Use a screen reader to chat in Skype for Windows

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As part of Skype Accessibility, this article was created for people with visual impairments using screen reader programs with Skype. The Skype Support home page offers more general information.

Chat with other Skype users via instant message (IM) with your keyboard and a screen reader like Narrator, Microsoft’s built-in screen reader, or NVDA. It is recommended to use this information with the most recent version of Skype. Here is more information on updating Skype: How do I do it?

Create a chat conversation

1. Press Ctrl+N in the Skype main window.

2. Please provide the telephone number, address, or name of the person. When you type, a search is conducted.

3. The first result will be heard when you press the Tab key repeatedly. Using the Down and Up arrow keys, you can navigate the list of results if there are more than one. As you move through the contacts, the screen reader announces them.

   • As a result of your search, you may see your current contacts on the list, as well as more people with whom you share a mutual connection. Press Enter to see the remaining results, if there are more results. Press “More button” to hear “More people grouping.”

4. You can select a person by pressing Enter. Focus shifts to the text input field for Type a message.

Create a private conversation

A private conversation can be started with another person. Communication in a private conversation is encrypted, including messages, media files, and phone calls.

1. Select the Chats tab in the Skype main window by pressing Alt+1, then Shift+Tab. The message “New chat” will appear. The New chat menu will appear when you press Enter.

2. Using the Up or Down arrow keys, you can move between list items.

3. Enter after you hear “New private conversation.” Follow the arrow key down until you hear “New private conversation.”

4. You will hear “Search people” after pressing Tab repeatedly, then when you press Enter you will hear “Search.”.

5. To invite someone to a private conversation, type their name. Searches are performed as you type.

6. By pressing Tab repeatedly, you can move through the results list. The Down and Up arrows can be used to browse the list if there are more results. As you move from one contact to another, the screen reader announces them.

7. You can select a person by pressing Enter. It is sent to them an invitation to participate in the private conversation. Messages sent to them via private conversation must be accepted by them.

Find messages in a conversation

The current conversation can be quickly searched for a particular message within it.

1. As you type Ctrl+F into the chat box, you hear “Find messages in the current conversation.” and the search text input field opens.

2. Press Enter after you have typed in your search terms. After you click on the search button, you will hear how many results there are. In order to sort the search results, the newest results are displayed first, followed by the oldest.

3. In order to hear the message containing the search result, you must repeatedly press the Tab key on your keyboard.

4. Press the Shift key and tab key at the same time until you hear “Previous result” or “Next result,” under the search box you have selected, then press Enter to move to another search result. When you see the message containing the search result, you should repeatedly press the Tab key until you hear it.

React to a message

1. If you are in a chat room, you will hear the last message when you press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear it.

2. Using the Up or Down arrow keys, you will be able to hear the message you wish to react to. Take note that you are only able to respond to messages that have been sent to you by other people. When a conversation is in private mode, reactions are not available.

3. In order to react to this message, you need to press Tab and then enter until you hear “React to this message”.

4. When you hear the reaction you are looking for, press Enter after pressing the Tab key for a few seconds.

Delete a conversation

The messages in a conversation are deleted when you delete a chat, and the chat is no longer listed in your recent chats list after you delete a chat.

1. The Chats tab can be found in the Skype window by pressing Alt+1.

2. When you are in your chat list, you can access it by pressing the Tab key.

   • A conversation list grouping feature is available in NVDA.

   • You will hear “Favorites, favorite,” as well as the name of the first result in Favorites when you have Favorites enabled in Narrator. The name of the first result in the Chats list will be heard if you do not select “Chats” and “Chats” in the search box.

3. To move to the conversation you wish to delete, press the Up and Down arrow keys on your keyboard.

4. Once the context menu has been opened by pressing the Menu key, then pressed the Down arrow until you heard “Delete conversation” before pressing the Enter key.

5. You will need to press the Tab key on your keyboard to select if you want to delete only the Skype conversation, only the private conversation, or both of them, and then press Enter to delete them both. When you select both, you will be asked to confirm.

