Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Getting started with Teams basics

Does Teams support screen readers?

Yes and No, Microsoft Teams is designed with moderate support for Screen Readers including JAWS, Fusion, NVDA & VoiceOver on desktop. User's can create and attend meetings fairly easily. Basics such as toggling mute and video work ok. However, simple tasks on desktop versions such as the ability to identify the current speaker do not exist despite being easy to identify by visual means. Navigation throughout the meeting interface is possible, but requires many more steps than other meeting platforms such as Zoom meetings.

Where can I change text size and contrast settings?

Go to Settings > Appearance in Teams. You can switch between Light, Dark, and High Contrast themes. For system-wide text size changes, use your operating system's accessibility settings.

Understanding Chats

Getting around in Chats

How do I navigate Chats?

Typically Ctrl+2 will put you into Chat unless there are other apps in the left side vertical list of apps. If Ctrl+2 does not work try other numbers. When in a Chat layout:

  • Goto the List of Chats: Ctrl+L (you may hear "Tree View"); navigate up/down arrows through the list of Chats.
  • Goto the list of chat messages: Ctrl+M (you may hear "Type a Message" or it may read out a message); Shift+Tab if you are in the Text box or use up/down arrow once on a message to navigate messages

Why is there a Close Notification button above the Type a Message box?

If people within a Chat have messages such as a status or out of office those will appear in a dialog above the Type a Message field. You can close that message safely, it will reappear everytime you return to the Chat if people still have active statuses. There is no way to permanently supress this dialog.

How to react to a Message?

Press Enter on the message, then left/right arrow to the desired preset reactions and press Space.

Why do I hear Like, Thumbs up or Yes reactions on different devices for the same message?

The Teams thumbs up symbol may read out as Like on Desktop, Yes on iOS while visually it is a hand showing a thumbs up.

Meetings Basics

Common questions for working in Meetings

What are the most common shortcuts for Meetings?

  • Mute toggle: Ctrl+Shift+M from within the Teams interface excluding when in a share pop-out window or Loop component. On Windows 11 you can universally toggle mute if you are only on one meeting by using Windows+Alt+K
  • Video toggle: Ctrl+Shift+O from within the Teams interface excluding when in a share pop-out or Loop component.
  • Raise hand toggle: Ctrl+Shift+K also while not in a pop-out or Loop component.
  • Leave: Ctrl+Shift+H or Alt+F4, you may get a confirmation pop-up to Leave. Tip: Alt+F4 does work if your cursor is inside a Loop Component.

How do I toggle mute from outside of Teams on Windows?

Windows key + Alt + K will toggle the Microphone mute that shows on the Windows taskbar in Windows 11 unless there is more than one app using the microphone.