Sending a Chat Message in Teams

Overview

Teams Chat allows you to send quick messages to individuals or small groups without needing a formal meeting or email.

Starting a New Chat

1. Open Microsoft Teams
2. Click the Chat icon in the left sidebar (speech bubble icon)
3. Click the New chat icon (pencil icon) at the top
4. In the To field, type the name of the person you want to message
5. Type your message in the box at the bottom and press Enter to send

Group Chat

To chat with multiple people at once:

1. Follow steps 1–3 above
2. In the To field, add multiple names (up to 20 people)
3. Type a group name in the Group name field (optional but recommended)
4. Type your message and press Enter

Useful Chat Features

• Formatting: Click the A icon below the message box to add bold, bullet points, headings, and more
• Attach a file: Click the paperclip icon to attach a file from your computer or OneDrive
• React to a message: Hover over a message and click the emoji icon to react
• Reply to a specific message: Hover over the message and click the curved arrow (reply) icon

Chat vs Email — When to Use Which