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