4 Hidden Tips and Tricks of Microsoft Teams

While Microsoft Teams was formally launched in March 2017, it has seen its popularity surge since the beginning of the pandemic as more companies transition to a work-from-home model. Microsoft Teams has played a critical role in facilitating remote work by making it easy for coworkers to share ideas, communicate, and collaborate on projects seamlessly regardless of where they are in the world. However, even if you use Teams on a daily basis, it is likely that there are a variety of useful features this program has that you are unaware of, as Microsoft is constantly creating new ways to make this program useful to its users. To help you get the most out of Microsoft Teams, here is a look at a few useful hidden features that you may not be aware of.   

Search Bar Commands

While it's not exactly a hidden feature, Microsoft Team's search bar is one of its most useful, yet overlooked, features. Located at the top of the screen, the search bar is easy to miss, however, it should be the first place you go when you can't find what you're looking for, as it can be helpful in navigating you towards a variety of useful features and tools. Additionally, what many people do not know about the search bar in Teams is that it doubles as a command bar for quick navigation. When you place your cursor within the search bar and press the / key, you will be given a list of useful commands that can help you quickly call someone, open a file, start a chat, or change your status. You will likely come to rely on search bar commands as a way to save time when using Teams.

Translate

Another useful feature you may not be aware of is Microsoft Team's built-in translator. Considering remote collaboration tools like Teams make it easier than ever before for companies to do business on an international level, you will likely find yourself doing business with someone in another country who speaks a language other than your own. Fortunately, Microsoft Teams supports more than 60 languages and makes it easy for you to communicate with others in whatever language is easiest for them. If you receive a message from a coworker or client in another language, simply click on the ellipsis to the right of the message and scroll down to the translate option. With a single click of a button, the message will translate to your default language without you having to use a third-party translation app.  

Apply Background Effects in Video Chats

While virtual meetings are essential in keeping you connected when working remotely, your home's atmosphere does not always create the most professional setting for an important meeting. Fortunately, whether you have to work from the kitchen and don't want people to know, or your family is being loud in another room, Microsoft Teams has great features that can help you to create a professional environment for your video meetings. One of the most essential features Teams provides is the ability to alter your background to create a more professional look. By clicking on the ellipsis in the bottom toolbar during a meeting and selecting "Apply background effects", you can blur your background or choose an image to replace your background altogether. If people in your home are being noisy, you can also control background noise by going to Settings> Devices> Noise suppression.   

Switch Devices Mid-Meeting

If you have ever taken part in a virtual meeting, then you are likely all too aware that even virtual meetings are prone to running over, and you may find yourself stuck in a meeting at some point when you have somewhere else that you need to be. Fortunately, Teams allows you to stay on a call and switch devices mid-meeting seamlessly, allowing you to switch from a desktop to a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone and take your meeting on the go without missing anything. Simply open the Teams app on your mobile device and join the meeting you are already taking part in on your other device. You will then be given the option to "transfer meeting to this device", allowing you to take your meeting on the go. 

Microsoft Teams has a variety of features built-in that are designed to help you stay productive regardless of where you are working from. For a free consultation of Microsoft Teams from CallTower, please click below: