Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams offers a seamless working flow for collaborating between several groups on common interests with team management tools. It is part of Office 365. It allows the users to chat, make conference video calls and real-time collaboration. Enhance your business environment with Microsoft Teams while connecting with your co-members remotely.

The integration with other Microsoft products such as OneDrive, Outlook, etc, enhances the productivity of the app and helps the members to stay in touch with each other without any time limit, and bothering of sitting together to discuss matters.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams developed by Microsoft proves one of the best competitors for Zoom and WebEx. It is the ultimate application to enable users to conduct audio/video calls, share documents, and so on. You can manage your ongoing project remotely, conduct online academic classes, and attend virtual events within the app easily. 

It is part of Microsoft 365, and you can use it after purchasing a subscription plan for Office 365, but here is the good news, the app is available for free for the 64-bit version. The free version enables users to chat and search capabilities. The subscription plan offers 10GB file storage for the team, 2GB file storage for personal, and integration with other Office apps such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and so on. It allows you to connect, collaborate in real time, and conduct video conference meetings from anywhere, anytime.

Features of Microsoft Teams

User-friendly Interface

The user-interface with multiple similarities to other Microsoft Office applications, offers all basic features i.e. group chat, video calling, file sharing, document editing, and multiple other innovative features for the ease of users. Various features are not easily accessible, but a user of SharePoint can easily understand about the buried menus. These types of menus are available with long menus. Moreover, you can perform multiple tasks reliably such as docking a video conference call and annotating of Word file in real-time is possible within few clicks.

Team Creation

On the platform, you have to create a team, if you want to work on a project. You need to add related members to your team, and open a customized chat room where you can conduct exclusive and group video call, and perform other important tasks such as creating notes, completing schedules, uploading and modifying reports. Here you can discuss any shared document as well.

Seamless Log System

Log system allows the users to get entire details of tasks related to ongoing projects. You can monitor what types of changes are making in the project, who and when they are taken place. It will keep you and all team members up-to-date about the shared projects.

Flexible & Reliable

The app with flexibility of adding team members has become one of the most favorite platforms across the world. You can create big or small teams according to your business or educational system. It helps to enhance productivity while organizing online meetings with the addition of up to 1,000 attendees. You also have the option to broadcast up to 10,000 attendees.

Screen Sharing

You can share your screen with other attendees to display your charts, presentations, or spreadsheets. It will allow you to give entire details to other co-members, and get their comments about what changes should be necessary, or how to manage the entire project.

Blurry Background

On the platform, you have the option to share your screen with a blurry background, so avoid any type of distraction, and run your conference video call smoothly. Or, you can change the background during a video call. For this purpose, click on three dots, click on background effects, select your favorite one, and hit the “Apply” button.

Invite As Guest

You can invite outsiders as guests for a specific time period. It will help you to share your project details with third-parties, or invite others to create any specific document. Entire environment is fully encrypted with guarantee of the protection of your projects. 

Integrated to Office Apps

As aforementioned, Microsoft Teams is the part of Office 365, and is fully integrated to other productivity apps including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and so on. But if you want to use it exclusively, you can do so, and avoid interaction with other apps. In Windows 11, the software is used as an operating system package which helps you to create a better communication and collaboration environment.

Quick Performance

The app with quick and smooth performance allows the users to quickly switch between group chatting and video conference calling process. No matter how many members are there in your team, and from where they belong, will meet on one platform that is Microsoft Teams. You can easily share with other members your opinion, send one-to-one messages, and send GIFs, stickers, and emojis for a better and relaxed conversation.

Browser-based Version

The software is available in different subscription tiers that you can select as according to your requirements. Otherwise you can use the browser-based version using your Microsoft account. You can download and install the software for free, and access to all basic features reliably.

Real-time Collaboration

The software offers real-time collaboration for attendees to discuss the important things related to projects, give their opinion, share their material using screen sharing process, and edit documents related to other productivity apps such as Word docs, PowerPoint, Excel, and so on.

Share Files

Integrate apps without any limit and enhance your teamwork. Here you can easily share your documents, and edit the content reliably. The integration with Office 365 productivity apps, you can store your created content on cloud storage, and share with others easily.

What’s New?

Breakout Rooms

It is a simple feature to give us flexibility of use, as you can divide the group members into small groups, and facilitates brainstorming and discussion reliably.

Together Mode

It is an innovative mode that helps to give the members a chance to appear together in a virtual shared background, and give a look of sitting in the same room.

Presenter Mode

It helps to enhance your presentation in front of others. You have the option to customize your video feed, and content easily.

Dynamic View

Real-time auto optimizing process for your shared content and video participants, you can monitor your attendees easily.

