Use a screen reader to create and update tasks in Microsoft Planner

This article is for people 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 Microsoft Planner with your keyboard and a screen reader to create and update tasks. We have tested it with Narrator, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll learn how to add tasks to a plan, add start and due dates to a task, and assign or delete tasks.

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 Planner, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Planner runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in a 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 Planner.

In this topic

Add a task to a plan

  1. After you sign in to Planner, the focus is on the list of your plans and your screen reader announces the name and confidentiality of the first plan. Press the Tab key until you find the plan you want to work with, and press Enter. The focus moves to the board.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "All plans tab item" or "Recent plans tab item," depending on which one you want to use, and press Enter.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Column," followed by the name of the bucket you want to add the task to.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear "Add task card in," followed by the name of the bucket, and then press Enter.

  4. Enter a name for the task, and then press the Tab key. You hear: "Set due date."

  5. If you want to add a due date for the task, press Enter and then use the date picker to select a date. Whether you do or not, press the Tab key to move forward. You hear: "Not assigned. Open to assign users."

  6. If you want to assign users to the task:

    1. Press Enter. You hear "Editing," and the user assignment dialog box is opened.

    2. You can filter the list of users by entering your search term in the Type a name or email address field, or browse the list of all users. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the user you want to add, and then press Enter to select them.

    3. The focus returns to the Type a name or email address field. If you want to assign more users to the task, repeat step b. When you have assigned all the users you want, press Esc to close the user assignment dialog box.

  7. Press the Tab key until you hear "Add task," and then press Enter to add the task to the bucket.

Add start and due dates to a task

  1. After you sign in to Planner, the focus is on the list of your plans and your screen reader announces the name and confidentiality of the first plan. Press the Tab key until you find the plan you want to work with, and press Enter. The focus moves to the board.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "All plans tab item" or "Recent plans tab item," depending on which one you want to use, and press Enter.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Column," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the task you want to modify, then press Enter to open the Task details dialog box.

  4. In the Task details dialog box, press the Tab key until you hear "Start date," and press Enter to edit the task start date.

  5. Select a new start date with the arrow keys and press Enter to accept it and return to the Task details dialog box.

  6. Press the Tab key until you hear "Due date," and press Enter to edit the task due date.

  7. Select a new due date with the arrow keys and press Enter to accept it and return to the Task details dialog box.

  8. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "Close dialog," and press Enter.

Assign a task

To assign a new user to an existing task, or remove an assigned user from it:

  1. After you sign in to Planner, the focus is on the list of your plans and your screen reader announces the name and confidentiality of the first plan. Press the Tab key until you find the plan you want to work with, and press Enter. The focus moves to the board.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "All plans tab item" or "Recent plans tab item," depending on which one you want to use, and press Enter.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Column," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the task you want to modify, then press the Right arrow key until you hear "More options," and press Enter.

  4. In the More options pop-up menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Assign," and then press Enter to open the user assignment dialog box.

  5. To assign a new user to the task, enter your search term in the Type a name or email address field, then press the Tab key until you hear the user name you want, and press Enter.

  6. To remove an existing user assigned to a task, press the Tab key until you hear "Remove <user name> from this task," and then press Enter.

  7. Press Esc to close the user assignment dialog box.

Delete a task

  1. After you sign in to Planner, the focus is on the list of your plans and your screen reader announces the name and confidentiality of the first plan. Press the Tab key until you find the plan you want to work with, and press Enter. The focus moves to the board.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Press Shift+Tab until you hear "All plans tab item" or "Recent plans tab item," depending on which one you want to use, and press Enter.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Column," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task.

  3. Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the task you want to delete, then press the Right arrow key until you hear "More options," and press Enter.

  4. In the More options pop-up menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Delete," and then press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to create a plan and add buckets in Microsoft Planner

Use a screen reader to group and filter tasks on a board in Microsoft Planner

Keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Planner

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Planner

Use Microsoft Planner with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to create and update tasks. You'll learn how to add tasks to a plan, add start and due dates to a task, and assign or delete tasks.

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 iOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, visit Apple accessibility.

In this topic

Add a task to a plan

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe right until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket you want to add the task to.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Add a task," and double-tap the screen. You hear: "Task title."

