Microsoft Teams - Chat

Owned by Kimberly Lyons
Last updated: Jun 14, 2023
3 min read

This article will instruct students, faculty, and staff on how to use the Chat feature of Microsoft Teams.

What is the chat feature on Teams?

The Chat feature in Microsoft Teams allows you to communicate with other members of your team through instant messaging. You can send and receive messages in real-time, and keep track of your conversations in one central location.

Starting a Chat

  1. Open Microsoft Teams and sign in to your account.

  2. Click on the Chat icon in the left navigation menu to access the Chat section:

     

  3. Click on the "New chat" button to start a new chat:

     

  4. Type the name of the person or group you want to chat with in the "To" field. If the person is part of your organization, their name should appear in the list of suggestions as you type.

  5. Click on the person's name to add them to the chat. You can also add multiple people to the chat by repeating the process.

  6. Type your message in the text box and press Enter to send it.

Viewing and Responding to Messages

  1. Go to the Chat section in Microsoft Teams.

  2. Click on the chat thread you want to view:

     

  3. Review the messages in the chat and respond as needed:

Group Chats

  1. Open Microsoft Teams and sign in to your account.

  2. Click on the Chat icon in the left navigation menu to access the Chat section.

  3. Click on the "New chat" button to start a new chat.

  4. Type the names of the people you want to include in the chat in the "To" field.

  5. Once you have added all the people to the chat, type your message in the text box and press Enter to send it.

Note - Group chats are just like direct messages, expect there are more people involved. This is an excellent tool to bridge gaps between departments without having to make a specific team, however, group chats offer less customization than a team does.

Click here to learn more about teams in Microsoft Teams.

Chat Settings

  1. Go to the Chat section in Microsoft Teams.

  2. Click on the chat thread you want to view.

  3. Click on the three dots (...) next to the chat name. This will open up the chat settings/menu:

     

  4. From the Chat settings menu, you can hide the chat, mute the chat, mark the chat as read, or delete the chat.

 

The Chat feature in Microsoft Teams provides an easy and convenient way to communicate with other members of your team. Whether you're starting a new chat, responding to messages, participating in group chats, or adjusting your chat settings, Microsoft Teams makes it simple and straightforward.

If you need further assistance, contact the IT Help Desk.

 

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