Microsoft Teams has become an essential tool for team collaboration, especially with the increase in remote work due to COVID-19 lockdowns. To help you make the most of this powerful application, we’ve compiled three useful tips and tricks that can enhance your virtual meetings and overall Teams experience. From changing your background to announcing when participants join or leave, and enabling dial-in options for guests, these features will help you stay connected and productive.
1. Change your background while in a meeting
While working from home, you may want to join a team meeting though not display your home in the background.
Previously, you could only blur your background. Now you have the ability to change your background to something more appropriate.
Before joining the video meeting, ensure the left video switch is toggled on, then toggle on the middle switch and select a custom background as per the screenshot below. There are a number of pre-configured backgrounds for you to choose from.
You can also change the background during the meeting by going to … → Show Background effects.
2. Announce when callers leave or join
Meeting organisers now have the option to announce when people join or leave a meeting, so you always know who is in your online meeting.
To access, select Meeting options and switch the toggle on for Announce when callers join or leave?” as per the screenshot below:
3. Give your guests an option to dial into the meeting
The following feature requires an additional license. Once this feature is enabled, it will automatically add a phone number to your team meeting as well as a conference ID to allow your guests to dial into your meeting. A list of local numbers in each country can be shown from the ‘local numbers’ link in the screenshot below. Click here to see that list. Your guests can then select their local number.
