-tap the screen.

6. During the meeting, in the meeting screen, the following options are available:

   • To start a chat, swipe right or left until you hear "Show chat button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To start a video, swipe right or left until you hear "Video is turned off button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To mute your speaker, swipe right or left until you hear "Selected, Speaker phone is turned on," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To add participants, swipe right or left until you hear "Add button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To access the dialpad, swipe right or left until you hear "Keypad button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To access more options, for example, to share a PowerPoint presentation (if you are the meeting presenter), swipe right or left until you hear "More options button," and then double-tap the screen. Swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

Exit a meeting

1. To exit a meeting, in the meeting screen, swipe right or left until you hear "Hang up button," and then double-tap the screen. The focus moves to the meeting chat screen.

2. To move back to the Meetings list, swipe left until you hear "Back button," and then double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to add people to your contacts in Skype for Business

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Learn how to navigate Skype for Business using accessibility features

Use Skype for Business for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to join an online meeting.

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.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with an Android phone. Some navigation and gestures might be different for an Android tablet.

In this topic

• Join an online meeting

• Exit an online meeting

Join an online meeting

1. Open Skype for Business for Android and sign in if necessary.

   Tip: If you did not sign out of Skype for Business the last time you used it, the app opens without prompting you to sign in. For sign-in help, refer to Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business.

2. Swipe right until you hear "View meeting list," and then double-tap the screen.

3. In the Meetings list, swipe right until you hear the meeting you want to join. TalkBack announces the meeting details and that it's an online meeting. Double-tap the screen. The meeting details window opens. You hear: "Skype for Business."

   Tip: If you need to open your Outlook calendar to find the meeting, swipe right until you hear "Open calendar," and then double-tap the screen. In the calendar, slide one finger down the screen until you hear the meeting, and then double-tap the screen. For instructions on how to read meeting invitations, go to Basic tasks using a screen reader with the calendar in Outlook.

4. In the meeting details window, swipe right until you hear "Join meeting," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Skype for Business." You've now joined the meeting.

5. Your microphone is automatically muted when you join the meeting, unless you're the meeting organizer. To unmute your microphone, swipe right until you hear "Checked, audio is muted, switch," and double-tap the screen.

6. During the meeting, the following options are available:

   • To start a chat, swipe left or right until you hear "Chat button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To start a video, swipe left or right until you hear "Not checked, preview video is off, switch," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To mute your speaker, swipe left or right until you hear "Checked, speaker, switch," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To add participants, swipe left or right until you hear "Add participants button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To access the dialpad and voicemail, swipe left or right until you hear "View dialpad and voicemail button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To access more options, for example, to show a PowerPoint presentation or to put your call on hold, swipe left or right until you hear "More options button," and then double-tap the screen. Swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

Exit an online meeting

1. To leave the online meeting, swipe right until you hear: "End call, button."

2. Double-tap the screen. You hear: "Call ended." The focus returns to the conversations screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to add people to your contacts in Skype for Business

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Learn how to navigate Skype for Business using accessibility features

Technical support for customers with disabilities

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