Get help

• To get started with Outlook at UW-Madison, refer to Microsoft 365 - Setup/configure Outlook on mobile device or desktop computer or go to the Microsoft 365 service page.

• For information on the New desktop client, refer to Microsoft 365 - Introducing New Outlook for Windows.

• Contact the DoIT Help Desk for general assistance or to report an accessibility or usability barrier.

• For more help, access Microsoft’s accessibility support for Outlook. Contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for answers to questions regarding accessibility features and using assistive technology with Microsoft products.

Accessibility and usability barriers 

The following barriers were identified through testing a select number of pages and tasks in Microsoft Outlook’s Classic desktop client, New desktop client, and web inbox. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the barriers a user may encounter in Outlook. 

Keyboard navigation barriers

Barriers encountered in the Classic desktop client include the following:

• Overall, using the Classic Outlook client may be difficult for keyboard users because navigation relies heavily on the use of keyboard shortcuts and most interactive elements have light-weight focus styling.

• Performing an Advanced Search may be extremely difficult if not impossible for keyboard users due to limited keyboard navigability of some Advanced Search fields. 

• Previewing an attached file may be extremely difficult if not impossible for keyboard users. The file submenu and “Preview file” button are not reachable by keyboard, and once the file preview opens, neither the navigation bar nor the document content itself is accessible by keyboard.

Barriers encountered in the New desktop client and web inbox include the following:

• Keyboard focus moves to the bottom of the page after escaping the Search Filters flyout.

• When previewing an attached file in the web version of Outlook, there is a focus trap in the lower-right corner of the file preview pane (Zoom Level and “Give Feedback to Microsoft” link).

• In the New desktop client, the focus outline around the “New Outlook” toggle button may be difficult to notice due to its light line weight. This focus styling barrier affects a few elements throughout the application.

Screen reader barriers

Barriers encountered in the Classic desktop client include the following:

• Overall, using the Classic Outlook client may be difficult for screen reader users because navigation relies heavily on the use of keyboard shortcuts.

• Sorting and filtering messages may be difficult for screen reader users due to the Sort toggle state not being announced and one filter grouping not being announced.

• Some content is not discoverable by screen reader unless mouse tracking is on. This affects some content in File options and most aspects of attempting to preview an attached file.

• There is at least one instance of a link that lacks a descriptive label for assistive technology.

Barriers encountered in the New desktop client and web inbox include the following:

• There are no status announcements for content that may take time to load, such as the search results list.

• When previewing an attached file, both in standard preview mode and in Accessibility Mode, an attached document’s content is not announced with full functionality (compared with opening the document in its source application).

• In the side navigation bar, the More Apps button does not have an accessible label. The Search field within the More Apps flyout is also not labeled.

Color contrast barriers

Barriers encountered in the Classic desktop client include the following:

• When previewing an attached file, the navigation bar icons have low contrast in both default state and in hover state.

• In the dialog that opens upon selecting “Try the new Outlook,” the Switch and Cancel buttons have low contrast between the focus state and the default state, which could make it difficult to tell which button has focus.