Use a screen reader to chat in Skype for Mac

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Skype for WindowsSkype for Mobile

This article is for people with visual impairments who use a screen reader program with Skype and is part of the Skype Accessibility content set. For more general help, visit Skype Support home.

Use Skype with your keyboard and the built-in macOS screen reader, VoiceOver, to sign in and communicate with others. You can make calls or use instant messaging (IM) to chat. The information provided in this article is for use with the latest version of Skype. For more information please go to How do I update Skype?

Notes:

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to What are keyboard shortcuts and how do I use them in Skype?
• This article assumes that you are using a desktop with the built-in macOS screen reader, VoiceOver.
• Some navigation and gestures may be different depending on you macOS version, Skype version, and hardware.
• To learn more about accessibility features, go to What accessibility features are available for Skype?

In this topic

• Create a chat conversation
• Create a group chat
• Create a private conversation
• Find messages in a conversation
• React to a message
• Delete a conversation
• Add files to a conversation

Create a chat conversation

1. In the Skype main window, press Command+N.
2. Type the person's name, email, or phone number. The search is performed while you type.
3. To move to the list of results, press Control+Option+Right arrow repeatedly until you hear the first result.
   
   • If you hear there are "More" results, then browse the list by pressing the VoiceOver modifier (Control+Option) along with the Right or Left arrow keys. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
4. Once you have selected your contact, press Return to open the contact.
5. With the contact open, the focus moves to the Type a message input text field. Type the message and press Return to send it.

Create a group chat

You can have a conversation with two or more people at once.

1. In the Skype main window, press Command+G.
2. When you hear "Group name," type a name for the new group, then press Return.
3. When you hear "Add to Group dialog," type a contact's name you wish to add to the new group. The search is performed while you type.
4. To move to the list of results, pressControl+Option+Rightarrow until you hear a contact you wish to add. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
5. Press Return to select the contact and add them to the group.
   
   
   • To confirm selection, press the Control+Option+Right arrow until you hear "Checkbox checked" for your contact.
6. To add more people to the group, return to the Search text input field by pressingShift+Tab until you hear "Close Search," and then press Shift+Tab once more. Type the name of a new contact you wish to add to the group, and then repeat the process.
   
   
   • If you would like to confirm the members of your new group, press Shift+Taband listen for the contact names to be announced along with "Click to remove." Press Return if you wish to remove any contact from the group.
7. When you have added everyone you want, press Shift+Tab until you hear "Done," and then press Return.
8. The group chat is created, and the focus moves to the Type a message text input field. Type a message to the group and press Return to send it.

Create a private conversation

You can invite another person to a private conversation with you. Messages, media files, and calls in a private conversation are encrypted.

Notes:

• Private conversations can only be accessed on one device at a time.
• To keep the information you share private, private conversation content is hidden in the chat list notifications.

1. In the Skype main window, press Option+1 to open recent chats.
2. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "New chat," and press Return.
3. A menu opens. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "New private conversation," and then press Return.
4. The New Private Conversation dialog opens. Press the Tab key until you hear "Search people," and then press Return.
5. Type the name of the person you want to invite to a private conversation. The search is performed while you type.
6. To move to the list of the search results, press the Control+Option+Right arrow keys until you hear the first result. If there are more results, browse the list by pressing the VoiceOver modifier (Control+Option) along with the Right or Left arrow keys. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
7. To select a person, press Return. An invitation to join the private conversation is sent to them. They must accept the invitation before you can send them private conversation messages.
   

Note: To switch between your Skype and Private conversations with the same person, in the chat, press Shift+Tab until you hear "Skype conversation" or "Private conversation," then press the Right or Left arrow key until you hear the conversation you want to switch to. Press Return. The focus moves to the Type a message here text input field.

Find messages in a conversation

You can quickly search for a message within the current conversation.

1. In the chat, press Command+F to open the search text input field. You hear "Find messages in current conversation."
2. Type your search words. The search is performed while you type. VoiceOver reads the number of search results. The search results are ordered from newest to oldest.
3. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear the message containing the search result.
4. To move to another search result, press Shift+Tab repeatedly until you hear "Previous result" or "Next result," then press Return. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear the message containing the search result.

React to a message

1. In the chat, press Control+Option+Left arrow key until you hear the last message in the conversation.
2. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the message you want to react to.
   

   Note: You can only react to messages that other people have sent to you. Reactions are not available in Private conversations.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear "React to this message," and press Return.
4. Press the VoiceOver modifier keys (Control+Option) along with the Right or Left arrow keys until you hear the reaction you want, then press Return.

Delete a conversation

When you delete a chat, all the messages in the conversation are deleted, and the chat no longer shows in your recent chats.

Note: Deleting a conversation clears your copy of messages in a conversation and also removes the conversation from your chat list. If you start a new conversation with someone, where the conversation was previously deleted you won’t be able to see the conversation history.

1. In the Skype main window, press Option+1 to open recent chats.
2. Press the VoiceOver modifier keys (Control+Option) along with the Right or Left arrow keys to move to the conversation you want to delete.
3. With the conversation selected, press Control+Option+Shift+M to open the context menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Delete conversation," and then press Return.
4. If you have both a Skype conversation and a private conversation with the same person, press the Tab key to select whether you want to delete the Skype chat, Private conversation, or Delete all, and then press Return.
5. To confirm deleting the conversation, press the Tab key until you hear "Delete," and then press Return.

Add files to a conversation

You can add files to your chat as messages. The files are stored in the conversation gallery, and you can access them in the message list or in the conversation gallery.

1. In the chat, press the Tab key until you hear "Add files." Press Return. The Open file dialog opens.
2. Locate and select the file you want. Move in the dialog by using the Tab and arrow keys, then select the folders or files by pressing Return.
3. The selected file is added to the conversation.
   

Note: You can also add the file in the Gallery. To open the file dialog from the Gallery, press the Tab key until you hear "Gallery," and press Return. Press the Tab key until you hear "Drop here to share," and then press Return.

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.