Use a screen reader to chat in Skype for mobile

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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 a screen reader (VoiceOver on iOS devices, TalkBack on Android devices) to chat with other Skype users via instant message (IM). 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:

• This article assumes that you are on an Android phone or iPhone. Some navigation and gestures might be different on an Android tablet or iPad.
• This article assumes you are using TalkBack (for Android) or VoiceOver (for iOS).
• 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
• React to a message
• Delete a conversation
• Add photos and videos to a conversation

Create a chat conversation

1. In the Chats tab, swipe right or left until you hear "New conversation," and then double-tap the screen.
2. Swipe right. You hear "Search for people, groups, and messages." Double-tap the screen. Enter the person's name, address, or phone number. As you type, the screen reader announces the number of results found.
3. To access the result list, swipe right along the top of the screen until you hear the first search result. To browse in the list, swipe left or right. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
4. To select a person, double-tap the screen. The focus moves to the Type a message text input field.

Create a group chat

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

1. In the Chats tab, swipe right or left until you hear "New conversation," and then double-tap the screen.
2. Swipe right until you hear "New Group Chat," and then double-tap the screen.
3. Swipe right until you hear "Group name," and then double-tap the screen. Enter a name for the group.
4. Swipe right until you hear "Next," then double-tap the screen.
5. Swipe right until you hear "Search people and bots," then double-tap the screen to open the Search text input field.
6. To add a person to the group:
   • Enter the person's name. As you type, the screen reader announces the number of results found.
   • To access the result list, swipe right until you hear the first search result. To browse in the list, swipe left or right. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
   • To select a person, double-tap the screen.
     To add more people to the group, swipe left until you return to the Search text input field.
7. When you have added everyone you want, swipe left until you hear "Done," and then double-tap the screen.
8. The group chat is created, and the focus moves to the Type a message text input field.

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 Chats tab, swipe right or left until you hear "New conversation," and then double-tap the screen.
2. Swipe right until you hear "Private Conversation," and then double-tap the screen.
3. Swipe right. You hear "Search people." Double-tap the screen to open the Search text input field.
4. Type the name of the person you want to invite to a private conversation. As you type, the screen reader announces the number of results found.
5. To access the result list, swipe up with two fingers, and then swipe right until you hear the first search result. To browse in the list, swipe left or right. The screen reader announces the contacts as you move.
6. To select a person, double-tap the screen. 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, swipe up with two fingers, and then swipe right until you hear "Switch to Skype conversation" or "Switch to private conversation", then double-tap the screen. The focus moves to the Type a message here text input field.

React to a message

Notes:

• You can only react to messages that other people have sent you.
• You can't react to messages in private converations.

1. In the chat, swipe left or right until you hear the message you want to react to.
2. Double-tap and hold the screen.
3. Swipe up or down until you hear "React," then double-tap the screen.
4. To browse the available reactions, swipe left or right. When you hear the reaction you want, double-tap the screen.

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 Chats tab, swipe left or right to move to the conversation you want to delete.
2. Double-tap and hold the screen.
3. Swipe left or right until you hear "Delete conversation," then double-tap the screen.
4. If you have both a Skype chat and a private conversation with the same person, swipe right to select whether you want to delete the Skype chat, private conversation, or both, and then double-tap the screen.
5. To confirm deleting the conversation, swipe right until you hear "Delete," and then double-tap the screen.

Add photos and videos to a conversation

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

1. In the chat, swipe left or right until you hear "Open camera and media file picker," and then double-tap the screen.
2. Swipe left or right until you hear "Open gallery." Double-tap the screen. The media gallery opens.
3. Locate and select the file you want. Move in the gallery by swiping left or right. To select a file, double-tap the screen. You can select multiple files.
4. When you have selected the file or files you want, swipe up with two fingers, and then swipe right until you hear "Next." Double-tap the screen.
5. Swipe right until you hear "send to" and the name of the person you are sending it to, and then double-tap the screen. The file(s) is added to the conversation.

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.