Texting with Teams

Contents

• Overview
• Install the Texting app in Teams
• Sending and Receiving Messages
• Additional Settings
  • Notifications
  • Auto Responder
• Troubleshooting

Overview

The option to use your Teams phone number to send and receive SMS text messages within the Teams app is now available. Please contact the Help Desk for the latest pricing and to enable this feature today. 

Below are instructions on how to use texting in Teams once it has been enabled for your account.

Install the Texting app in Teams

Whether you're using the desktop app, the web app in a browser, or the mobile app, it's the same process outlined below. Once you install it on the desktop app, it will already be installed on the web app, and vice versa (but you will need to install it for the mobile app either way).

1. Click on the "..." ellipses at the left of the Teams window, then start typing text into the search bar that appears. Click Texting when it appears. 

*If it doesn't show up under results then click the Get more apps link and search there.

2. A new window will open for the Texting app. Click Add. If you don't see an Add button and instead see the Sign in with Microsoft window, skip to the next step.

3. It will then prompt you to sign in. Click Sign in with Microsoft. 

4. In the new window that pops up, enter your work email address when prompted and click Next. If your work email is already pre-populated, simply click on it. 

5. Enter your password, then click Sign in.

6. If you already have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) set up, you may need to promptly approve the push notification from your mobile device. If you do not have MFA set up, please follow the steps it shows you to set it up (for additional guidance, please see this guide on our Help Center). 

7. If you are experiencing any kind of sign-in loop, please sign out of Teams, restart your device, and try again. 

8. One optional step you can take is to right-click the Texting icon on the left menu and then click Pin. This ensures the app always shows up on the left (otherwise you'll simply need to click the "..." ellipses to find it again). 

Now you're ready to use Teams SMS.

 

Sending and Receiving Messages

To send a text message:

1. Click the purple plus icon to send a message to a new number.
2. Enter the phone number you want to message, then click the purple check button.
   1. You can add additional phone numbers if you'd like.
3. Enter the message (you can add image attachments and emojis), then click the purple arrow button to send the message.
   

To check and reply to text messages:

Checking your text messages will look very similar to checking emails in Outlook. On the left side of the Texting app within the Teams app, you'll see your message groups show up. Simply click on them and the message thread will show up on the right. 

After clicking to view a message group, you can reply in the window on the right. 

Additional Settings

In the Texting app, you can click the vertical ellipses "..." next to your phone number, then click Settings to view additional settings for notifications and auto responder.

Notifications

If you check the Microsoft Teams notification box, every time you receive a new text message, it will show up in your Activity feed.

If you uncheck the Microsoft Teams notification box, you will need to manually check for new messages  by navigating to the Texting app within Teams.

Auto Responder

You can add an auto response (either for every message or only "on new messages only") by simply checking the box next to Enable. Type in your message, then click Save.

Troubleshooting

Most issues can be resolved by signing out of Teams, restarting your device, and trying again. If you have any other issues once the Teams SMS texting feature has been enabled for your Teams phone number, please contact the Help Desk with detailed information on any errors you are experiencing.