upstream-mattermost/docs/main/end-user-guide/collaborate/keyboard-accessibility.mdx

---
title: "Keyboard accessibility"
---
<PlanAvailability slug="all-commercial" />

Navigational keyboard shortcuts help you use Mattermost in a web browser or the desktop app without needing a mouse. Below is a list of supported accessibility shortcuts.

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style={{width: '40%'}} />
<col style={{width: '60%'}} />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Keyboard shortcut</th>
<th>Description</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Desktop App: <kbd>F6</kbd><br/>Browser: <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> <kbd>F6</kbd></td>
<td>Move focus to the next section</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Desktop App: <kbd>Shift</kbd> <kbd>F6</kbd><br/>Browser: <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> <kbd>Shift</kbd> <kbd>F6</kbd></td>
<td>Move focus to the previous section</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><kbd>Tab</kbd></td>
<td>Move focus to the next element</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><kbd>Shift</kbd> <kbd>Tab</kbd></td>
<td>Move focus to the previous element</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><kbd>↑</kbd> or <kbd>↓</kbd></td>
<td>Move focus between messages in the post list or sections in the channel sidebar</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><kbd>Enter</kbd></td>
<td>Take action on the focused element</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Region navigation

Mattermost has eight regions that can be focused for navigation. Use <kbd>F6</kbd> in the desktop app, or use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> <kbd>F6</kbd> in a browser repeatedly to move focus and loop through the regions in this order:

1.  Message list region
2.  Message input region
3.  Right-hand side message list region
4.  Right-hand side message input region
5.  Team menu region
6.  Channel sidebar region
7.  Channel header region
8.  Search

![Navigate through the sections of Mattermost using a keyboard.](/images/navigation.gif)

## Message navigation

When the message list region is focused, use the <kbd>↑</kbd> or <kbd>↓</kbd> arrow keys to navigate through messages and reply threads. Press <kbd>Tab</kbd> to navigate through message actions.

![Navigate through Mattermost messages using a keyboard.](/images/message-navigation.gif)

### Message composition

Mattermost is compatible with most popular screen readers, such as [Apple VoiceOver](https://www.apple.com/ca/accessibility/vision/) or [JAWS for Windows](https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws/). A custom readout is composed for each message by combining the message elements and reading them together in full sentences. Message elements will read in the following order:

1.  Header: Author, timestamp, message type (i.e. parent post or reply)
2.  Main Content: The message content typed by the author
3.  Attachments: The number of attachments (if applicable)
4.  Emoji Reactions: The number of unique emoji reactions (if applicable)
5.  Saves/Pins: If a message is saved or pinned (if applicable)

For example, a message read by a screen reader may sound like the following:

``` text
Eric Sethna at 12:57pm Thursday June 13th wrote a reply "Thanks for the review", 3 attachments, 2 reactions, message is saved and pinned.
```

## Channel sidebar navigation

When the channel sidebar region is focused, use the <kbd>↑</kbd> or <kbd>↓</kbd> arrow keys to focus individual sidebar sections, such as Insights, Threads, Favorites, custom categories, public channels, private channels, and direct messages. Press <kbd>Tab</kbd> to navigate through channels or other buttons within a sidebar section.

![Navigate the Mattermost channel sidebar using a keyboard.](/images/channel-sidebar-navigation.gif)