For Guest Users: Logging into Teams

Welcome, guest!

(If you're a Live Events guest presenter, see this article instead >>)

As a guest user, you won't have access to all the same options and features as other users, but you'll have most of the features you need. 

Please note the following about the sign-in process:

• You may be prompted during the initial setup process to register for Multi-Factor Authentication as an extra layer of account security.
• You may be prompted for an email pass code during the sign-in process, which can be found in your email inbox. 
• If you have a Microsoft account associated with your email, you may be prompted to sign in twice - once with your password and once with a pass code. 

Below you'll find information on logging into Teams for the first time. Please note that this information may change over time. . 

Contents

NOTE: Clicking these section headers will skip you to just below the section header!

• Logging into Teams for the first time
• Log into MS Teams in one of the following 3 ways
  • Log into the Teams Web App (Use this section for the initial setup steps)
  • Log into the Teams Desktop App
  • Log into the Teams Mobile App
• Troubleshooting

Logging into Teams for the first time

Once you're invited to a Team, you may receive one or two welcome emails. You can disregard them and follow one of the 3 options detailed below.

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Log into MS Teams in one of the following 3 ways

Log into the Teams Web App

When initially setting up your account, please use the steps outlined in this section.

1. In a new private or incognito browser window, navigate to https://teams.microsoft.com/
   
   Note: For the optimal experience, please use Microsoft Edge. While other browsers may let you sign in, they may not have the audio/video capabilities necessary for joining or starting meetings.
   
   
2. You will see an email address prompt. Enter your email address (the same email address that received the invitation), then click Next.
   
   
   
3. You will be prompted for an email verification code. Click the button to Send Code. In your email inbox, you will receive an email that looks similar to the below screenshot (but please always be wary of malicious emails - see this guide for more information):
   
   
   
4. Once you receive the code in your email inbox, copy it, paste it into window prompting for the code, then click Sign In. 
   
   Note: If you are prompted to sign in with a password, then you may have a Microsoft account associated with your email address. You will need to sign in with the password for your Microsoft account before you can proceed.
    
5. Once you enter in the code, you will need to review and click to Accept the permissions.
   
   Note: You will only see this prompt once during the initial setup steps.
   
   
6. You will then be directed to register for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Please follow the on-screen instructions (you can also review this guide for more detailed instructions). You will only need to register once during the initial setup steps, and again if you get a new phone or if it experiences any errors.
   
   
7. You will then be redirected to the Teams web app.
   
   Note: If instead it prompts you to download the Desktop app, you may do so if desired, but right now we just want to click to Use the Web App Instead, then click Continue.
   
   The Teams web app will then load and upon the first time signing in, you'll see a few introductory pop-up windows to help you start using Teams. 
   
   Troubleshooting Note: If you do not see the Team you were added to, please wait up to 24 hours before trying again. 

Here's a summary video (some of the steps may change over time):

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Log into the Teams Desktop App

Please complete the initial setup using the steps outlined above prior to completing the following steps. 

Download and install the Desktop App

1. In a new browser window, navigate to this Download page.
2. Click Download for Desktop, then on the next page that loads, click Download Teams. A file will begin downloading.
3. Once the file is done downloading, click on it to run it. You will need administrator permissions on the computer you are using in order to install this program. If your computer is managed by your organization's IT provider, you will need to contact them for installation assistance.

Sign into the Desktop App

1. Once you open the Teams Desktop App, it will prompt you for an email address. Enter your email address (the same email address that received the invitation), then click Sign In.
   
   
   
2. If a Microsoft account is associated with your email, you may be prompted for your Microsoft account's password. Enter your password, then click Sign In. 
   
   Otherwise, you may be prompted for an email pass code, which you can retrieve from your email inbox, as in the steps outlined in the previous section.
   
   
3. If you have Multi-Factor Authentication set up, enter the code and then click Verify.
   
   
4. You may be given the choice for which Team you want to sign into. Select the appropriate Teams org, then click Continue. 
   
   
   
5. If you are prompted to sign in again, please do so, as outlined in the section above.
   
   
6. Critical Step: If it prompts to stay signed in to all your apps, we recommend first unchecking the box, then clicking No, sign in to this app only, especially if you have multiple Office 365 or other Microsoft accounts. 
   
    

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Log into the Teams Mobile App

Please complete the initial setup using the steps outlined above prior to completing the following steps. 

Download and install the Mobile App

1. In a new browser window, navigate to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/download-app#office-SmsEmail-ntsjwrn
2. Enter your phone number, then click Send Now. (You can use your email address, but phone number is the fastest method).
3. If you entered your phone number, you will receive a text message with a link to install the Microsoft Teams mobile app from your phone's app store.

Sign into the Mobile App

1. When opening the app for the first time, it will prompt for your email address. Enter your email address (the same email address that received the invitation), then tap Sign In.
   
   
2. If a Microsoft account is associated with your email, you may be prompted for your Microsoft account's password. Enter your password, then click Sign In. 
   
   Otherwise, you may be prompted for an email pass code, which you can retrieve from your email inbox, as in the steps outlined in the previous section.
3. If you have Multi-Factor Authentication set up for your account, it will prompt you for the code. Input the code, then tap Verify.
   
   
4. Then, if you have multiple accounts, it will give you the option to select which account to sign into. In this case, we tap to our Guest account to sign in with that account.
   
   1. The first time you do this, it will ask if you want to "Redeem invite to the [organization name] org?" - you can tap OK.
      
      
5. If it asks if you want to switch to [organization name], you can tap OK.
   
   
6. If it asks you to sign in again, go ahead and do so.
   
   
7. It will then give you some introductory Teams welcome slides, on which you can swipe left or tap Next, then tap Got it.
   
   

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Troubleshooting

Ideally your experience will be smooth sailing, but just in case you run into issues, here's some solutions to try:

• If something goes wrong, usually Teams will give you the option to "Try Again" and then it will work as expected after that. 
  
  
• Try signing out of the Teams app, then sign back in. If it doesn't give you the Sign Out link on an error page, you can usually find the Teams icon in the lower right-hand task tray of your PC, right-click on it, then select Sign Out.
  
  
• Try restarting your computer, then try again.
  
  
• Sometimes it will prompt you twice to log in, then will work as expected.
  
  
• Sometimes the login/code prompt window will get stuck behind the Teams loading window. On a Windows computer, you can use Alt+Tab on your keyboard to try to navigate to the other window. You can also try hovering on the Teams icon at the bottom app tray of your screen and see if you can click on the secondary window. 

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