You can now use Immersive Reader with Outlook, Teams, or OneDrive

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Key notes

  • Microsoft really wasn't kidding when they said that Windows 11 will be the most accessible OS yet.
  • The Immersive reader has now been added to some of Microsoft's most used software and it started rolling out.
  • Outlook, OneDrive, and SharePoint applications are now equipped with Immersive Reader. to further boost accessibility.
  • Teams also has the new feature added, and it works in chats and posts, so you can more easily keep up with conversations and discussions.
immersive reader

Since accessibility has been a focal point of many of Microsoft’s products, it’s only natural that the next feature the company announces is the Immersive Reader.

Already available in places like the Edge browser, this feature helps users focus on the text on a page, or have it read to them out loud.

Microsoft is announcing that this feature is rolling out to four more products in its family.

Immersive Reader introduced to many Microsoft products

Immersive Reader is now available in the Outlook Desktop app for Windows. When reading an email message, there’s now a tab in the top-level menu for enabling the feature.

You can customize the background color, text spacing, and use features like Line Focus to make reading easier.

The Immersive Reader can also be used when composing an email, so you can more easily detect typos or other errors.

This is now available in the Current Channel, and it will roll out to the Semi-Annual Channel later this year.

This feature has also fully rolled out for OneDrive on the web, and it will work for documents and text files stored on the service.

You can use the Open dropdown menu to open a file in the Immersive Reader. It comes with similar features, like changing background colors, spacing, and so on.

Additionally, for business and education customers, Microsoft has also rolled out support for Immersive Reader in SharePoint pages, including features like translation.

Source: Microsoft

Immersive Reader also added to Teams

Microsoft Teams mobile users can now rejoice, as the iOS and Android apps also now support the Immersive Reader.

This will work in chats and posts, so you can more easily keep up with conversations and discussions.

The Redmond company says the feature has rolled out completely all over the world as well, and it comes with similar capabilities as the other apps.

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							Immersive Reader now available in Outlook Desktop, Teams mobile, OneDrive and SharePoint

SharePoint pages also have this feature

Another area where Microsoft was lacking, according to the community, was making SharePoint pages more accessible with the Immersive Reader.

Last fall, the tech giant hosted an internal hackathon to prototype this, and today they are already annoucing that Immersive Reader for SharePoint Pages has rolled out globally to all commercial and education tenants.

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							Immersive Reader now available in Outlook Desktop, Teams mobile, OneDrive and SharePoint

There are already big differences accessibility-wise, between Windows 10 and the upcoming OS, meaning that Microsoft is indeed serious about making Windows 11 way more accessible than its predecessor.

This can only be good news, even though the company still has a long way to go perfecting Windows 11.

How do you feel about these new features being added to your favorite apps? Let us know in the comments section below.