How to Access Microsoft Teams

This article will explain the various ways an end user can access Microsoft Teams on their personal devices.

To Access Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams may be accessed one of three (3) ways.

1. Desktop Application. At your start menu, click the menu and look for “Microsoft Teams.” You might also have a folder called “Microsoft Corporation” and it may be accessed in there.
2. Phone Application. In your phone, there is either a “Play Store” for Android phones, or an “iTunes Store” for Apple Phones. Access these stores and download the Microsoft Teams app from Microsoft. Log in like you normally log in to your office account and it will set up automatically.
3. Web Version. At the top of your browser (Chrome, Edge, Explorer, Firefox) you should have a bookmark to either Microsoft Office, or Sharepoint. Click either of those, and log in if you’re prompted. At the top left, you will see nine little blocks stacked on-top of one another, that looks like this.
   
   
   

Click on those, and on the dropdown menu, find Microsoft Teams and click on it. From here, it will ask if you want to download it. If IT is on-staff, we will assist in downloading/installing it for you. If not, and you want to use the web version, click on the link at the bottom of the page that says “Use the web client instead.” You will be redirected to Teams, and able to use it like normal!

Accessing Basic Features within Microsoft Teams

To create a new Chat with someone

1. Have Microsoft Teams open, and RIGHT click on the “Chat” button on the far left of the menu. Select New Chat.
   
   

From here, a new chat window will open. At the top, you will enter in a recipient to add them to the chat.

From here, your chat will open, and you may begin to talk to that person in a private chat that only the two of you will see.

To Create a new Group Chat

1. Create your chat as outlined above. At the top right of your screen there should be an icon in-which you can add more people to the chat. The icon is two people figures with a + sign next to them.
   

To make a call using Chat

1. As outlined above, when you’re satisfied with the number of people in the chat, you may make a phonecall to them using the little “phone” button at the top right of the screen, usually outlined in purple.
   
   

To turn on Screen Sharing while on a call

1. As outlined above, when you’re satisfied with the number of people in the chat, you may share your screen with them by clicking on the little button at the top right of the screen. This button has a rectangle with an up-arrow pointing into it.

To Create a new Team

1. Unlike creating a new chat, you create a new Team via clicking on Teams, and at the bottom of the middle section, there will be an option to “Create or Join a New Team.” Select this option.
   
   
   From here, select “Create a Team.”
   
   
   
   The popup window will ask if you wish to build a new team or create from an Office 365 group. For simplicity we will build from scratch.
   
   
   
   

   From this new window, your team can have different levels of privacy. Select the one appropriate for your needs. PLEASE NOTE – Do not select Org-Wide unless explicitly directed to.
   
   
   

   Name your team whatever you please and create it! From here, you will be able to add all the appropriate users to your team. Whenever they select the “Teams” icon on the left side of the screen, your new team will show up to them.

Creating a Channel within a Team

Managing any Microsoft Team

1. Managing your Team in Microsoft Teams is easy to do. On the middle box under Teams, find your team and click on the three bubbles next to your team’s name. This will open a dropdown menu in-which you can administer the Team you’re a part of.
   
   
   
   
   

Sharing a Team Meeting to Outlook

1. Create a Meeting within a Team, do this by joining any team and selecting the little video option down below.
   
   
   
   Doing so will allow you to set time, details, and attendees for a meeting. But if your meeting was created already and you need to add more recipients or outside sources, manage the meeting afterwards.
   
2. Once the meeting is created, you may modify parts of it with the three bubbles at the side of the meeting itself.
   
   

   When you select these bubbles, there is an option to “Share to Outlook.”
   
   

   Doing so, will compose a new email through Microsoft Outlook, with a link to your meeting in the Team.