JAWS – Restoring Open/Save dialogue experience for Microsoft Office apps

JAWS – Restoring Open/Save dialogue experience for Microsoft Office apps


Problem

When using the latest Microsoft Office on Windows 10/11 with JAWS or ZoomText users may discover the traditional Open/Save dialogue box experience which has been replaced by the backstage UI (user interface) which is confusing to use.

 

Resolution

Please choose from the below methods how to resolve this problem:


Method 1 - Use new hotkeys

Use the following shortcuts instead:

  1. Control+F12 – Open file
  2. F12 – Save file


Method 2 - Change Word options

It is also possible to make changes to Microsoft Word options to make the behaviour of the application more familiar when using the traditional keystrokes.

Using the mouse

  1. Click File > Options > Save.
  2. Then click to check the option “Don’t show backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts”.
  3. Then click OK button.

Using the keyboard

  1. Press Alt+F and press down arrow to Options and press ENTER.
  2. In the Options dialogue press DOWN ARROW until you reach Save in the categories list.
  3. Press TAB until you reach the option and press SPACEBAR to enable “Don’t show backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts”.
  4. Press TAB to reach OK button and press SPACEBAR on it. 

After making the above changes; Microsoft Office app will respond to pressing the CONTROL+O or CONTROL+S keystrokes by providing the Open/Save dialogue experience instead of the backstage UI.

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