Use a screen reader to share your screen 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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Use Skype for Business with your keyboard and Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, to share your screen with the audience in your meeting. You can share your entire screen (Share your Desktop) when you want to display actions in multiple programs, or you can share just a single program (Share a Window) when you only need to show one program or group of files, and don't want people to see anything else on your computer.

To be able to share content in a Skype for Business meeting, you need to be a presenter. If the option is unavailable, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter rights.

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 Windows screen reader, Narrator. To learn more about using Narrator, go to Complete guide to Narrator.

• This topic makes note of the JAWS functionality as well. To learn more about JAWS for Windows, go to JAWS for Windows Quick Start Guide.

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

• 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

• Use the sharing toolbar

• Share your screen or program

Use the sharing toolbar

When you are sharing your screen or a program, Skype for Business displays a toolbar at the top of the screen with buttons to control the sharing. On the sharing toolbar, you can:

• Give control of your desktop to other people in the meeting, or take back control, if someone else has control.

• Stop presenting your screen or a program.

• Pin the toolbar to make it always visible.

1. To move the keyboard focus onto the toolbar, press Ctrl+Shift+Space.

2. To move between items on the toolbar, press Tab. You hear your screen reader announce the item.

3. To select an option on the toolbar, press Enter.

4. To switch the focus back into the call or meeting window, press Esc.

Share your screen or program

Note: To be able to share content in a Skype for Business meeting, you need to be a presenter. If the option is unavailable, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter rights.

Tip: When you share your desktop, everyone in the meeting can see all of your programs, files, and notifications. Close or minimize programs you don't want people to see, before you start presenting your desktop.

Tip: While you're sharing a single program, your Skype for Business status changes to In a conference call. When you're sharing your entire desktop, the status changes to Presenting, and you won't receive instant messages or calls.

1. To move through the chat or meeting window controls, press Tab until you hear: "Share button, share content."

2. To open the Share Content menu, press Spacebar. You hear: "Share your desktop."

3. To present your entire desktop to all meeting participants, press Enter.

   Notes: 

   • If you hear "Skype for Business window, Cancel button," the following notification is displayed: "FYI: People will be able to see everything on the monitor you chose."

   • If you don't want this notification to appear each time you share your desktop, press Tab until you hear "Unchecked, Don't show this again, check box" and press Spacebar.

   • To start sharing your desktop, press Tab until you hear: "OK, button."

   Your entire desktop is now visible to everyone in the meeting. The focus returns to the Skype for Business meeting window.

4. To present only one program, on the Share Content menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Share a Window." Then press Enter. This opens the Share a Window window, which lists all active programs on your computer. The focus is on the Cancel button. You hear: "Share a Window, window, Cancel button."

   • To move to the first available program to present, press Tab. You hear the name of the program.

   • To move through the available programs, press the Left or Right arrow key. When you hear the name of the program you want to present, press Spacebar. The Share button is now enabled. Then press Enter. This shares the program with everyone in the call, and returns the focus to the Skype for Business meeting window.

   Tip: When presenting a single program, the shared program displays a black square if the Skype for Business meeting window is on top of it. If you have multiple monitors, try moving the meeting window to the secondary monitor so that it is never on top of your shared program.

5. To stop sharing your screen, press Ctrl+Shift+Space. The focus moves to the toolbar at the top of the screen. Press Tab until you hear "Stop sharing button" and press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call 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 accessible features

Use Skype for Business for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in Mac OS screen reader, to share your screen in a meeting. You can present content from your Mac and get your message across effectively.

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.

• To be able to share content in a Skype for Business for Mac meeting, you need to be a presenter. If the option is grayed out, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter access.

• When you share your screen, everyone in the meeting can see all of your programs, files, and notifications. Close or hide programs you don't want people to see before you start presenting.

Share your screen

Note: While you are presenting, your Skype for Business for Mac status changes to "In a conference call," and you won't receive instant messages or calls outside the online meeting.

1. Join the online meeting, and on the keyboard, press Control+Command+S. You hear: "Share screen, window, system dialog. You are currently on a text element."

2. When presenting, you can do the following:

   • To switch to full screen mode, press Control+Option+M, W. Then press the Down arrow key until you hear "Enter Full Screen," and press Spacebar. You hear: "Enter full screen space with Skype for Business." To return to normal screen mode, press Esc.

   • To hide an active window, press Command+H.

   • To restore a hidden window, press Command+Tab until you hear your app name.

   • To access the Dock, press Control+Option+D. You hear: "Dock, <the current focus on the Dock>."

   • To close an active window, press Command+W.

3. To stop sharing, press Control+Command+S. You hear: "Stop sharing."

See also

Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call 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 accessible features

You can use VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to share your screen in 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.

• 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 locations and items on the user interface (UI) may vary when you open Skype for Business on your device. The content and UI elements described in this topic serve as an example of some of the content and elements you might have.

Share your screen

1. Join a meeting.

   Tip: For more information on how to join an online meeting, refer to Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business.

   Note: Be sure you are the meeting presenter. If you organized the meeting, you start out as the presenter.

2. On the meeting screen, swipe right until you hear "More options," and then double-tap the screen. The More menu opens. You hear "More."

3. To present, swipe right until you hear "Present button," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Browse." Then, to find the presentation file you want to share, double-tap the screen. The Browse menu opens.

4. Swipe right or left until you hear the name of the location containing the file you want to present. As you move, VoiceOver announces the names of the locations. To select, double-tap the screen.

5. To browse the files or folders within a location, swipe right or left until you hear the name of item you want to present. To select an item, double-tap the screen. After you select a file, the presentation starts automatically to all the meeting participants.

   Note: When sharing a PowerPoint presentation, to share the next slide, swipe right until you hear "Next slide button," and then double-tap the screen.

6. When you finish presenting, to stop sharing your screen, swipe right until you hear "More options button," and then double-tap the screen. The More menu opens. Swipe right until you hear "Stop presentation button," and double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call 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 accessible features

Use TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to share a PowerPoint presentation during a Skype for Business for Android meeting. You cannot share your entire screen or the contents of other applications.

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.

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

   Tip: If you did not sign out of Skype for Business for Android 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. Join the meeting.

   Tip: For more information, refer to Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business.

   Be sure you are the meeting presenter. If you organized the meeting, you start out as the presenter.

3. To start sharing your PowerPoint presentation, on the meeting screen, swipe right until you hear "More options, button," and double-tap the screen.

4. A menu opens with the Present PowerPoint as the first option. To select the option, swipe right, and double-tap the screen.

5. The Places view opens. Swipe right to browse the options. When on the location of your presentation, double-tap the screen.

6. To browse through folders or files in that location, swipe right. To open a folder, double-tap the screen.

7. When the focus is on your presentation, double-tap to start sharing. You hear: "Start presenting." Swipe right until you hear "OK, button," and double-tap the screen. Your presentation opens and all the meeting participants can see it.

   Note: You can share a PowerPoint presentation in a Skype for Business for Android meeting, but not in an audio call, a video call, or a chat session.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to manage 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 accessible features

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.