Regarding Teams Meeting Media Transport Behavior in VDI Optimization Scenario
Hello Microsoft Teams Engineering Team, I am currently working on a Browser Content Redirection / media offload implementation for a VDI environment, where WebRTC media transport is handled through a local native component while the Teams application continues running inside the virtual desktop session. While testing, I observed that: 1:1 calls successfully receive audio and video media But in meetings auido / video RTP is never forwarded despite successful ICE, DTLS, and SRTP establishment DTLS ApplicationData traffic is present during meetings, suggesting DataChannel/SCTP activity Based on transport-level observations, it appears that Teams meetings may rely on SCTP/DataChannel communication for SFU video subscription management, while 1:1 calls do not require the same subscription flow. I wanted to ask whether: Teams meeting video forwarding depends on active bidirectional SCTP/DataChannel connectivity Meeting video subscriptions are expected to be coordinated over the WebRTC data channel/control plane Split ownership of media transport and control-plane transport could affect expected Teams meeting behavior in VDI optimization scenarios Thank you for your time and guidance. Best regards,Rajdev
Transforming Microsoft Teams into a Project Management Hub
If you use Microsoft Teams only for chats and meetings, you’re missing much of what it can actually do. While Microsoft Teams is often seen as a communication tool, it can also function as a central workspace for managing projects - from planning and brainstorming to execution and documentation - all in one place. When combined with tools like Microsoft Planner, SharePoint, and Microsoft Loop, Teams can become a practical project management hub that keeps work organized and reduces the need to switch between systems. This article walks through a clear, practical approach to setting up and using Teams for real-world project delivery. Why Use Microsoft Teams for Project Management? Organizations often hesitate to introduce new tools due to cost, training effort, or resistance to change. Microsoft Teams offers a strong advantage: it is already widely adopted in many organizations as part of Microsoft 365. Using Teams for project management allows you to: Centralize communication and documentation Reduce tool fragmentation Improve team visibility and collaboration Leverage existing infrastructure without additional cost Instead of switching between multiple platforms, teams can manage conversations, files, tasks, and workflows in one place. Structuring Your Project in Teams A well-structured Team is the foundation of successful project management. Create a Dedicated Team Start by creating a Team specifically for your project. Avoid mixing multiple projects in one Team, as it leads to confusion and poor organization. Recommended channels structure: General (announcements and overview) Planning (timelines, scope, requirements) Execution (daily work discussions) Risks and Issues Documentation Onboarding Lessons Learned This structure ensures clarity and separates strategic discussions from operational ones. Managing Tasks with Planner Task management is a critical part of any project. Inside Microsoft Teams, you can add a Planner tab to manage tasks visually within the same workspace where communication and files are stored. How to use Planner effectively: Create buckets (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Completed, or structured by topic) Assign tasks to team members for clear ownership Set due dates and priorities Attach files and add comments directly to tasks Use labels to categorize work (e.g., Design, Frontend, Backend, Testing) for better filtering and tracking Planner also provides multiple views beyond the basic board: Board view (Kanban-style) for workflow tracking Charts view for progress and workload overview Schedule (Calendar) view to track deadlines visually across time This combination allows teams to switch between operational tracking and higher-level planning depending on the need. This visual approach improves accountability, transparency, and makes task tracking easier even for non-technical users. Document Management with SharePoint Every Team in Microsoft Teams is backed by a SharePoint site. This means all files shared in Teams are stored and managed through SharePoint. Using SharePoint effectively allows you to: Structured storage of project documentation through folders and metadata Maintain version control Role-based access management Centralized file organization Control access permissions Enable real-time collaboration Best practices: Create clear folder & metadata structures (e.g., Contracts, Designs, Reports) Avoid duplicate files Use naming conventions Instead of sending documents via email, teams can collaborate directly within Teams, ensuring everyone works on the latest version. SharePoint Lists in Microsoft Teams SharePoint Lists in Microsoft Teams provide a structured way to store, manage, and track information directly within the collaboration workspace. A SharePoint List is essentially a flexible data table, where each item represents a record with defined fields (such as status, owner, due date, priority, or category). They are especially useful for: Project roadmaps and milestone tracking Action item tracking with ownership and status Checklists for delivery and execution steps Simple status registers and progress tracking Unlike free-form messages or documents, SharePoint Lists keep information structured, filterable, and easy to update, which makes them suitable for ongoing tracking and reporting. When used inside Microsoft Teams, Lists help teams move from discussion to execution by turning decisions into trackable items with clear ownership, status, and visibility. Embedding SharePoint Pages in Teams Beyond file storage, Microsoft 365 allows SharePoint pages to be embedded as tabs within Teams, making key project information easily accessible in one place. SharePoint pages can be added as tabs inside Microsoft Teams channels, providing structured and persistent access to key project information without leaving the collaboration space. In practice, organizations often use SharePoint pages