Starting winter 2024, Microsoft is prompting users to update to a new version of the Microsoft Teams application. This article includes some things you should know about the upgrade.

• New Microsoft Teams is a separate application from the existing Teams app (Teams Classic / Teams for Work or School).
• You can continue to ignore the update request notifications, but all users will be required (by Microsoft) to update their Teams app by Sunday, March 31, 2024.

 

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Steps to Take for a Smoother Upgrade

For the smoothest transition to New Teams, we recommend taking the following steps before beginning the update.

1. BEFORE starting the update, take note of modified settings.

If you have modified any settings in your current Teams app version, please take note of them before upgrading. New Teams will change some of your settings back to Microsoft's default settings during the upgrade process. To review your settings:

1. Click the "..." button located near your profile pic or initials icon in the upper right of the Teams window.
2. We recommend checking the following pages for modified settings:
   • General
   • Notifications
   • Accessibility
   • Calls

 

2. Once New Teams is installed, grant device permissions.

You may be asked to give New Teams access to your microphone, camera, and/or Bluetooth devices in order to make and join Teams calls and meetings.

You may also have to re-grant other permissions, such as screen sharing.

Additional steps to check permissions on Mac OS

If you're having trouble accessing your camera/microphone or screen sharing after the New Teams update on Mac OS, try the following steps.

1. Open the System Preferences app.
2. Click Security & Privacy.
3. Choose Camera, Microphone, or Screen Recording from the left side of the window, and check that new Teams is listed and has the permission enabled.
   • If you do not see new Teams in the list for any of these permissions, click the plus icon at the bottom of the list to add it, and check the box next to the Teams icon once it is there.

 

3. One New Teams is Installed, Check Dock/Taskbar Shortcuts

Because New Teams is a separate application, any Dock or Taskbar shortcuts you have to Teams will not work after the update.
If you would like to have Teams on your Taskbar or Dock, take the following steps after the update:

Mac OS:

1. Select the icon for Microsoft Teams Classic in the Dock. Drag the icon up until the word "Remove" appears above it, then let go of the icon.
2. Go to the Applications folder, and drag the icon for Microsoft Teams Classic to the Trash icon in the Dock.
3. Launch New Teams from the applications folder.
4. Right click the icon in the Dock and select Options, and then Keep in Dock.

 

Windows:

1. Right click the icon for Microsoft Teams Classic on your Taskbar and click Unpin from Taskbar.
2. Launch New Teams from the Start menu.
3. Right click the icon for New Teams in your taskbar and click Pin to Taskbar.

 

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More information about New Teams from Microsoft

• About the New Microsoft Teams
• Switch to the new Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support
• Features that are changing in the new Microsoft Teams

 

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Some content in this article was developed by the Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences.