Use a screen reader to save an image or attachment from an email in outlook

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 or Fixes or workarounds for recent office issues.

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Use Outlook with your keyboard and a screen reader to save an embedded image or an attached file from an email to your computer. We've 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.

Need instructions on how to save an attached file from an Outlook email, but not using a screen reader? See Open or save attachments.

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.

In this topic

• Save an image from an email

• Save an attachment from an email

Save an image from an email

You can easily save an image that is embedded in the body of an email.

1. In Outlook, navigate to the email that contains the image you want to save to your computer, and then press Enter to open it.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Image." Then press Shift+F10 to open the context menu for the image. You hear: "Cut, menu item."

   Note: If there are several images embedded in the email, Narrator calls all of them "Image." You can ask the sender to send them as attachments, so that original file names are kept. To learn how to save attachments, refer to Save an attachment from an email.

3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Save as Picture, menu item," and then press Enter. You hear: "File Save, File name."

4. Type a name for the image file.

5. Press the Tab key until you hear "Save button," and then press Enter.

   The image is saved to your computer and the focus returns to the email.

Save an attachment from an email

Sometimes you receive images or other files as email attachments. You can save all types of attachments in the same way.

1. In Outlook, navigate to the email that contains the attachment you want to save to your computer, and then press Enter to open it.

   Tip: When browsing your mailbox, you hear "With attachments" before the sender's name if the message contains one or more attachments.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear "New document window," followed by the name and file size of the first attachment. If there are several attachments, Narrator tells you how many there are, for example, "1 of 2 attachments."

   Note: If you don't hear "New document window," make sure the email header is expanded. Press the Tab key until you hear "Expand document header," and then press Enter.

3. To move between attachments, use the Right and Left arrow keys.

4. To save the currently selected attachment, press Alt+J, A, V. You hear "Save Attachment, File name," followed by the original file name.

   Tip: To save all attachments at once, press Alt+J, A, A. You hear: "Save All Attachments, OK button." Press Enter to confirm the selection, press the Tab key until you hear "OK button," and then press Enter. All attachments are saved to your computer and the focus returns to the attachment list in the email.

5. If you want to change the file name, type a new name.

6. Press the Tab key until you hear "Save button," and then press Enter.

   The file is saved to your computer and the focus returns to the attachment list in the email.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Accessibility support for Outlook

Use Outlook for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in macOS screen reader, to save an attached file or an embedded image from an email to your computer.

Need instructions on how to save an attached file from an Outlook email, but not using a screen reader? See View attachments in Outlook for Mac.

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.

In this topic

• Save an attachment from an email

• Save an embedded image from an email

Save an attachment from an email

Sometimes you receive images or other files as email attachments. You can save all types of attachments in the same way. You can even save all attachments in one operation.

Save all attachments from an email

1. In Outlook, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachments."

2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Download all," and press Control+Option+Spacebar.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Choose," and press Control+Option+Spacebar. All attachments are saved to your computer with their original file names.

Save a single attachment from an email 

1. In Outlook, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachments."

2. Press the Tab key until you hear the number of attachments, followed by the file name of the first attachment. To move between the attachments, press Control+Option+Right or Left arrow key. When you reach the attachment you want to save, press Control+Option+Spacebar.

3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Save as," and press Control+Option+Spacebar.

4. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the folder currently selected as the save location. To change the folder, press Control+Option+Spacebar, press the Down arrow key until you hear the folder you want, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

5. To save the attachment, press the Tab key until you hear "Save button," and press Control+Option+Spacebar.

Save an embedded image from an email

1. In Outlook, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachments."

2. In the email, press the Tab key until you hear "Leaving message header," and press Control+Option+Left arrow key until you hear "Image." The focus is now on the image.

3. To open the context menu, press Control+Option+Shift+M or Shift+F10.

4. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Save as," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. You hear: "In save dialog."

5. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the folder currently selected as the save location. To change the folder, press Control+Option+Spacebar, press the Down arrow key to navigate to the location you want, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

6. To save the image, press the Tab key until you hear "Save button," and press Control+Option+Spacebar. The image is saved to your computer with the original file name.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook for iOS with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to save an attached file from an email to your OneDrive, iCloud Drive, or your phone.

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.

In this topic

• Save an attachment from an email

• Save an embedded image from an email

Save an attachment from an email

You can save an attachment to your iPhone or to a network storage, such as OneDrive.

Save an attachment to your phone

1. In Outlook for iOS, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment you want to save. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the attachment you want to save. You hear the file name and size, followed by "Attachment."

3. Double-tap the screen. Outlook for iOS loads a preview of the attachment. The preview is ready when you hear: "Close button."

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

5. Swipe right until you hear "Share file via, ellipses," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "Save to files, button," and double-tap the screen.

7. Swipe right until you hear "On my iPhone," and double-tap the screen. Swipe right until you hear "Save button," and double-tap the screen. The file is saved to your phone, and you can find it in the Files app.

8. To return to the email swipe left until you hear "Close button," and double-tap the screen.

Save an attachment to OneDrive

1. In Outlook for iOS, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment you want to save. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the attachment you want to save. You hear the file name and size, followed by "Attachment."

3. Double-tap the screen. Outlook for iOS loads a preview of the attachment. The preview is ready when you hear: "Close button."

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

5. Swipe right until you hear "Save to account," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "OneDrive," followed by your username, and then double-tap the screen. The file is saved to your OneDrive.

Save an attachment to iCloud

1. In Outlook for iOS, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment you want to save. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the attachment you want to save. You hear the file name and size, followed by "Attachment."

3. Double-tap the screen. Outlook for iOS loads a preview of the attachment. The preview is ready when you hear: "Close button."

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

5. Swipe right until you hear "Save to files, button," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "iCloud drive," and double-tap the screen.

7. Swipe right until you hear the folder you want, and double-tap the screen.

8. Swipe left until you hear "Save, button," and double-tap the screen The attachment is saved to your iCloud Drive, and you can find it in the Files app.

9. To return to the email swipe left until you hear "Close button," and double-tap the screen.

Save an embedded image from an email

1. In Outlook for iOS, navigate to and open the email that contains the image you want to save. VoiceOver announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the embedded image. VoiceOver announces it as "Image, image." Double-tap the screen.

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

4. Swipe right until you hear "Share file via, ellipses," and double-tap the screen.

5. Swipe right until you hear "Save to files, button," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "On my iPhone," and double-tap the screen. Swipe right until you hear "Save button," and double-tap the screen. The file is saved to your phone, and you can find it in the Files app.

7. To return to the email swipe left until you hear "Close button," and double-tap the screen.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to save an embedded image or an attached file from an email.

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.

In this topic

• Save an embedded image from an email

• Save an attachment from an email

Save an embedded image from an email

You can save an image that is embedded in the body of an email to your phone or Google Drive.

Save an embedded image to your phone

1. In Outlook for Android, navigate to and open the email that contains the image you want to save. TalkBack announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the embedded image. TalkBack announces it as "Image, graphic." Double-tap the screen. You hear: "Downloading photos."

3. By default, Outlook offers to open the image with the native gallery app, such as Photos or Gallery. To select if you want to always open images with the selected app or only once, swipe right until you hear the option you want and double-tap the screen.

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

5. Swipe right until you hear "More," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear the app name, for example, "Upload to Photos," and double-tap the screen.

7. Swipe right until you hear "Upload," and double-tap the screen. The image is uploaded and saved to your phone.

8. To return to the email, swipe down-then-left.

Save an embedded image to Google Drive

1. In Outlook for Android, navigate to and open the email that contains the image you want to save. TalkBack announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the embedded image. TalkBack announces it as "Image, graphic." Double-tap the screen. You hear: "Downloading photos."

3. By default, Outlook offers to open the image with the native gallery app, such as Photos or Gallery. To select if you want to always open images with the selected app or only once, swipe right until you hear the option you want and double-tap the screen.

