How to Use Microsoft Teams for Video Calls and Chat

Microsoft Teams is a communication platform used by businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits worldwide. If your employer or a group you belong to uses Teams, this guide will help you get comfortable with the basics quickly.

You can use Teams in two ways: through a browser at teams.microsoft.com, or by downloading the desktop app. The desktop app is generally faster and more reliable for video calls. Go to microsoft.com/teams and click "Download Teams" to get the free app for Windows or Mac.

Sign in with the work or school account you were given. This is usually an email address ending in your organization's domain name, not a personal Gmail or Hotmail address.

The left side of Teams has icons for the main sections. Chat is for one-on-one or small group text conversations. Teams shows the group channels your organization has set up — think of channels like shared rooms for different topics. Calendar shows your scheduled meetings. Calls is for placing phone-style calls. Files gives access to shared documents.

To join a meeting, click the Calendar icon and find the meeting on the right date and time. Click "Join." Before you enter the meeting room, Teams shows you a preview screen where you can check your camera and microphone. Turn your camera on or off, adjust the mic, and then click "Join now."

During a meeting, the bottom toolbar has buttons for muting yourself (important — mute when not speaking), turning the camera on or off, raising your hand to signal you want to speak, and opening the chat sidebar. If you want to show something on your screen, click the Share icon and choose which window or screen to share.

Teams also lets you blur your background or choose a virtual background. Click the three dots (...) in the meeting toolbar, then "Apply background effects," and pick from the options.

Outside of meetings, use Teams Chat to send quick messages to coworkers, share files, and react to messages with a thumbs-up or other emoji — similar to texting but within your organization.