On Tuesday, Microsoft began rolling out the public preview of the latest Microsoft Teams update.
The updated Chats and Channels experience brings Chat, Teams and Channels into one place so you can stay on top of all conversations without clicking around.
It’s all about organisation and improving your workflow. Teams can sometimes be difficult to navigate but in this update, Microsoft have addressed those struggles.
What’s new in Microsoft Teams?
Message Filtering
The latest update lets you efficiently filter your messages, allowing you to focus on the information that matters to you the most. Microsoft has introduced new filters like “Unread”, “Chat”, “Channels”, “Meetings”, and “Muted”. So, let’s say you click on the “Unread” section. You can easily catch up on the messages you missed across all Chats and Channels.
Mentions
Teams has also introduced a new view called “mentions” which collates all the times you have been tagged in a conversation to save you scrolling through streams of messages.
Favourites
Think about how difficult it can be to stay organised on a lengthy project. You’re constantly trying to find chats or conversations. With the latest Teams update, the new “favourites” section is also available to everyone by default. This allows you to create custom sections where you can bring up to 50 conversations together in one place. If you’re working with multiple departments on a project, you can segment them and stay organised.
Available on mobile
This Teams update doesn’t just stop on the desktop. The updated chat and channels experience has been brought to all devices to ensure your productivity isn’t hindered. The update is available on desktop, mobile, iOS, and Android because your workday doesn’t stop when you leave your desk.
When will I be able to use the latest version of Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams has already begun rolling out the updates, but users shouldn’t expect them immediately.
Microsoft expects that everyone will be using the new version of Teams by March 2025 so keep your eyes peeled for a pop-up on Teams offering the chance to try the new interface. All you need to do is select “Get Started” when you see it to see what’s new for yourself.
You can select “Do it later” up to three times before an update is forced through.
You will then be able to customise your lists and make changes like viewing chats and channels separately or turning on message previews.
Can I switch back to the old version of Microsoft Teams?
Yes, you can and it’s really easy to do. Simply go to the three dots in “Chats”, click “Customise View”, and select “Separate” in the Viewing Chats and Channels option.
