Use a screen reader to add members to a distribution group in the Classic Exchange admin center in Exchange Online

Using a screen reader with the Classic Exchange admin center (Classic EAC) in Exchange Online, you can add and remove members of a distribution group.

Get started

Navigate with Internet Explorer and keyboard shortcuts, and make sure that you have the appropriate Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription plan and admin role to work in the EAC. Then, open the EAC and get started.

Use your browser and keyboard to navigate in the EAC

Exchange Online, which includes the EAC, is a web-based application, so the keyboard shortcuts and navigation may be different from those in Exchange 2016. Accessibility in the Exchange admin center.

For best results when working in the EAC in Exchange Online, use Internet Explorer as your browser. Learn more about Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts.

Many tasks in the EAC require the use of pop-up windows. In your browser, be sure to enable pop-up windows for Microsoft 365 or Office 365.

Confirm your Office 365 or Microsoft 365 subscription plan

Exchange Online is included in several different subscription plans. But capabilities may differ by plan. If your EAC doesn't include a function described in this article, your plan might not include it.

For more information about the Exchange Online capabilities in your subscription plan, go to What Office 365 business product or license do I have? and Exchange Online Service Description..

Open the EAC, and confirm your admin role

To complete the tasks covered in this topic, Use a screen reader to open the Exchange admin center and check that your global administrator has assigned you to the Organization Management and Records Management admin role groups. Use a screen reader to identify your admin role in the Exchange admin center.

Use the EAC to change distribution group membership

  1. In the EAC, in the primary navigation pane, tab to Recipients. You hear "Recipients, Primary navigation." Press Enter.

  2. To move the focus to the menu bar, press Ctrl+F6. You hear, "Mailboxes, Secondary navigation."

  3. Press the Left Arrow key until you hear "Groups, Secondary navigation," and then press Enter. Options for distribution groups appear.

  4. Press the Left Arrow key until you hear "Groups, Secondary navigation," and then press Enter. Options for distribution groups appear.

  5. To locate the distribution group you want to edit, use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys and then press Enter. The Distribution Group window opens for the group you selected. You hear "General tab..

  6. Press the Down Arrow key until you hear "Membership tab." A list of members appears with two controls: Add and Remove.

  7. To add a member:

    1. Tab to the Add button, and press Enter. The Select Members window opens and lists all users in your organization. The focus is on the Search button.

    2. Press Spacebar, and type all or part of a name. Users with that name appear in the Display Name table.

    3. Tab until you hear the first name listed, if any. (In JAWS, you hear "Out of table" and the name of the first user, if any were found. In Narrator, if you hear "Button" with no label, to move the focus into the table and hear the names, press Spacebar.) Select the user you want, tab until you hear "Add button," and then press Spacebar. You can add more names in this way.

    4. When you're finished, tab to the OK button and press Enter. The Select Member window closes.

  8. In the Distribution Group window, to remove a member, select a user in the members table and then press Shift+Tab until you hear "Remove." Press Enter.

  9. When you are finished, tab to the Save button and 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 have 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 visit the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find the contact details for your region.