Use a screen reader to view and navigate a profile in Skype for Windows

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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 your keyboard and a screen reader, such as NVDA or Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, to view and navigate the profile of a contact or someone you have chatted with. From the profile, you can start calls or conversations, block or remove a contact, or change chat settings. 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?
• We recommend using Skype for Windows with the NVDA screen reader and Skype for Windows 10 & 11 (version 15) with Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader.
• To learn more about accessibility features go to What accessibility features are available for Skype?

In this topic

• View a profile
• Navigate a profile
  • Add a contact to favorites
  • Rename a contact
  • Start a chat or call
  • Use the Chat gallery
  • Configure chat settings
  • Remove or block a contact

View a profile

1. In Skype, press either Alt+1 to open the Chats list, or Alt+2 to open the Contacts list, depending on if you want to view the profile of a Skype contact or a chat session.
2. In the Chats or Contacts list, navigate to the contact whose profile you want to access, and press the Menu key to open the context menu.
3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "View profile," and press Enter. The User profile dialog opens.

Navigate a profile

You can access many actions from the profile of a contact or someone you've chatted with.

Note: Not all actions are supported for all profiles.

Add a contact to favorites

In a profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Add to favorites," and press Enter to toggle it on. Chats or contacts selected as favorites show up at the top of the Skype Chats or Contacts list.

Rename a contact

1. In a profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Edit Profile button," and then press Enter.
2. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the contact. Enter the new name for the contact.
3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Save", and then press Enter.

Note: Changing the name of a contact only changes how their name appears to you.

Start a chat or call

To start a chat or a call with a contact, do one of the following:

• To send a message, press the Tab key until you hear "Send message," and then press Enter to open a chat pane with the contact.
• To start a call, press the Tab key until you hear "Start call," and then press Enter.
• To start a video call, press the Tab key until you hear "Start video call," and then press Enter.
• To start a private conversation, press the Tab key until you hear "Start private conversation," and then press Enter to send an invitation to a private conversation. Messages, media files, and calls in a private conversation are encrypted.

Use the Chat gallery

The Chat gallery contains photos, files, and web links shared in a chat. You can use it to easily browse previously shared content, and to add more.

1. In a profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Open Chat gallery," and then press Enter. The profile is closed, and the Chat gallery opens.
2. To filter the contents of the Chat gallery, press the Tab key until you hear "Media filter menu," and then press Enter. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select which option you want, then press Enter to select it.
3. To share a file, press the Tab key until you hear "Drop here to share," and press Enter to open the Open dialog. Select the file you wish to share, press the Tab key until you hear "Open," and then press Enter.

Configure chat settings

You can access the settings from a chat profile. You can toggle notifications on and off or delete an entire conversation. If you have opened a private chat, you can also toggle notifications for the private chat separately, delete the private chat, or end the private chat, which lets you continue chatting without end-to-end encryption.

• In a chat profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Chat settings," and press Enter.
• Press the Tab key until you hear the setting you want, and then press Enter to select it.

Remove or block a contact

To remove a contact:

1. In a profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Remove from contact list," and then press Enter. The Remove from contact list window opens.
2. Press Enter to confirm removal.

To block a contact:

1. In a user profile, press the Tab key until you hear "Block contact," and then press Enter.
2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Report abuse from this person." If you want to report abuse, press Spacebar to toggle the option. To select a reason for your report, press the Tab key until you hear the option you want and press Spacebar again.
3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Block," and then press Enter.

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.