Microsoft Teams Hacks: Features You’re Not Using (But Should)

Microsoft Teams has become an essential collaboration tool for businesses worldwide, but many users are only scratching the surface of its capabilities. Beyond chat, video calls, and file sharing, Teams offers a variety of features designed to streamline workflows, boost productivity, and make teamwork more efficient. Here’s a look at some hidden gems you might not be using — and why you should start.

1. Pinned Channels and Messages

Keeping important channels or messages easily accessible can save your team valuable time.

• Pinned Channels: Pin frequently used channels to the top of your Teams sidebar.

• Pinned Messages: Pin critical messages within channels so team members can reference them quickly.

  
  

2. Integrated Task Management

Teams integrates with Planner and To Do. You can assign tasks directly within a channel and track progress without leaving the app.

• Assign tasks during meetings.

• Get reminders for due dates.

• Visualize workloads with Kanban boards.

3. Use @Mentions Smartly

Using @mentions isn’t just for tagging people.

• @Team or @Channel to alert everyone in a channel.

• @Me to quickly find messages you were mentioned in. This keeps communication targeted and ensures nothing important slips through.

4. Breakout Rooms

For large meetings or workshops, breakout rooms are a lifesaver.

• Split participants into smaller groups for discussions.

• Automatically assign or manually move people between rooms.

• Bring everyone back to the main meeting for summaries.

5. Meeting Recap and Transcripts

Teams now offers automatic meeting transcripts and recaps.

• Missed a meeting? Catch up with the transcript.

• Search the transcript for specific keywords.

• Share recaps with absent team members to keep everyone on the same page.

6. Keyboard Shortcuts

Efficiency lovers rejoice! Teams has a full set of shortcuts that can drastically speed up navigation.

• Ctrl + Shift + M to mute/unmute yourself.

• Ctrl + E to jump straight to the search bar.

• Ctrl + . for a full list of shortcuts.

7. Custom Backgrounds and Together Mode

Make meetings more engaging and professional.

• Custom Backgrounds: Hide your surroundings or reinforce branding.

• Together Mode: Place everyone in a shared virtual space to make large meetings feel more connected.

8. Message Translation

Working with international teams? Teams can automatically translate messages in different languages.

• Simply click “Translate” on a message.

• Makes collaboration across countries seamless.

9. Integrated Apps

Enhance Teams functionality by adding apps like:

• Polly: Run instant polls and surveys.

• Power BI: Share interactive dashboards.

• OneNote: Take and share meeting notes in real-time.

10. Use @Mentions in Planner

Combine Teams and Planner by using @mentions in task comments to notify colleagues instantly.

• Keeps everyone accountable.

• Reduces back-and-forth emails.

Get the Most Out of Teams

Microsoft Teams is more than just a chat app — it’s a powerful collaboration hub. By exploring these lesser-known features, your team can save time, reduce friction, and work more effectively together.

Need help optimizing Teams for your business? Reach out to us for a consultation, and we’ll make sure your team is leveraging every feature Teams has to offer.