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

5. Swipe right until you hear "More," and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear "Save to Drive," and then double-tap the screen. The focus moves to the Document title field. If you hear "Allow Drive to access photos, media, and files on your device," swipe right until you hear "Allow, button," and then double-tap the screen.

7. If you don't want to use the default file name, use the on-screen keyboard to type a new name in the field. When you're done, swipe down-then-left to close the on-screen keyboard.

8. Swipe right until you hear "Save, button," and then double-tap the screen. The image is saved to your Google Drive.

9. To return the focus to the email, swipe down-then-left. 

Save an attachment from an email

Sometimes you receive images or other files as email attachments. You can save all types of attachments in the same way.

1. In Outlook for Android, navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment you want to save. TalkBack announces emails with attachments as "Has attachment."

2. Swipe right until you find the attachment you want to save. TalkBack announces each attachment's file type, name, and size.

3. Swipe right once. You hear: "For." Double-tap the screen.

4. Swipe right until you hear "Save to device," and then double-tap the screen. If you hear "Allow Outlook to access photos, media, and files on your device," swipe right until you hear "Allow, button," and then double-tap the screen. The attachment is saved to your phone, and you can find it in the Downloads folder in the Files app.

5. To return to your Inbox, swipe down-then-left.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook on the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to save an attached file, for example a document, from an email to your computer or to OneDrive. 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. You'll also learn how to save an inline image from an email message.

Need instructions on how to save an attached file from an Outlook email, but not using a screen reader? See Open or save attachments.

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.

• We're currently updating Outlook.office.com (Outlook on the Web). Some people are already using the new Outlook, and for others the classic version will be the default experience until we complete the update. For more information, go to Get help with the new Outlook on the web. Since the instructions in this topic apply to the new experience, we recommend that you switch from the classic experience to the new Outlook. To switch to the new Outlook, press Ctrl+F6 until you hear "Command, Try the new Outlook," and then press Enter. If you hear "Command toolbar" instead of "Command, Try the new Outlook," you're already using the new Outlook.

• When you use Outlook on the web, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Outlook on 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 Outlook on the web.

In this topic

• Save an attachment from an email

• Save all attachments at once

• Save an inline image

Save an attachment from an email

You save attachments one by one to your computer or to OneDrive.

1. Navigate to and open the email that contains the attachment you want to save to your computer.

   Tip: When browsing your mailbox, you hear "Has attachments" after the sender's name if the message contains one or more attachments.

2. Press the Tab key until you find the attachment you want to save.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear "More actions, button collapsed," and then press Spacebar.

4. Do one of the following:

   • To download the attachment to the Downloads folder on your PC, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Download," and press Enter. You hear a notification. Press Alt+N, and then press the Tab key until you hear: "Save button." Press Enter.

   • To save the attachment to OneDrive, press the Tab key until you hear: "Save to OneDrive, Microsoft." Press Enter.

Save all attachments at once

Instead of saving the attachments one by one, you can also save all the attachments in one go.

1. Navigate to and open the email that contains the attachments you want to save to your computer.

2. Do one of the following:

   • To download the attachments to the Downloads folder on your PC, press the Tab key until you hear "Download all, button," and then press Enter. You hear a notification.

     To go to the notification dialog, press Alt+N. Press the Tab key until you hear: "Save button," and then press Enter.

   • To save the attachments to OneDrive, press the Tab key until you hear "Save all files to OneDrive, Microsoft," and then press Enter.

Save an inline image

You can save an image that's been inserted inline in the message body to your computer.

1. Navigate to and open the email that contains the inline image you want to save to your computer.

2. Press the SR key+Right arrow key until you hear: "Image."

3. Press Shift+Enter. The image opens in a separate window.

4. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "Download," and then press Enter. You hear a notification.

5. To go to the notification dialog, press Alt+N. Press the Tab key until you hear: "Save button," and then press Enter.

See also

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

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Accessibility support for Outlook

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.