Created by Microsoft as a collaboration app, Teams combines the most effective options from Microsoft Classroom and Skype for Business to create a program able to file storage, app integration, videoconferencing, prompt messaging, VoIP calling, and granular group of crew and collaborators.

Microsoft Teams is free to make use of. However, if you wish to unlock full performance with seamless syncing between OneDrive, Calendar, To Do, and different Microsoft apps, you will desire a Microsoft 365 account. For cellular units, merely head to the App Store, seek for “Microsoft Teams,” and set up the app.

Most trendy Windows PCs include Teams pre-installed. However, in case your laptop does not have it, the method is simple.

Teams is a unbelievable communication instrument for on a regular basis use. Not solely are you able to make video calls along with your family members, however you may as well textual content them through SMS instantly from Teams!

Setting it up is simple and will solely take a minute or two.

Step 1: In Windows, open the Start menu and choose Teams. On Mac, open the Launchpad and click on on Teams.

Step 2: Sign in along with your Microsoft account.

Businesses and organizations can arrange Teams simply as simply as people. The distinction is that the group might want to invite members to hitch its Team. This course of is straightforward sufficient, however every particular person on the crew might want to set up and arrange Teams on their finish.

Organizations may even want an lively Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise subscription to work, and so they’ll want a sound area identify. Another factor to notice is the complete Business or Enterprise variations of Teams will not be accessible for tutorial establishments.

Once all crew members have Teams put in, organising Teams for everyone to make use of is straightforward. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open Teams from the Start menu or Launchpad (on Mac).

Step 2: Select Sign up for Teams.

Step 3: Enter your group’s identification and press Next.

Step 4: Enter your particulars, then choose Set up Teams.

Step 5: Invite your crew to hitch your group.

Microsoft will e-mail you a hyperlink you should use to ask your crew members, or you’ll be able to click on on the Teams icon on the left-side menu and choose Invite individuals on the backside.

Chatting is arguably Teams’ strongest go well with. Whether as a person person or as a part of a company, chats preserve you related.

Microsoft Teams has the identical chatting capabilities you’d look forward to finding in different chat apps akin to WhatsApp and iMessage. It can be a robust competitor to Slack in terms of team-based chats. You’ll discover the app pretty simple to make use of.

Step 1: Select Chat from the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Select New Chat from the little field with a pen above it. You’ll discover this within the Chat window to the precise of the menu bar.

Step 3: Type the identify of the particular person or individuals with whom you want to chat within the “to” subject.

Teams will mechanically counsel individuals in your group or your contact record.

Step 4: Write your message within the Type new message subject.

You can simply discover all of your chats within the Chat menu. Teams will preserve them the second you start a brand new chat.

Channels are sections of your Team the place you’ll be able to preserve every thing organized by topic, initiatives, and many others. However, they’re referred to as Teams, not Channels. Yet in terms of utilization, Microsoft calls them Channels, and the general group is the “Team.” It’s complicated, we all know.

Channels (or Teams) are massive group chats the place complete groups of individuals (there it’s once more) can message one another, share information, be part of video conferences, and extra. Admins can set roles throughout the crew, akin to Team Owner and Team Member. They may designate moderators to handle content material on the channel … err, crew.

Each crew mechanically comes with a “basic” channel, however in case you’re operating a enterprise, you will most likely wish to break that down into extra centered silos. Here’s how.

Step 1: Click on the Teams icon within the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Click Join or create a Team on the backside of the display screen.

Step 3: Choose whether or not to create a crew From scratch or From a Group or Team so as to add any present group or crew contacts.

Step 4: Select Private, Public, or Org-wide on your Team’s privateness stage, then enter a reputation and outline.

Step 5: Select Create Team to complete the method.

One of Microsoft Teams standout options is the flexibility to share information giant and small along with your complete group. OneDrive and Sharepoint may be embedded proper into the applying, providing you with fast entry to your cloud information on each system.

Step 1: From a chat window, choose the Attach icon resembling a paperclip and click on both OneDrive or Upload from my laptop. You may copy and paste the sharing URL into the compose-message field.

Step 2: Sharing information is strictly the identical for channels, however the Attach choices additionally embody Recent and Browse Teams and Channels.

Step 3: After the file finishes attaching, choose Send to share your file.

Whiteboard entry is without doubt one of the latest additions to Microsoft Teams, and it turns the platform right into a productiveness powerhouse for companies and organizations. You can brainstorm, make diagrams, and doodle mindlessly whereas everybody watches.

