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Office Accessibility
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Use a screen reader with Loop components in a chat in Microsoft Teams

This article is for people with visual or cognitive impairments who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Microsoft 365 screen reader support content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

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Use Microsoft Teams with your keyboard and a screen reader to create and send a Loop component. We have tested it with Narrator and JAWS, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll learn how to co-edit the component with other chat members, share it in another chat, and review and edit the file at Office.com.

Loop components are paragraphs, tables, checklists, or other components that everyone in your chat can edit inline and review the changes instantly. You can collaborate with your chat members right inside your message, minimizing the need for long chat threads. For example, send a paragraph to coauthor a proposal, a bulleted list to brainstorm ideas, or a task list to assign responsibilities.

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 365.

  • You can easily access the keyboard shortcuts list from within Microsoft Teams. Press Ctrl+E to go to the Search field, type /keys, and then press Enter.

  • Freedom Scientific is actively working to resolve issues within the overall Loop editing experience for the JAWS update that is planned for release in early March 2024. If problems with JAWS are preventing you from getting work done with Loop, please reach out to Freedom Scientific support to discuss potential options for getting early access to a JAWS build that may resolve the issues.

  • Recent versions of JAWS no longer have the virtual PC cursor mode set as default for Microsoft Teams. For instructions on how to switch the virtual PC cursor mode on, go to Enable the JAWS virtual cursor.

In this topic

Create and send a Loop component in a chat

  1. Go to the compose box of the chat where you want to add a Loop component. Make sure that the compose box is empty.

  2. Press the Tab key once, then press the Right arrow key until you hear “Loop components,” and press Enter. The Loop components menu opens.

  3. Press the Tab key until with Narrator you hear: "Complementary, bulleted list." With JAWS, you hear: "Menu, bulleted list." Then press the Down arrow key until you hear the Loop component item you want to add, and then press Enter.

  4. Enter content into the component. Your screen reader announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell. Use the arrow keys to move between the elements in the component.

    Tip: @Mention people inside the component to show where you’d like them to contribute. They’ll get an activity feed notification that brings them right to the component.

  5. When ready, press Ctrl+Enter to send the component.

    The component is sent and everyone in the chat is now able to edit the content inline.

Co-edit a Loop component with other chat members

Everyone in your chat can edit the Loop component inline and review the changes instantly.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component and press Enter. Then press the Tab key until you hear “Press Enter to explore the Loop component,” and press Enter again. You hear: "Edit."

  2. Use the arrow keys to go to the location where you want to add or edit content and then start editing. Your screen reader announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell.

    Tip: To choose items from a list of suggestions, type the forward slash character (/) and then use the Down and Up arrow keys to select, for example, the date picker, image, or even a new component inside this component.

  3. If you want to add a comment instead of making direct edits to the text, type two forward slash characters and a space (// ). You hear “Speech balloon,” followed by your name. Then type your comment. This will attribute the comment to you.

    Tip: For easy access, you can pin the message containing your Loop component at the top of your chat. To do so, go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Enter. Then press the Tab key until you hear “More options, button,” and then press Enter. Press the Down arrow key until you hear “Pin, menu item,” and then press Enter.

Share a component in another chat and continue editing

You can easily share a Loop component from one chat to another by copying a link:

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop element you wish to share, and press Enter, then press the Tab key until you hear "Copy link," and press Enter again.

  2. Go to the compose box of the chat where you want to share the Loop component to. Make sure that the compose box is empty. Press Ctrl+V to add the link to the Loop component into your message. The focus moves to the beginning of the Loop component.

  3. Press Ctrl+Enter to share the Loop component with the recipients of the new chat. Members of both chats can now edit the Loop component as normal.

Review and edit the file at Office.com

Loop components are automatically saved to OneDrive when they are sent in a chat. You can navigate from the chat to the Loop component file at Office.com, and review and edit the file there.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Enter.

  2. Press the Tab key until with Narrator you hear "Link," followed by the title of the Loop component. With JAWS, you hear the title of the Loop component, followed by "Link." Then press Enter.

    The Loop component file opens at Office.com, where you can review and edit the content.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Use Microsoft Teams on Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in MacOS screen reader, to create and send a Loop component. You'll learn how to co-edit the component with other chat members, share it in another chat, and review and edit the file at Office.com.

Loop components are paragraphs, tables, checklists, or other components that everyone in your chat can edit inline and see the changes instantly. You can collaborate with your chat members right inside your message, minimizing the need for long chat threads. For example, send a paragraph to coauthor a proposal, a bulleted list to brainstorm ideas, or a task list to assign responsibilities.

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

Create and send a Loop component in a chat

  1. Go to the compose box of the chat where you want to add a Loop component. Make sure that the compose box is empty.

  2. Press the Tab key once. You hear: "Actions for new message, toolbar."

  3. Press Control+Option+Right arrow key until you hear “Loop components,” and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. The Loop components menu opens.

  4. Press the Down arrow key until you hear the Loop component item you want to add, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

  5. Enter content into the component. VoiceOver announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell. Use the arrow keys to move between the elements in the component.

