Teach Yourself VISUALLY Microsoft Teams. Matt Wade

      

The Teams app should load.

      Log into the Mobile App

      Log into the Mobile App

      

If you have not installed Teams on your mobile device, make sure to do so. On Android, install Teams from the Google Play Store; on iOS and iPadOS, install Teams from the App Store.

      Note: You may need the Microsoft Authenticator app to gain access to Teams on mobile devices. You can download it from either the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS and iPadOS).

      

Tap the Teams icon () to open the app.

Provide your work or school email address and tap Sign in.

      

You may be brought to the Microsoft Authenticator app. If so, provide your password and tap Sign in.

      

You should be returned to the Teams app. Tap any of the apps in the app bar at the bottom to show your content.

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      Can I log into multiple Teams accounts?

      Not at once, no. At least not in the desktop app. You can sign into additional accounts and be a guest in multiple other organizations; however, you can access only one account or guest organization at a time. One way around this is to have the Teams desktop app open to your primary account and open the other accounts or guest orgs in the web app, using browser profiles.

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      Can I open and edit files from Teams on my mobile device?

      Definitely. However, editing files does not take place in the Teams app itself. In addition to installing Teams, you should consider installing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Office, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Stream so that you can open (and edit, when applicable) various files in their native apps. Do this when you are connected to Wi-Fi and before you actually need the apps to use them. Setting up apps on the fly is no fun.

Install the Desktop App

You will get the most out of Teams by using the desktop app. If you do not already have Teams installed on your computer, you can download a native app for either Windows or macOS. Keep in mind that most work and school devices will likely already have Teams installed, so check the app listing on your computer before downloading and installing. Installing also may require an admin to approve, so be prepared to reach out to your IT team if necessary. There are a few ways to do this; this option will always work.

      Install the Desktop App

      

Open the Teams web app (see the previous section “Log into the Web App”).

      

Click Settings and more (⋯) in the top-right corner.

      

Click Download the desktop app.

      

In the top-right of your browser, click ⋯ or ⋮ to open the menu, and then click Downloads.

      

Click the downloaded Teams installation file.

      

Follow the prompts until the file has been installed and Teams is available on your device.

      Note: Step 6 may require an admin password to complete. Be sure to reach out to your IT team for support if you need it.

Modify Your Personal Settings

Teams offers a ton of ways to customize your experience, including dark mode, notification preferences, device settings, privacy settings, read receipts, who can contact you even when you are in do not disturb mode, quiet hours, and more.

      Modify Your Personal Settings

      

Click Settings and more (⋯) in the top-right corner.

      

Click Settings.

      

Thumb through the options you have here, especially the Notifications settings. Your Teams experience can be highly personal and specific to you if you put a little time and research into it.

      

Click to close the Settings pane.

Switch Between Dark Mode and Light Mode

With dark mode being as popular as it is, Teams naturally offers a more muted and less-offensive-to-the-eye-during-later-hours view of the app. You can also enable high-contrast mode if you require that for better visibility. Toggle between these modes as the need suits you.

      Switch Between Dark Mode and Light Mode

      

Click Settings and more (⋯) in the top-right corner.