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Use a screen reader to select columns to display in a document library in SharePoint Online

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.

Use SharePoint in Microsoft 365 with your keyboard and a screen reader to customize the columns displayed in a document library. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. For example, in addition to the Name, Modified, and Modified by columns, you may want to display the ID, Created by, Check In Comment, or Compliance Flag columns. Selecting relevant columns to display can make your document library easier to navigate.

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.

  • When you use SharePoint in Microsoft 365, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because SharePoint in Microsoft 365 runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

  1. Sign in to your organization’s Microsoft 365 account, start the SharePoint app, and then open your document library.

    Tip: Document libraries in SharePoint Online have two different views: classic and SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience. For most people, SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience is the default. However, if you hear “Check it out button” when navigating your document library, you’re using the classic experience. To view SharePoint in Microsoft 365 document libraries, when you hear “Check it out button,” press Enter. After the view of your document library changes to the SharePoint in Microsoft 365 experience and the focus moves from the Check it out button to the New link, you hear the name of your document library, followed by “New.”

  2. Go to the document library where you’d like to show or hide columns.

  3. In List view or Tiles view, press the Tab key until you hear “List of folders and files."

    Tips: To switch between List view and Tiles view:

    1. Make sure no files or folders are selected. The New button and View Options menu are available on the menu bar only when no files are selected in the document library.

    2. Press the Tab key until you hear “New.”

    3. Press the Right arrow key until you hear “View options,” and press Enter.

    4. Press the Down arrow key until you hear “List” or “Tiles,” and press Enter.

  4. Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Add column," and then press Enter.

  5. Press the Down arrow key until you hear “Show/hide columns,” and press Enter. The Edit View Columns dialog opens.

  6. To move to the list of columns, press the Tab key. The screen reader reads the name of the first column header in the list.

  7. To move to the column you want to display, press the Up and Down arrow keys until you hear the one you want and, to select or clear a check box, press Spacebar.

  8. To apply your selections, press Shift+Tab until you hear “Apply,” and press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to create a custom view of a document library in SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to upload files to a document library in SharePoint Online

Keyboard shortcuts in SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate SharePoint Online

Use SharePoint in Microsoft 365 with your keyboard and a screen reader to customize the columns displayed in a document library. We have tested it with Narrator and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. For example, in addition to the Name, Modified, and Modified by columns, you may want to display the File Size, Created By, or Check In Comment columns. Selecting relevant columns to display can make your document library easier to navigate.

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.

  • When you use SharePoint in Microsoft 365, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because SharePoint in Microsoft 365 runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

  1. Go to the document library where you’d like to show or hide columns.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear “List of folders and files."

  3. Press the Right arrow key until you hear “Add column," and then press Enter.

  4. Press the Up arrow key until you hear “Show/hide columns,” and press Enter. The Edit View Columns dialog box opens.

  5. To move to the list of columns, press the Tab key. The screen reader reads the name of the first column header in the list.

  6. To move to the column you want to display, press the Up and Down arrow keys until you hear the one you want and, to select or clear a check box, press Spacebar.

  7. To apply your selections, press Shift+Tab until you hear “Apply,” and press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to create a custom view of a document library in SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to upload files to a document library in SharePoint Online

Keyboard shortcuts in SharePoint Online

Basic tasks using a screen reader with SharePoint Online

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate SharePoint Online

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