6. Upon clicking the Down arrow key, you will hear the words “Delete,” and then you will have to tap Enter to confirm that the conversation has been deleted.

Add files to a conversation

As part of your chat, you are able to send files as messages. There is a corresponding gallery where you can access the files in the message list as well as in the conversation gallery, which is found in the conversation list.

1. When you hear the message “Add files”, press the Tab key until you hear the message “Add files.” Press Enter to open the dialog box that appears.

2. You can use the Tab key and the Up and Down arrow keys of your keyboard to navigate through the dialog box, and then select the folder or file you want by pressing Enter once you have located it. There will be a text input field for you to enter the message text after you select the file you want to add.

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Our goal at Microsoft is to ensure that our customers receive the best possible experience. Please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance if you have a disability or accessibility questions. Support can be provided in English, Spanish, French, as well as American Sign Language by the disability Answer Desk support team, which is trained in many popular assistive technologies. For contact details in your region, please visit the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk website.

To reach the enterprise Disability Answer Desk, please contact the government, commercial, or enterprise users.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use split window view in Skype?

I want to use Skype’s split window view on my desktop. How can I do that?

• Select the. View more menus.

• The Split View mode should be enabled.

• Contacts and conversations are split into separate windows and can be positioned anywhere on the screen.

How do you use Skype chat box?

What is the procedure for sending a Skype instant message?

• From the. You can instant message someone or a group from the Chats tab.

• When you are in the chat window, type your message and click the . Click on the Send button to send your message. The following is a short guide on how to access the message you sent most recently within a chat. You can find this button on the right at the bottom of the screen. In Skype for Android 4.0.4.1 – 5.1, this feature is not available.

Is there a chat box on Skype?

It is possible to access the icons in the top right corner of the Skype screen by clicking on them. On the bottom of the screen, there is a chat box that you can use. The text message field can be used during the call so that you can send a text message to the other party.

Is there a chat function on Skype?

There are a number of different actions you can perform in your Skype chat by using chat commands. You can see the list of commands available by typing /help into the chat window in order to see a list of them. During a chat, only the chat options relevant to the person you are currently in a chat with will be displayed.

Where is chat box in Skype?

To move to the Chats tab, press Alt+1 on the Skype window to move to the Chats tab. When you are on the list of chats on your computer, you can access them by pressing the Tab key.

Can you chat on Skype without video?

The answer to this question is yes, it is possible. By using the phone button, you will be able to start and answer a call. If you are using the camera button to start/answer a call, only your video will be activated and you won’t be able to see anyone else.

Where are Skype conversations stored Windows 10?

The default Skype chat history location is: C:\Users\WindowsUsername\AppData\Roaming\Skype\SkypeUsername. If you want to store all of the files and documents sent to you by your contacts over Skype, you can create a My Skype Received Files folder in C:/Users/WindowsUsername/AppData/Roaming/Skype/.

How can I chat on Skype without downloading?

Regardless of whether you have access to a phone or desktop app, Skype is always on hand to provide you with the full Skype experience. Just go to the web site located at web.skype.com, sign in, and you will be able to use the Skype application within the web browser. You will be able to access all of the features of the program in just a few clicks, and it is very easy to use.

How do I minimize my screen on Skype?

Click on the window that says Skype to close it.

Skype can be closed by clicking the red “X” icon located at the top-right corner of the app window to close it. In the System Tray, you will see the Skype icon minimized as a Skype icon for the duration of the session.

How do I maximize my screen on Skype?

To zoom in, out, or to view the actual size with Windows, select Alt + V to bring up the View menu. You can also zoom in by pressing Ctrl + Shift + =. Ctrl + – for zooming out. Ctrl + 0 for actual size.

How do I turn off split screen on Skype?

Steps. Click on View > Split Window > Remove Split when the screen has been split vertically and/or horizontally.

All images and contents credit goes to supportskype.com