The Whiteboard perform is just accessible throughout a crew assembly. However, admins will first must allow the flexibility.

Step 1: (Admins solely) Visit the Microsoft Teams Admin Center – opens in an online web page.

Step 2: Click Settings.

Step 3: Select Services and add-ins.

Step 4: Scroll right down to Whiteboard.

Step 5: Toggle Turn Whiteboard on or off for complete group to “on.”

Step 6: Head to the Teams icon within the left-side menu bar of the Teams app.

Step 7: Find the Team (aka Channel) with whom you wish to share a whiteboard.

Step 8: Click on the *Meet now * icon on the top-right nook of the Team chat (it appears like a movie digital camera).

Step 9: Name your assembly and press Join now.

Step 10: Once within the assembly, choose Share.

Step 11: In the Whiteboard part, choose Microsoft Whiteboard.

You can simply schedule conferences and stay occasions in Teams. and each member will probably be notified. Once they settle for, the assembly or occasion will seem of their Microsoft 365 calendar. You can do that with recurring occasions as properly.

Step 1: Go to the Teams tab within the left-side menu bar.

Step 2: Choose the crew with whom you wish to have a gathering.

Step 3: Click on Schedule a gathering beneath the chat field.

Step 4: Select Calendar on the left facet of the assembly pop-up.

Step 5: Click on New assembly.

Step 6: Select the date and time for the assembly from the pop-up.

Step 7: Select Save.

Step 8: Alternatively, you should use the Scheduling Assistant that can assist you discover the most effective time for a gathering with all of the crew members.

Scheduling Assistant is what Microsoft has down with Cortana, their now-defunct digital assistant. Select this feature, and the assistant will present you the free and busy instances of your crew members.

Teams lets you make one-on-one video calls or conduct group video calls with as much as 100 individuals. Everyone can chat, share information, and work on a whiteboard throughout these calls.

Step 1: From your chat record, choose the New chat button.

Step 2: Enter the identify or names of your contacts into the To subject on the high of the chat.

Step 3: Select the Video name button resembling a digital camera to begin a name.

You can share your display screen with crew members throughout a Teams video name. The course of is simple. Here’s how.

Step 1: While in a Teams assembly, click on Share within the heart of the display screen, then choose the window, doc, or display screen to share.

Step 2: When completed, click on Stop sharing within the backside proper.

Note {that a} crimson border seems round any content material that you’re actively sharing.

The Activity feed serves as a one-stop store for viewing all messages, whether or not you joined or got management of a crew, replies to your posts in addition to posts you’ve got favored, instructed posts, and trending posts. You will obtain a notification in each the Chat menu and Activity feed if you obtain a message, however different notifications may be discovered solely beneath Activities.

Any DMs despatched between people or teams will stay non-public, whereas sending a message in a channel will trigger a notification to look in your Activity feed. Channel messages may show you how to ship preview playing cards that element actions on the Teams app.

While Teams affords a plethora of choices together with language, keyboard shortcuts, and app settings, this is tips on how to arrange the three most essential settings. Namely, tips on how to change your profile image, configure your privateness settings, and select a theme.

Step 1: Select your Account icon within the top-right nook.

Step 2: Click Settings.

Step 1: From the Settings menu, choose Edit profile.

Step 2: Select the Upload image button to open a File Upload window.

Step 3: Select your new picture, and click on the Open button to add your photograph.

Step 4: Select Save.

Select the Security tab to regulate your safety settings, together with Do Not Disturb, precedence entry, call-blocking, learn receipts and survey participation.

Note that in case you change the learn receipt settings, you’ll have to shut all chats for the settings to take maintain.

Step 1: From the Teams app, choose your Account icon within the upper-right nook to open the primary menu and click on Settings.

Step 2: Select the General tab and determine between Default, Dark, and High Contrast.

The wonderful thing about Microsoft Teams is its potential to ship SMS messages to non-Teams customers. This perform is a perk to utilizing a private Teams account that companies haven’t got.

Step 1: Click on the Chat tab in left-side menu.

Step 2: Select New Chat.

Step 3: Enter your recipient’s cellphone quantity within the To: subject.

Step 4: Enter a reputation on your contact. They will not see the identify you assign — that is solely on your use.

Step 5: Type a message and ship it.

Teams is jam-packed with performance for organizations and people. Microsoft has clearly separated it from opponents like Slack by including a number of options, from Whiteboard to SMS messaging. It’s no marvel Teams is without doubt one of the most used enterprise functions on this planet immediately.

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