Here are the best tips for Microsoft Teams. We are talking about the messaging app preinstalled in Windows 11. Let’s remember that in Windows 10, the preinstalled messaging app was Skype. However, the situation has changed in the new Microsoft operating system. Moreover, this tool was previously paid. On the contrary, in Windows 11 comes a free version for everyone. Consequently, this tutorial is focused on this preinstalled version of this operating system.
Synchronize all your contacts
Microsoft Teams is an application that few people use. Consequently, the first step is to find people who are using the app. This is definitely the best way to start using the tool. With this in mind, the quickest thing to do is to synchronize your contacts. Teams allows you to synchronize your contacts from Outlook or Hotmail, Skype and your cell phone. With this in mind, you have to go to the tool configuration. This is effortless, just click on the gear icon. Once there, go to the Privacy section. Then, under the Sync contacts section, click on Manage.
From there, you can enable or disable the synchronization of contacts from the three different sources. Similarly, if you choose to manage from the mobile, then you will see a QR code to link to the download of the app on your mobile.
Manage your contact information
We continue with the privacy options. This time, we will click on Manage contact information. From there, you can edit two parameters of your personal information. Specifically, the phone number and email address.
These options are used to choose with which information you want to be found in Teams. I.e., you can decide to show your email address or your phone number. Or simply show neither, to control to the maximum who can contact you.
Disables read confirmation
Within the privacy options, you can also disable the read confirmation. As a result, other users will not be shown a confirmation in the form of a second tick when you read the messages they have written to you. Note that if you deactivate this option, you will not be able to know if others read your messages, either.
Search for people, messages, and files
Teams have a powerful search engine. In it, you can search for people, words in conversations or files they have shared with you. The purpose is to make the search as easy as possible. And therefore get what you are looking for. To search for people and conversations, you have to use the @ symbol and then the username. You can also enter one or more words in the search engine. From the results, you can choose to find messages or files from specific senders. It is also possible to filter the results by picking a specific date or period.
Mention people in messages
Here is a small but essential tip. If you want to say something significant, then make sure the person receives an extra notification of your message mentioning it. With this in mind, simply use the @ symbol and start typing their name, and select from the suggestions the name of this person. The name will autocomplete, and you can type the rest of the message.
Blocks or silences other people
By right-clicking on one of the contacts in the list of users, a menu with configurable options will be displayed. In this menu, you will be able to mute or block these contacts. If you block a user, they will simply not be able to see you or write to you in Microsoft Teams. If you want to avoid being notified of their messages, then it will be enough to mute that person. This is always reversible at any time. You will also be able to delete the contact directly.
Pinning down important conversations
If you actively use Teams, you can end up with numerous messages in the left column. As a result, it can be difficult to find the essential conversations. If you right-click on a conversation, you will be able to pin it so that it always appears at the top of the left column.
Prevent Teams from starting with Windows 11
Let’s be honest. Teams is the big messaging app that Microsoft wants to promote in Windows 11. Therefore, it is very likely that on some computers, this app will launch along with Windows. To avoid this, we must go into the tool’s settings. In this section, you must go to General. Once there, uncheck the Auto-start teams box. This is reversible, that is, you can return to this section whenever you want to re-activate the option.
Set up notifications
We have mentioned that Teams is a very complete tool. Indeed, it has an exhaustive notifications section. We will be able to customize it to the maximum to get the most out of it. Within the settings, we must enter the Notifications section. There, you can disable the Show message preview option. This way, when Windows display the notification, it will not contain a fragment of the message. In the same way, you can edit the appearance of the Chats. Consequently, it is possible to select which type of notification banner will show you each type of message, such as mentions, normal messages, or Likes and reactions. In addition, each one has a drop-down menu where you can choose whether you want to show the source or the banner.
Add tabs to the conversation
When you start a chat with a person, there are two tabs. In one of them you will see the conversation, and then you have another tab to access the files you have shared with that person or group. However, you can also add other tabs. To do so, you have to click on the + sign located to the right of the chat tabs. Consequently, you will see the option to add another one. For now, the available option is to add a task tab. However, it is likely that more options will be added in the future.
Okay, so we have seen the top tips for Microsoft Teams. It’s up to you to make the most of this messaging tool. Bye
