Get Started

<span id="topic-1" style="padding-top:40px;">Download and sign in</span>

If you don’t already have Microsoft Teams downloaded on your computer, follow these steps:

1. 1. To download Microsoft Teams for your desktop, click here.
2. 2. Scroll to Download Teams.
3. 3. Under Download Teams on your desktop for work, select Download Teams.
4. 4. The .pkg file downloads. Open the file and follow the steps on the screen to install.
5. 5. Once installed, sign in using your work email address and Microsoft password.

You can also use Teams on the web at https://teams.microsoft.com. 

<span id="topic-2" style="padding-top:40px;">Overview</span>

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration app built so that you and your team stay informed, organized, and connected — all in one place. Navigate Teams using the menu along the left side and the top bar of your Teams desktop app.

1. 1. Activity—Find notifications for all recent actions to stay on top of things. You can manage your notifications according to your preferences.‍
2.        ○ Tip: Catch up on all your unread messages, @mentions, replies, and more under Activity.‍‍
3. 2. Chat—Message someone or a group of people. This tab brings up the list of all your chats.‍‍
4. 3. Teams—Create teams and channels to gather people together in focused spaces with conversations and files. This tab brings up a list of all the teams you are a part of.‍‍
5. 4. Calendar—Bring up your calendar to view, create, and respond to meetings.
6.        ○ Tip: Your Teams calendar automatically syncs with Outlook, and you can manage meetings through either app.‍
7. 5. Calls—Start video and audio calls by dialing a phone number or placing a call over the internet. View your call history and voicemail.‍
8. 6. Files—Files shared in chats, meetings, or channels are consolidated under this tab. Files appear in a list view and can be sorted by type, name, date, or location.‍
9. 7. Apps—Search for, choose, and integrate apps to optimize how you work in Teams. Apps can appear in chat, channels, or meetings.‍
10. 8. Help—Learn more about Teams with articles and training content. Stay up to date with the latest features, and report problems when things aren’t working out.‍
11. 9. Search—Search for people, files, meetings, or conversations in Teams, then filter results to find just what you need.‍
12.        ○ Tip: Use the Search box to find and filter specific items or people, take quick actions, and launch apps.‍
13. 10. Profile—Selecting your profile picture shows you a menu where you can customize your profile, find saved messages, or set your status and a message people can see when they try to reach you.

<span id="topic-3" style="padding-top:40px;">Customize</span>

You can do a lot to personalize your Microsoft Teams experience, including changing the appearance colors and adding a profile picture. 

To change your appearance and access other general settings, follow these steps:

1. 1. Select the Settings and more icon next to your profile initials/picture.
2. 2. Select Settings.
3. 3. Select General.
4. 4. Under Theme, you can choose Default, Dark, or High contrast.
5. 5. Under Chat Density, you can choose Comfy or Compact.

‍

To change add or change your profile picture, follow these steps:

1. 1. Select the Settings and more icon next to your profile initials/picture.
2. 2. Select Settings > Accounts.
3. 3. Select your current profile initials/picture.
4. 4. Choose Upload picture or Remove picture.
5. 5. Select Save to save your changes.

‍