Power BI Integration

Get real-time data insights with Power BI integration

Live Transaction

Transcription of meetings in real-time is possible to take important notes easily.

End-to-end Encryption

Fully encrypted one-on-one calls for fool proof security

System Requirements

• OS: Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8.1 operating system
• Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster processor
• RAM: 4 GB RAM
• Display: 1280 x 800 screen resolution
• Graphics: DirectX 10 graphics card for using hardware acceleration
• Browser: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome web browser Internet connection: Internet functionality requires an Internet connection

How to Download & Install Microsoft Teams

You have to purchase the subscription plan for Microsoft 365 from the Microsoft subscription website. It will enable you to get all productivity apps including Microsoft Team. If you are not interested in buying an entire subscription, you can use the browser-based version of the software.

Follow the given steps to download and install Microsoft Teams on your system.

Step 1: Sign in to Microsoft 

Use your web browser, visit the official website of Microsoft, and sign in to Microsoft. You will find different options to sign in i.e. personal, work, or school account according to your requirements.

Step 2: Download from the Above Download link

Simply follow the Picture and Click the Above Green Button to Download Microsoft Team from our Download page.

Step 3: Install

After downloading the exe file, wait to store the installer on your device. Double-click the installer to open it, and follow the on-screen instructions to install Microsoft Team on your Windows 10/11 PC.

Step 4: How to Use Microsoft Teams

After completing the installation process, launch the app, and navigate to the main login screen. You will find two methods of joining the meeting on Microsoft Teams.

Step 5: Sign-in Method

1. Use your Microsoft Account to sign in while clicking on the “Get Started” option.
2. Navigate to “Calendar” on the left side menu, and click on “Join with ID”.
3. Enter you’re your Meeting ID and Passcode, and click on the Join Meeting option.

Step 6: Join as Guest Method

1. If you don’t want to sign in, or just want to attend a meeting, select the Join a Meeting option from the first login window.
2. You are directed to a new window, enter your Meeting ID and passcode, and click on the Join Meeting option.

Step 7: Create Meeting

1. Navigate to the Calendar Tab on the left side menu, and select the “Meet Now “option.
2. Click on “Select Meeting Name” and click on Start Meeting.

Step 8: Create Team

1. If you want to create your team on Microsoft Teams, you need to follow the given instructions.
2. Navigate to the left menu, click on the Teams icon, and next on the big Plus sign.
3. Next, click on the Create Team option.
4. Select the Private option, if you want to add a limited number of members, otherwise, select Public to invite anyone for a community or topic.
5. Enter a suitable name and description for your team. Click on the “Create” option.

Alternatives of Microsoft Teams

Zoom Meetings

ZOOM One of the most powerful video conferencing apps with a lot of innovative features i.e. group chat, screen sharing,and collaboration.

Google Meet

One of the Important software offered by big giants, Google to allow people to create online meetings using the video conference call option. It is integrated with all G Suite apps.

ClickUp

Get a quick collaboration on your project in real-time, and track all important elements of your meeting.

Cisco Webex

A full-fledged video conferencing meeting that allows the members to chat, and group messaging within a fool-proof secure environment.

Slack

It is also a powerful platform to offer remote team management while offering multiple features such as customizable channels, file sharing, and instant messaging.

Pros

• Integrated up to 250+ business apps including Adobe, Evernote, Trello, etc.
• Real-time integration with entire Office productivity apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc
• Limitless chatting and instant messaging app
• Seamless collaboration in real-time
• Audio calls even for mobile and landline numbers
• File sharing using desktop
• Customized background
• Virtual whiteboard
• End-to-end encryption and enterprise-level security
• Integrated to Outlook Calendar
• Schedule your meeting
• Voicemail transcription

Cons

• Access to some features is confusing
• Customization options are limited
• Unfamiliar users with the interface of the app can’t use it reliably
• Requires a strong internet connection for running
• Slow performance

FAQs

What is Microsoft Teams and how does it work?

Microsoft Teams is a conferencing video meeting platform to arrange communication and collaboration between users that allows teams to contribute to any project via chatting, messaging, and sharing files.

Are Microsoft Teams available for free?

You can download Microsoft Teams for free, but you need to purchase a subscription plan to use entire features of the software.

How many members can attend the meeting?

The free version allows up to 100 members to join the meeting.

What is the difference between a team and a channel in Microsoft Teams?

A group of people working on a project is called a team, and the specific topic that comes under discussion within a team is called a channel.

How to download recordings from Microsoft Teams?

1. Navigate to chat history, and select the “More” option.

2. Click on the “Open in Microsoft Stream” option.

3. Select three dots from the Microsoft Stream portal, and click on “Download original video”