Video and Audio Calls in Microsoft Teams
This Calls in Microsoft Teams tutorial is suitable for users Teams in Microsoft 365 or Teams Desktop.
OBJECTIVE
Learn how to successfully make video and audio calls in Microsoft Teams with one or more.
VIDEO AND AUDIO CALLS EXPLAINED
Microsoft Teams offers many impressive and valuable video conferencing features. You can host calls with up to 250 members, including the ability to share screens and record calls. You can also meet or collaborate on-the-go using Microsoft Teams apps for smartphones and tablets.
Video calling is an essential tool in the modern workplace since employees work remotely or from various office locations. Using Microsoft Teams, employees can easily meet virtually, discuss, brainstorm, and work on documents in real-time.
Meetings can be Adhoc, on-the-fly gatherings or scheduled ahead of time.
START AN AUDIO OR VIDEO CALL FROM A CHAT
You can make one-on-one or group calls with anyone in your organization directly from a chat without having to host a team meeting. These calls are private and won’t appear in any team conversation.
START AN AUDIO OF VIDEO CALL FROM CALLS
You can start an audio or video call from the Calls area either by clicking the Make a Call button or selecting the audio or video call icon next to a contact.
START AND AUDIO OR VIDEO CALL FROM A TEAM CHANNEL
Audio or video calls can also be started from within a team channel. When you start a call in a channel, all the channel members will receive an invite to join the call.
- Click the Meet Now icon underneath the conversation or in the top-right hand corner of the screen.
- Toggle off video to make this an audio call only.
- Click Join now to enter the meeting.
IN-MEETING OPTIONS
The toolbar that runs across the top of the Teams window contains your in-meeting options.
| 1. | Show Participants | Shows all participants of the meetings in a pane on the right-hand side. |
| 2. | Show Conversation | Shows the meeting chat panel where participants can have conversations with the host and/or each other. |
| 3. | Raise Hand | Raise your hand to indicate to the host you want to ask a question or have an issue without disrupting the presentation. |
| 4. | More Actions | More in-meeting options such as changing your background, starting a recording, or turning on live captions. |
| 5. | Turn Camera Off/On | Toggle your camera off or on. |
| 6. | Mute/Unmute Microphone | Mute or unmute your microphone. |
| 7. | Share Contents | Share your desktop, an application, or a whiteboard with other meeting participants. |
| 8. | Leave Meeting | Leave the meeting or End the Call. |
SPOTLIGHT A PARTICIPANT
Put the focus on a specific person or yourself in the meeting with the Spotlight feature. Only meeting hosts can put the spotlight on participants.
- Click Show Participants.
- Hover your mouse over the participant you would like to switch focus to.
- Click the 3 dots.
- Click Spotlight.
MEETING CHAT
Participants can chat with the host or each other using meeting chat.
- Click Show Conversations.
- Type a message and press Enter or click the Send button.
- Use the message toolbar underneath the conversation to format messages, set delivery options, attach a file, or inject some fun by adding emojis, gifs, or stickers.
RAISE YOUR HAND
Get the host’s attention without interrupting the presentation by using the raise your hand feature.
- Click the Raise your hand button.
- To clear a raised hand, click the three dots and select Lower hand.
APPLY BACKGROUND EFFECTS
Disguise your background by adding a background effect or blurring your background.
- Click the More Actions button.
- Select Background Effects.
- Select a Background.
- Click Apply.
LIVE CAPTIONS
If you have any participants who are hearing impaired, you can turn on live captions.
- Click on the More Actions button.
- Select Turn on Live Captions.
SHARING CONTENT
Teams is a collaboration tool, and so it makes sense that you might want to share a document, spreadsheet, presentation, or something else so that everyone can provide feedback and share ideas.
In Teams, you can share your desktop, a specific application, or a whiteboard.
- Click the Share Content button.
Sharing your desktop will allow meeting participants to see everything on your desktop. This includes your open documents, notifications, and emails.
Sharing a window allows you to select a window that you currently have open and only share that. Participants are limited to only viewing that application and will not see anything else on your desktop.
If you plan on sharing a PowerPoint presentation, you can browse and upload it to Teams. This ensures that the presentation won’t experience any lag, particularly if it contains a video. It’s a good idea to upload any presentations you want to play in the meeting before it commencing.
PASSING CONTROL OF THE KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
As the host, you can pass control of the keyboard and mouse to other participants while sharing content.
- Share your desktop.
- Push your mouse to the top of the screen.
- From the drop-down menu, select Give control and then select a participant to pass control to.
To read more about video and audio calls in Microsoft Teams, visit the following links.
10 Steps to Get Started in Microsoft Teams
PEI – Microsoft Teams – Make A Call
Cross The Divide – Adjusting audio/video while on a Teams call
Take a look at more free training resources from Simon Sez IT.
Deborah Ashby
Deborah Ashby is a TAP Accredited IT Trainer, specializing in the design, delivery, and facilitation of Microsoft courses both online and in the classroom.She has over 11 years of IT Training Experience and 24 years in the IT Industry. To date, she's trained over 10,000 people in the UK and overseas at companies such as HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, Parliament, SKY, Microsoft, Kew Gardens, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.She's a qualified MOS Master for 2010, 2013, and 2016 editions of Microsoft Office and is COLF and TAP Accredited and a member of The British Learning Institute.
