Use a screen reader to share your screen in Skype for Business
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This article is for people who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Windows tools or features and Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Accessibility help & learning content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.

Use Skype for Business with your keyboard and Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, to share your screen with the audience in your meeting. You can share your entire screen (Share your Desktop) when you want to display actions in multiple programs, or you can share just a single program (Share a Window) when you only need to show one program or group of files, and don’t want people to see anything else on your computer.

To be able to share content in a Skype for Business meeting, you need to be a presenter. If the option is unavailable, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter rights.

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.

  • This topic makes note of the JAWS functionality as well. To learn more about JAWS for Windows, go to JAWS for Windows Quick Start Guide.

  • For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts in Skype for Business.

  • This topic assumes you are using this app with a PC. Some navigation and gestures might be different for a Windows phone or tablet.

In this topic

Use the sharing toolbar

When you are sharing your screen or a program, Skype for Business displays a toolbar at the top of the screen with buttons to control the sharing. On the sharing toolbar, you can:

  • Give control of your desktop to other people in the meeting, or take back control, if someone else has control.

  • Stop presenting your screen or a program.

  • Pin the toolbar to make it always visible.

  1. To move the keyboard focus onto the toolbar, press Ctrl+Shift+Space.

  2. To move between items on the toolbar, press Tab. You hear your screen reader announce the item.

  3. To select an option on the toolbar, press Enter.

  4. To switch the focus back into the call or meeting window, press Esc.

Share your screen or program

Note: To be able to share content in a Skype for Business meeting, you need to be a presenter. If the option is unavailable, ask one of the presenters to give you presenter rights.

Tip: When you share your desktop, everyone in the meeting can see all of your programs, files, and notifications. Close or minimize programs you don’t want people to see, before you start presenting your desktop.

Tip: While you’re sharing a single program, your Skype for Business status changes to In a conference call. When you’re sharing your entire desktop, the status changes to Presenting, and you won’t receive instant messages or calls.

  1. To move through the chat or meeting window controls, press Tab until you hear: "Share button, share content."

  2. To open the Share Content menu, press Spacebar. You hear: “Share your desktop.”

  3. To present your entire desktop to all meeting participants, press Enter.

    Notes: 

    • If you hear "Skype for Business window, Cancel button," the following notification is displayed: "FYI: People will be able to see everything on the monitor you chose.”

    • If you don't want this notification to appear each time you share your desktop, press Tab until you hear "Unchecked, Don't show this again, check box" and press Spacebar.

    • To start sharing your desktop, press Tab until you hear: "OK, button."

    Your entire desktop is now visible to everyone in the meeting. The focus returns to the Skype for Business meeting window.

  4. To present only one program, on the Share Content menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear: “Share a Window.” Then press Enter. This opens the Share a Window window, which lists all active programs on your computer. The focus is on the Cancel button. You hear: “Share a Window, window, Cancel button.”

    • To move to the first available program to present, press Tab. You hear the name of the program.

    • To move through the available programs, press the Left or Right arrow key. When you hear the name of the program you want to present, press Spacebar. The Share button is now enabled. Then press Enter. This shares the program with everyone in the call, and returns the focus to the Skype for Business meeting window.

    Tip: When presenting a single program, the shared program displays a black square if the Skype for Business meeting window is on top of it. If you have multiple monitors, try moving the meeting window to the secondary monitor so that it is never on top of your shared program.

  5. To stop sharing your screen, press Ctrl+Shift+Space. The focus moves to the toolbar at the top of the screen. Press Tab until you hear “Stop sharing button” and press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to join an online meeting in Skype for Business

Use a screen reader to make or receive a call in Skype for Business

Keyboard shortcuts in Skype for Business

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Skype for Business

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Learn how to navigate Skype for Business using accessible features

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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