Use a screen reader to insert a table in outlook

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.

Create and edit a table in your email message in Outlook Mail using Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader.

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.

In this topic

• Convert text to a table

• Insert a table

• Delete a table

• Modify table properties

• Add columns or rows to a table

Convert text to a table

If you have a block of text that uses consistent separators, it is easy to convert it to a table.

1. While writing a message, select the piece of text you want to convert to a table.

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

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

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

   The table is created and the focus returns to the message with the table selected. You hear the table properties.

Insert a table

When you insert a blank table in an email, Outlook adds a basic grid-type table with three rows and three columns. You can later add more columns and rows if needed.

Note: To make a table as accessible as possible, it's important to give the table a header row.

1. While writing a message, place the cursor where you want to insert the new table.

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

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

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

   The table is created and the focus returns to the message with the table selected. You hear the table properties.

Use built-in table styles

After creating a table, you can quickly modify its appearance by using the built-in styles in Outlook.

1. Place the cursor anywhere in the table.

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

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

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

5. In the Table Styles menu, swipe right until you hear the table style you want, and then double-tap the screen.

   The selected style is applied to your table and the focus returns to the table.

Delete a table

1. While writing a message, place the cursor anywhere in the table you want to delete.

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

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

4. You hear: "Delete, button collapsed." The focus is on the Delete button. Double-tap the screen to select.

5. To delete the entire table, swipe right until you hear "Delete table button," and then double-tap the screen.

   The table is deleted, and the focus returns to the message.

Modify table properties

You can modify table alignment, give your table a title and a description to make it accessible, change table style options, and more.

1. While writing a message, place the cursor anywhere in the table.

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

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

4. In the Table menu, swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen to select.

   • To adjust the table alignment, select Alignment. In the Alignment menu, swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

   • To add alternative text title and description, select Alt text. In the dialog, type the table title, swipe right, and then double-tap the screen. Type the table description. Drag one finger up on the screen until you hear "Done button," and then double-tap the screen.

   • To modify the table style options, select Style Options. In the Style Options menu, swipe right until you hear the style option and then double-tap the screen.

Add columns or rows to a table

1. While writing a message, move the cursor in the table to the point where you want to add a column or row to.

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

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

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

5. In the Insert menu, swipe right until you hear the option you want, and then double-tap the screen.

   The column or row is added in the table. The focus moves to the added row or column in the table.

See also

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

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

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

Technical support for customers with disabilities

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