for: Project home page with key links and overview Governance page with rules and standards Onboarding page for new team members Documentation hub for core resources Centralized knowledge hubs This helps ensure that essential information is not scattered across chats or files, but is instead organized and always available within the project workspace. SharePoint is better suited for structured, stable, and long-term information. Microsoft Loop for Real-Time Collaboration Microsoft Loop introduces a more dynamic layer of collaboration inside Microsoft Teams, designed for fast, interactive work where content is continuously evolving. Loop components (such as notes, tables, task lists, and meeting agendas) can be embedded directly into Teams conversations and edited in real time by all participants. It is especially useful for: Live meeting notes Quick decision-making and feedback collection (including simple polls or inputs) 1:1 discussions and follow-ups Brainstorming sessions and idea capture Shared task tracking during discussions In practice, teams can collaborate on meeting notes or brainstorming pages during calls, with updates visible instantly to everyone. This removes the need to switch between documents or wait for post-meeting summaries. Unlike structured tools like SharePoint, Loop is designed for fluid, real-time collaboration, where information is shaped and refined as the discussion happens. Automating Workflows with Power Automate Manual processes can slow down project execution. With Power Automate, you can streamline repetitive tasks. Common automation examples: Notify the team when a task is completed Send reminders for upcoming deadlines Automatically save email attachments to SharePoint Trigger approval workflows Example scenario: When a task in Planner is marked as “Completed,” a notification is sent to the project manager and logged in a tracking list. This reduces manual follow-ups and improves efficiency. Power BI Dashboards Power BI can be integrated into Teams as a tab, allowing teams to access real-time reporting directly within their project workspace. It is commonly used for: Project status dashboards KPI and performance tracking Resource and workload visibility Financial or delivery reporting Instead of switching to a separate reporting tool, teams can monitor progress and insights directly inside Teams, ensuring better visibility and faster decision-making. Microsoft Whiteboard Microsoft Whiteboard provides a visual collaboration space for real-time ideation and planning. It is especially useful for: Brainstorming sessions Process mapping and flow design Workshop facilitation Visual planning during meetings Whiteboard supports freehand drawing, sticky notes, and structured diagrams, making it effective for capturing ideas during live discussions and workshops. Integration with Other Tools (Microsoft & Third-Party) Microsoft Teams can be extended with a wide range of Microsoft 365 services and external applications, allowing it to function as a central hub for project work, reporting, and collaboration. Teams also supports many external tools, allowing organizations to align existing systems without fully replacing them. Common examples include: Jira – agile project and issue tracking Trello – lightweight task and board management ServiceNow – IT service management workflows GitHub – development and repository tracking Salesforce – CRM data and customer-related workflows Communication and Collaboration Effective communication is essential for project success. Microsoft Teams provides multiple ways to facilitate this: Channel Conversations Keep discussions organized by topic instead of using scattered chats. Meetings and Calls Schedule regular check-ins, sprint reviews, or stakeholder updates directly within Teams. Mentions and Tags Use @mentions to notify specific team members and ensure accountability. Practical Use Case Consider a company implementing a new internal intranet. Using Microsoft Teams: A Team is created for the project Planner tracks tasks such as design, content migration, and testing SharePoint stores documents and site assets Power Automate sends reminders for deadlines Teams meetings are used for weekly progress reviews This setup enables the team to manage the entire project lifecycle without introducing additional tools. Best Practices for Success To maximize the effectiveness of Microsoft Teams for project management: Keep your structure simple and consistent Avoid creating too many channels Encourage team members to use channel conversations instead of private chats Regularly review and clean up tasks Use automation where it adds clear value Adoption is just as important as functionality. A well-designed system only works if the team actively uses it. Limitations to Consider While Microsoft Teams is powerful, it has limitations: Not suitable for highly complex project scheduling Limited dependency management compared to dedicated PM tools Reporting capabilities are basic without Power BI For large-scale or highly regulated projects, a dedicated project management tool may still be required. Professional Context and Applied Perspective The approach described in this article reflects practical experience in designing and implementing collaboration environments using Microsoft Teams within real organizational settings. It is based on applied use of integrated Microsoft 365 capabilities, including SharePoint, Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft Loop, to support structured project execution and improve cross-functional collaboration. Rather than relying on isolated tools, this approach focuses on designing a unified digital workspace that aligns communication, task management, documentation, and automation within a single environment. Microsoft Teams is more than just a communication platform. When used strategically, it becomes a practical and efficient tool for managing projects. By combining Teams with Planner, SharePoint, and Power Automate, organizations can create a unified workspace that supports collaboration, task management, and process automation. For teams looking to simplify their toolset while maintaining productivity, Microsoft Teams offers a compelling solution for modern project management.