    Tip: Mention people inside the component to show where you'd like them to contribute. They’ll get an activity feed notification that brings them right to the component. To mention people, type the At sign (@) and then start typing the person’s name. A list of results is displayed as you type. Use the Down and Up arrow keys to browse the suggestions, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

  6. When ready, press Control+Option+Shift+Up arrow key repeatedly until you hear: "Frame zero, you are currently on a frame, inside web content." Then press the Tab key until you hear: "Entering toolbar, Send component." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to send.

    The component is sent and everyone in the chat is now able to edit the content inline.

Co-edit a Loop component with other chat members

Everyone in your chat can edit the Loop component inline and see the changes instantly.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Return. Press the Tab key until you hear "Message containing a Loop component, group," and then press Return. You hear: "Edit text."

  2. Use the arrow keys to go to the location where you want to add or edit content and then start editing. VoiceOver announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell.

    Tip: To choose items from a list of suggestions, type the forward slash character (/) and then use the Down and Up arrow keys to select, for example, the date picker, image, or even a new component inside this component.

  3. If you want to add a comment instead of making direct edits to the text, type two forward slash characters and a space (// ). You hear "Speech bubble," followed by your name. Then type your comment. This will attribute the comment to you.

Check who are viewing or editing the Loop component

A list of avatars of people who are viewing, editing, or have recently edited the component appear at the upper-right corner of the Loop component. You can also check who has access to the Loop component.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Return.

  2. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear the users.

  3. To check who can view or edit the component, press the Tab key until you hear "See who has access, selected, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Tab key once and then use the Right and Left arrow keys to browse the users

Pin the Loop component to the top of your chat

For easy access, you can pin the message containing your Loop component at the top of your chat.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Return.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "More options, selected, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

  3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Pin, menu item," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

Share a component in another chat and continue editing

You can copy a Loop component from one chat to another. The people in your original chat and the other chat will be able to edit the content. No matter where people are editing, the component will always show the latest updates.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Return.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Copy link, selected button," and then press Return. You hear: "Copied."

  3. Go to the chat where you want to copy the Loop component.

  4. Go to the compose box, make sure that it is empty, and then press Command+V to paste the Loop component.

Review and edit the file at Office.com

Loop components are automatically saved to OneDrive when they are sent in a chat. You can navigate from the chat to the Loop component file at Office.com, and review and edit the file there.

  1. Go to the message containing the Loop component, and press Return.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Link," followed by the Loop component type or title, for example, "Live paragraph," and then press Return.

    The Loop component file opens at Office.com, where you can review and edit the content.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams

Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Use Microsoft Teams for iOS with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to create and send a Loop component. You'll learn how to co-edit the component with other chat members, and share it in another chat.

Loop components are paragraphs, tables, checklists, or other components that everyone in your chat can edit inline and review the changes instantly. You can collaborate with your chat members right inside your message, minimizing the need for long chat threads. For example, send a paragraph to coauthor a proposal, a bulleted list to brainstorm ideas, or a task list to assign responsibilities.

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

Create and send a Loop component in a chat

  1. Go to the chat where you want to add a Loop component.

  2. Tap the screen with four fingers near the bottom of the screen. You hear: "Record audio message, button."

  3. Swipe left until you hear "Compose options," and then double-tap the screen.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Loop, button," and then double-tap the screen. The Loop components menu opens, and the focus is on the Bulleted list item.

  5. Swipe right or left until you hear the Loop component item you want to add, and then double-tap the screen.

  6. Swipe right until you hear "Text field," and then double-tap the screen.

  7. Enter content into the component. VoiceOver announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell.

    Tip: Mention people inside the component to show where you’d like them to contribute. They’ll get an email notification that brings them right to the component. To mention people, type the At sign (@) and then start typing the person’s name. A list of results is displayed as you type. Swipe right until you hear the person you want, and then double-tap the screen.

  8. To be able to navigate in the canvas, use the VoiceOver rotor to switch the navigation mode to Words, Characters, or Lines. To use the rotor, rotate two fingers on your screen as if you're turning a dial. You hear the first rotor option. Keep rotating your fingers until you hear the option you want, and lift your fingers to select the option. To navigate in the canvas one word, character, or line at a time, swipe up or down. Then start typing to edit.

  9. When ready, tap the screen with four fingers near the top of the screen, swipe right until you hear "Send," and then double-tap the screen.

    The component is sent and everyone in the chat is now able to edit the content inline.

Co-edit a Loop component with other chat members

Everyone in your chat can edit the Loop component inline and review the changes instantly.

  1. Go to the chat that contains the Loop component.

  2. Swipe right of left until you hear "Loop component, message," and then double-tap the screen.

  3. Swipe right until you hear the contents of the Loop component, and then double-tap the screen. The Loop component opens up.

  4. Swipe right until VoiceOver starts reading the contents of the Loop component. Double-tap the screen to edit.

  5. To be able to navigate in the canvas, use the VoiceOver rotor to switch the navigation mode to Words, Characters, or Lines. To use the rotor, rotate two fingers on your screen as if you're turning a dial. You hear the first rotor option. Keep rotating your fingers until you hear the option you want, and lift your fingers to select the option.