  4. Use the on-screen keyboard to enter a name for the task.

  5. Swipe right until you hear "Done," and then double-tap the screen to finish creating the task.

Add start and due dates to a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe right until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Set start and due dates," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Dates."

  5. Do one of the following:

    • To set the start date, swipe right until you hear "Start date," and then double-tap the screen. Use the date picker to select a start date.

    • To set the due date, swipe right until you hear "Due date," and then double-tap the screen.

  6. Use the date picker to select the date you want, then swipe left until you hear "Done," and then double-tap the screen to return to the Edit task view.

  7. Double-tap the screen to close the Edit task view. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

Assign a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe right until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Assign member," and then double-tap the screen. The Assign member view opens.

  5. Swipe right to browse the list of users, and then double-tap the screen when you hear the one you want to assign to the task.

    Alternatively, to filter the list of users, swipe right until you hear "Search members," then double-tap the screen and use the on-screen keyboard to enter a search term. Then browse the list of users by swiping right until you hear the one you want, and then double-tap the screen to select them.

    Tip: You can assign multiple users to a task at the same time.

  6. Swipe left until you hear "Back button," and double-tap the screen to close the Assign member view and return to the Edit task view.

  7. Double-tap the screen to close the Edit task view. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

Delete a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe right until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "More options," and double-tap the screen. You hear: "Delete."

  5. Double-tap the screen to delete the task. The Delete task pop-up window opens. Swipe right until you hear "Delete," and double-tap the screen to confirm the deletion. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

See also

Use a screen reader to create a plan and add buckets in Microsoft Planner

Use a screen reader to group and filter tasks on a board in Microsoft Planner

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Planner

Use Microsoft Planner with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, to create and update tasks. You'll learn how to add tasks to a plan, add start and due dates to a task, and assign or delete tasks.

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 Android screen reader, TalkBack. To learn more about using TalkBack, go to Android accessibility.

In this topic

Add a task to a plan

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe left with two fingers until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket you want to add the task to.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Add a task," and double-tap the screen.

  4. Use the on-screen keyboard to enter a name for the task.

  5. Swipe right until you hear "Add," and then double-tap the screen to finish creating the task.

Add start and due dates to a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe left with two fingers until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Set start and due dates," and then double-tap the screen. You hear: "Popup window, start date."

  5. Do one of the following:

    • To set the start date, double-tap the screen.

    • To set the due date, swipe right until you hear "Due date," and then double-tap the screen.

  6. Use the date picker to select the date you want, then swipe left until you hear "OK," and then double-tap the screen to return to the Edit task view.

  7. Swipe left until you hear "Navigate up," and then double-tap the screen to close the Edit task view. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

Assign a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe left with two fingers until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Assign member," and then double-tap the screen. The Assign member view opens.

  5. Swipe right to browse the list of users, and then double-tap the screen when you hear the one you want to assign to the task. You hear: "Checked."

    Alternatively, to filter the list of users, swipe right until you hear "Search people," then double-tap the screen and use the on-screen keyboard to enter a search term. Then browse the list of users by swiping right until you hear the one you want, and double-tap the screen to select them. You hear: "Checked."

    Tip: You can assign multiple users to a task at the same time.

  6. Swipe left until you hear "Navigate up," and double-tap the screen to close the Assign member view and return to the Edit task view.

  7. Swipe left until you hear "Navigate up," and then double-tap the screen to close the Edit task view. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

Delete a task

  1. In the Planner Hub view, swipe right until you hear the name of the plan you want to work on, then double-tap the screen.

    Note: If you don't find the plan you want in the list, you can change it to show all plans instead of only recently opened plans. Swipe right until you hear "See all plans," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. Swipe right until you hear "Bucket," followed by the name of the bucket that contains the task you want to modify.

  3. Swipe right until you hear "Task," followed by the name of the task you want, and then double-tap the screen to open the Edit task view.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "More options," and double-tap the screen. You hear: "Delete."

  5. Double-tap the screen to delete the task. The focus returns to the bucket in the Planner Hub view.

See also

Use a screen reader to create a plan and add buckets in Microsoft Planner

Use a screen reader to group and filter tasks on a board in Microsoft Planner

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Microsoft Planner

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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