Microsoft Teams Takes Center Stage at the 2026 Microsoft 365 Community Conference
Microsoft Teams is where people, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and agents come together to collaborate, communicate, and get work done—before, during, and after every interaction. Contributing to and benefiting from Work IQ, Copilot in Teams understands the context, relationships, and signals behind real work, bringing meetings, calling, chat, and collaboration into a single, connected experience across Microsoft 365. At the 2026 Microsoft 365 Community Conference, Teams will be front and center with a broad set of sessions that reflect how teamwork is evolving. From everyday collaboration and meetings to frontline communications, external collaboration, and Copilot‑powered workflows, Teams is designed to help organizations move work forward with clarity and confidence. Register for the M365 Conference today and save $150 with code SAVE150. #M365Con26 Across the Teams sessions at the conference, you’ll see how AI‑powered capabilities—like intelligent meeting recap, real‑time language interpretation, AI‑assistance for calling, and collaborative agents—help teams stay aligned whether work happens in the office, on the front line, or across time zones. What to Expect from the Teams Track The Teams track at the M365 Community Conference offers a practical, end‑to‑end view of how Teams supports new ways work gets done and how organizations can continue their journey toward becoming a Frontier Firm by connecting communication, collaboration, intelligence, and governance in one AI-powered platform. Sessions span key areas including: Collaboration across meetings and events, chats and channels AI-powered communications and modern calling Enabling frontline teams Seamless and secure external collaboration Workplace collaboration and management Operational excellence for IT admins Protection against modern and evolving threats How Teams integrates across Microsoft 365 and contributes to Work IQ for Copilot Whether you’re deploying Teams, managing it at scale, building on it, or using it to drive business outcomes, the Teams track is designed to meet you where you are and help you plan what’s next. You can find the full list of sessions here. Start Here: The Teams Track Session You Shouldn’t Miss To set strategic context for the Teams track, start with Your Guide: What’s New in Teams — Collaboration, Communication, and Copilot. Led by Ilya Bukshteyn, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Teams, and Chandra Chivukula, Vice President, Microsoft Teams Engineering, this session sets the foundation for the Teams track. You’ll get a high‑level view of where Teams is headed—how it’s becoming more intelligent, easier to manage, and increasingly shaped by Copilot across collaboration, meetings, and calling—before diving deeper into the rest of the Teams sessions throughout the conference. Women in Tech and Allies Lunch: featuring Lan Ye and Sumi Singh Lan Ye and Sumi Singh will join this year’s Women in Tech and Allies Lunch as featured panelists. As Corporate Vice Presidents leading Microsoft Teams product and engineering, they’ll share insights, experiences, and advice on fostering diversity and empowerment in technology. Their participation promises a dynamic and engaging discussion you won’t want to miss. Exclusive: Executive Teams Pre-Day Microsoft Teams will host an exclusive Teams Pre‑Day on Monday, April 20, 2026, in Orlando, FL., the day before the conference begins. This full‑day experience is designed for executive IT and business decision makers who shape productivity, collaboration, and communications strategy within their organizations. The day features direct engagement with Microsoft Teams leaders and product experts, with a focus on what’s next across Teams, including Copilot and AI within Teams, and how to maximize value across meetings, calling, devices, and collaboration. Space is limited, and attendance will be aligned to the intended audience for the day. If you’re interested in attending, connect with your Microsoft account team to see if there is still availability. Explore 1:1 Strategic Discussions at the Conference A limited number of 1:1 side meetings will be available during the conference for customers looking to discuss Teams strategy, roadmap alignment, and organizational priorities. These conversations are designed for higher‑level planning discussions and complement the technical depth available across breakout sessions and the Teams booth. Availability is limited. Connect with your Microsoft account team to explore options. Experience Teams Beyond the Sessions In addition to breakout sessions and lightning talks, visit the Microsoft Teams product demos in the Microsoft Innovation Hub on the show floor. It’s a great opportunity to see the latest Teams capabilities in action, explore real‑world scenarios, and connect directly with the product experts behind the experiences. Register for the M365 Conference today and save $150 with code SAVE150. We hope to see you there!
Providing Early Feedback - Simplified Teams app bar 557169
How do we provide early feedback to prevent this from happening or requesting the option to disable this feature? If anything, I want Teams to de-simplify. Microsoft keeps going out of their way to hide things that are crititical to productivity. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=557169 I mean - generally - how do we get Microsoft to stop making things worse? It seems like the recommendation is to use the feedback button in the app; but by that time it's too late. Telling the 100+ people who ask me what Microsoft broke this week to use the feedback button is not helping avoid their distaste and distrust of this platform. This is why people are avoiding Teams and prefer text messaging and WhatsApp. We desperately need to increase adoption but Microsoft keeps obscuring features that lead to increased confusion. Where do we make requests to decrease simplicity and increase productivity?
Channel Meeting Chat can only be viewed from the channel
Why can't chats from a meeting channel appear in the chat section of Teams? Our project team have decided against holding meetings in channels due to this reason because it's a hassle to navigate back to the Team. I have the view set up correctly an you cannot see the chat where we would do all other regular meeting chats. Apparently this is by design? Why...?Teams Delivers a Slack Migration Tool
Microsoft announced the availability of a Slack to Teams migration tool in the Microsoft 365 admin center. The new tool exists to assist the 79 million monthly active users of Slack who might want to move to Teams and don’t know how to get there. ISVs have been helping people move off Slack to Teams for years, so other migration options exist. https://office365itpros.com/2026/01/07/slack-to-teams-migration/
