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
- Open Microsoft Teams
- Click the Chat icon in the left sidebar (speech bubble icon)
- Click the New chat icon (pencil icon) at the top
- In the To field, type the name of the person you want to message
- Type your message in the box at the bottom and press Enter to send
Group Chat
To chat with multiple people at once:
- Follow steps 1–3 above
- In the To field, add multiple names (up to 20 people)
- Type a group name in the Group name field (optional but recommended)
- 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
| Use Teams Chat for | Use Email for |
|---|---|
| Quick questions, informal conversation | Formal communication, external parties |
| Real-time collaboration | Long records that need to be archived |
| Small group coordination | Distribution to large groups |