Using MS Teams for the first-time questions

An organization I know wants me to participate in monthly online meetings with them. They use MS Teams and I'm totally unfamiliar with using it. Today I started Teams and the first thing I see is a post from an unknown user posted on 2/14/22 about rating her boobs. How did I get a post from an unknown user? I have never used Teams. My second question is, do I have to setup anything do I just wait for an invite? I guess I'm signed in because my contacts are listed. My third question is will they see my name and email address? I would prefer to use either a username or just my first name.

Hey there, I’ll try and answer to full extent as a MS teams user myself. Now, there are two types of teams, the one coming with windows and 365 version which is for organisations. That is the one you will need, you can distinguish the two by the White background on the T in the logo, vs the purple. The latter is teams for organisations. On my pc it says Microsoft Teams (work or school) on the organisation one.

I can’t answer how you got the random message, but it is probably since you were using the wrong teams? There’s The chat function aswell as the teams.

When you go to the Teams tab, you can see join or create team. You can join a team with a code here, but also if people add you to a team it will just “magically” appear on your teams page.

And no, you can’t change the display name in an organisation.

If there is ANYTHING else that you would like help with dont be afraid to ask, I hope this helped a bit.

James said:

Hey there, I’ll try and answer to full extent as a MS teams user myself. Now, there are two types of teams, the one coming with windows and 365 version which is for organisations. That is the one you will need, you can distinguish the two by the White background on the T in the logo, vs the purple. The latter is teams for organisations. On my pc it says Microsoft Teams (work or school) on the organisation one.

I can’t answer how you got the random message, but it is probably since you were using the wrong teams? There’s The chat function aswell as the teams.

When you go to the Teams tab, you can see join or create team. You can join a team with a code here, but also if people add you to a team it will just “magically” appear on your teams page.

And no, you can’t change the display name in an organisation.

If there is ANYTHING else that you would like help with dont be afraid to ask, I hope this helped a bit.

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying to my questions. The T does have the white background so it's the one that came with Windows. Is there a reason I can't use the MS Teams that came with Windows? I'm now on my MS account and I see there are two versions of MS Teams available for download. They are Teams for home or small business and Teams for work or school. Do you know what one I should download?

Winuser said:

An organization I know wants me to participate in monthly online meetings with them. They use MS Teams and I'm totally unfamiliar with using it. Today I started Teams and the first thing I see is a post from an unknown user posted on 2/14/22 about rating her boobs. How did I get a post from an unknown user? I have never used Teams. My second question is, do I have to setup anything do I just wait for an invite? I guess I'm signed in because my contacts are listed. My third question is will they see my name and email address? I would prefer to use either a username or just my first name.

Click to expand...

Winuser said:

An organization I know wants me to participate in monthly online meetings with them. They use MS Teams and I'm totally unfamiliar with using it. Today I started Teams and the first thing I see is a post from an unknown user posted on 2/14/22 about rating her boobs. How did I get a post from an unknown user? I have never used Teams. My second question is, do I have to setup anything do I just wait for an invite? I guess I'm signed in because my contacts are listed. My third question is will they see my name and email address? I would prefer to use either a username or just my first name.

Click to expand...

I don't know if you've seen this yet, @Winuser, but Shawn just posted a tutorial on Teams:


I haven't read it yet, just now saw it.

There are two versions of Teams; one that comes with Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and one that comes built into Windows 11. I would think since it's an organization that wants you to participate, you'd use the Teams that came with Microsoft 365.

I did just open the one that came with Windows 11 (when I hover over it, it says chat) and all my contacts are listed. Looks like there's been quite a bit of work done on it since I first looked at it, to the extent that it now uses my webcam. Kinda like Skype.

And that's about the extent of my knowledge so far. I need to learn how to use it too.

Wynona said:

I don't know if you've seen this yet, @Winuser, but Shawn just posted a tutorial on Teams:

Microsoft Teams Shared Channels are now live

Have you been waiting for the Microsoft Teams Shared Channels? They are now live! Most of us have struggled without it for years (sharing, scaling, and replicating). Before we try to understand what we can do with it, we need to focus on its features in the table below. Features Standard...

www.elevenforum.com

I haven't read it yet, just now saw it.

There are two versions of Teams; one that comes with Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and one that comes built into Windows 11. I would think since it's an organization that wants you to participate, you'd use the Teams that came with Microsoft 365.

I did just open the one that came with Windows 11 (when I hover over it, it says chat) and all my contacts are listed. Looks like there's been quite a bit of work done on it since I first looked at it, to the extent that it now uses my webcam. Kinda like Skype.

And that's about the extent of my knowledge so far. I need to learn how to use it too.

Click to expand...

Yup, that’s 100% correct.
Alternatively, you can use teams online

Use the purple one for sure.

As a rule, you will get sent a link from organiser via email (unless you are on same domain as organiser).

Your email address does not get directly exposed to all users. The screens just show two letters.

The most crucial things to learn are how to share a screen, and how to take control (this depends on host company's setup - some do not permit this).


There is usually some etiquette to meetings e.g.

Many prefer to use Teams with camera off as it can be quite resource intensive. In my company, we normally only switch on camera if (say) for person chairing a meeting with multiple participants.

Also, get into habit of muting microphone whan not talking. Your "little terrors" (children, pets, her indoors etc.) can be quite unintentionally intrusive.

There is a hands up function which shows participants you want to speak. In a disciplined meeting, people use that but often people interrupt (bad habit of mine LOL).

Most Teams meetings have a chat function but be careful using this as all participants can see what you type.

Depending on host organiser setup, you can sometimes send a chat message to an individual user e.g. if you want to check a point with your main contact. I would advise you only do this when absolutely necessary.

A couple of practical points:-

Teams can be a bit difficult to read on a laptop screen - better to use a large monitor.

Sound can be tinny if using pc/laptop speakers/microphone. Better to use a headset and microphone.


Finally, as I said "turn off" microphone when not speaking but don't forget to "turn back on" when speaking (happens a lot LOL).

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll read Shawn's tutorial and download the Teams for home or small offices. This is going to be a small discussion group about mental health concerns. They asked me to join because I have a family member who suffers from severe depression and anxiety. They want my opinions as a person that has firsthand experience of what the patient and family members have to go through. They meet once a month.