  6. To navigate in the canvas one word, character, or line at a time, swipe up or down. Then start typing to edit.

    Tip: To choose items from a list of suggestions, type the forward slash character (/). A list of suggestions opens. Then swipe right or left to select, for example, the date picker, comment, or even a new component inside this component.

  7. When done, tap the screen with four fingers near the top of the screen, swipe left until you hear "Back, button," and then double-tap the screen.

Share a component in another chat and continue editing

You can copy a Loop component from one chat to another. The people in your original chat and the other chat will be able to edit the content. No matter where people are editing, the component will always show the latest updates.

Note: The shared Loop component is added as a link to the chat. To be able to edit the content of the shared Loop component, users need to have installed and signed in to the Microsoft 365 app on their device.

  1. Go to the chat that contains the Loop component you want to copy.

  2. Swipe right of left until you hear "Loop component, message," and then double-tap the screen.

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

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Copy link," and double-tap the screen.

  5. Swipe left until you hear "Back, button," and double-tap the screen.

  6. Go to the chat where you want to copy the Loop component.

  7. Tap the screen with four fingers near the bottom of the screen. You hear: "Record audio message, button."

  8. Swipe left until you hear "Type a message," and double-tap the screen.

  9. Double-tap and hold the screen, swipe left until you hear "Paste, menu item," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: “Loop component, link.”

  10. Swipe right until you hear "Send, button," and double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

Use Microsoft Teams for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to create and send a Loop component. You'll learn how to co-edit the component with other chat members and share it in another chat.

Loop components are paragraphs, tables, checklists, or other components that everyone in your chat can edit inline and review the changes instantly. You can collaborate with your chat members right inside your message, minimizing the need for long chat threads. For example, send a paragraph to coauthor a proposal, a bulleted list to brainstorm ideas, or a task list to assign responsibilities.

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

Create and send a Loop component in a chat

  1. Go to the chat where you want to add a Loop component.

  2. Swipe left until you hear "Compose options,” and then double-tap the screen.

  3. Swipe right until you hear “Loop, button," and then double-tap the screen. The Loop components menu opens.

  4. Swipe right until you hear the Loop component item you want to add, and then double-tap the screen.

  5. Swipe right until you hear "Edit box," and then double-tap the screen.

  6. Enter content into the component. TalkBack announces the text element you are currently on, for example, title heading, list item, or a table cell.

    Tip: Mention people inside the component to show where you’d like them to contribute. They’ll get an email notification that brings them right to the component. To mention people, type the At sign (@) and then start typing the person’s name. A list of results is displayed as you type. Swipe right until you hear the person you want, and then double-tap the screen.

  7. To be able to navigate in the canvas, switch the navigation mode to Words, Characters, or Lines. To switch the mode, swipe up-then-down until you hear option you want. To navigate in the canvas one word, character or line at a time, swipe up or down. Double-tap the screen to edit.

  8. When ready, swipe left until you hear “Send,” and then double-tap the screen.

    The component is sent and everyone in the chat is now able to edit the content inline.

Co-edit a Loop component with other chat members

Everyone in your chat can edit the Loop component inline and review the changes instantly.

  1. Go to the chat that contains the Loop component.

  2. Swipe right of left until you hear "Loop, web view," and then double-tap the screen.

  3. Swipe right until you hear the contents of the Loop component, and then double-tap the screen. The Loop component opens up for editing.

  4. To be able to navigate in the canvas, switch the navigation mode to Words, Characters, or Lines. To switch the mode, swipe up-then-down until you hear option you want.

  5. To navigate in the canvas one word, character, or line at a time, swipe up or down. Double-tap the screen to edit.

    Tip: To choose items from a list of suggestions, type the forward slash character (/). A list of suggestions opens. Then swipe right or left to select, for example, the date picker, comment, or even a new component inside this component.

  6. When done, swipe down-then-left to close the on-screen keyboard, and then navigate to the upper-left corner of the screen by swiping left until you hear “Back, button,” and then double-tap the screen.

Share a component in another chat and continue editing

You can copy a Loop component from one chat to another. The people in your original chat and the other chat will be able to edit the content. No matter where people are editing, the component will always show the latest updates.

Note: The shared Loop component is added as a link to the chat. To be able to edit the content of the shared Loop component, users need to have installed and signed in to the Microsoft 365 app on their device.

  1. Go to the chat that contains the Loop component you want to copy.

  2. Swipe right of left until you hear “Loop, web view," and then double-tap the screen.

  3. Swipe right until you hear “More options, button,” and double-tap the screen.

  4. Swipe right until you hear “Copy link,” and double-tap the screen.

  5. Swipe left until you hear “Back, button,” and double-tap the screen.

  6. Go to the chat where you want to copy the Loop component.

  7. Swipe left until you hear "Type a message,” and then double-tap the screen.

  8. Double-tap and hold the screen, swipe right until you hear "Pop-up window, paste," and then double-tap the screen.

  9. Swipe right until you hear "Send message, button," and double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to chat in Microsoft Teams

Use a screen reader to search for a conversation, person, or file in Microsoft Teams

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Microsoft Teams

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Teams

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.

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