Microsoft Teams

How To Create A New Team In Microsoft Teams

Discover how to navigate Microsoft Teams with ease, from creating new teams and channels to integrating Slack, Webex, and Zoom users seamlessly, all accompanied by step-by-step instructions and helpful screenshots.
Dominic Kent
Dominic Kent is a content marketer specializing in unified communications and contact centers.

If you’re looking to create a new team in Microsoft Teams, this post provides step-by-step instructions that cover various scenarios.

Alongside accompanying screenshots, you’ll find instructions for:

  1. How to create a new team in Microsoft Teams
  2. How to create a channel in Microsoft Teams
  3. How to add Slack users to a team in Microsoft Teams
  4. How to add Webex users to a team in Microsoft Teams
  5. How to add Zoom Team Chat users to a team in Microsoft Teams

1 – How to create a new team in Microsoft Teams

Before you attempt to create a new team, check you have the right permissions.

Who can create teams in Microsoft Teams?

Any Microsoft Teams administrator can create a new team in Microsoft Teams.

Teams admins also set the permissions to decide who can or can’t create their own new team.

By default guests or external users can’t make new teams in tenants other than their own.

Assuming you have permission, you can create either a new public or private team.

How to create a new team in Microsoft Teams

To create a new team, follow these steps:

  1. In the Teams section, choose Join or create a new team at the bottom of the page underneath your existing teams.
  1. Choose create team from the options provided.
  1. Decide whether you want to create a new team from scratch, using an existing Microsoft 365 group or team, and whether you wish to use a Microsoft template. Templates are ideal for repeatable projects or events.
  1. Choose whether you want to create a public or private team.
  1. Give your team a name and write a description so people know what this team is for and whether they need to join it. When naming teams, make sure you abide by any existing naming conventions. When you’ve got a name and description, click Create.
  1. Next, you can add members to your new team or skip and do this later.
  1. That’s it! You’ve created a new team and a General channel has appeared by default.

How to create a team in Microsoft Teams on a phone

To create a team in Microsoft Teams from your phone, you need to download the Microsoft Teams app from your relevant app store.

How to create a team in Microsoft Teams mobile app

There are slightly different interfaces on iPhone than Android so make sure you choose the correct instructions below:

How do you create a team on Microsoft Teams on Android?
  1. First, tap on the Teams button in the bottom menu.

2. Next, click the menu in the top right-hand corner then choose Create a new team at the bottom of the screen.

3. Add the team name and write a description so new members know the purpose of the team. Then click Private to choose your privacy settings.

4. When you’ve selected your privacy settings, click the tick in the right-hand corner then add any members you wish to be added to your new team.

5. Click the tick in the top right-hand corner when you’ve finished adding members and your team is created.

How do you create a team on Microsoft Teams on iPhone?
  1. Open your Teams app and navigate to the teams menu where all your teams are displayed.

2. In the top right-hand corner, click the + sign to create a new team.

3. Provide a name and description so everyone knows the purpose of the team.

4. Click Private to open privacy settings and select whether you want this team to be private or public.

5. Add anyone you wish to be a member of your new team by typing their name or email address.

6. Click Done and your new team will appear.

Once you’ve made your new team, you can start to add channels to give your team context and structure.

2 – How to create a channel in Microsoft Teams

Once you’ve created your new team, channels are crucial to maintain the organization of your conversations and projects.

To create a channel in Microsoft Teams, navigate to your team and click the menu on the right-hand side of the channel name then click Add channel.

Give your channel and name and description. Make sure this is different from your team so everyone knows the purpose of the channel and whether they need to join it.

That’s it! You’ve created a new channel.

Now your channels are created, you can start collaborating with colleagues.

If you’re unsure which type of chat you need to start, read this post comparing when to use group chats vs channels.

3 – How to add Slack users to a team in Microsoft Teams

Once you’ve created a new team, you might think that’s it for collaboration.

But what about your colleagues who don’t use Microsoft Teams?

After all, 91% of businesses use at least 2 chat apps, with 63% of companies using Slack in parallel with Microsoft apps.

Do you resort to sending emails or setting up meetings with your colleagues on Slack?

What you could do instead is set up cross-platform federation within your new team to extend the messaging capabilities to Slack users too.

When you send a message from Teams, your colleagues can receive them in Slack. And you don’t need to leave Teams!

They also receive GIFs, emojis, message edits, deletes, and files sent along with any messages.

Learn more about connecting Slack and Microsoft Teams here.

4 – How to add Webex users to a team in Microsoft Teams

If you have colleagues who are using Webex and won’t move to Teams, you can create a new team in Microsoft Teams and add Webex users into any channels you create.

This way, you can send cross-platform messages without having to change interfaces.

You can also send GIFs, emojis, message edits, deletes, and files sent along with any messages.

Ready to connect Webex and Microsoft Teams? Get started here.

5 – How to add Zoom Team Chat users to a team in Microsoft Teams

When you create a new team in Microsoft Teams and want to chat with users who prefer Zoom Team Chat, you can connect Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

By connecting your Teams teams to your Zoom Chat channel, you can send cross-platform messages to users on Zoom.

Mio enables you to send the following from Teams to Zoom (and vice versa):

  • Direct messages
  • Channels messages
  • Message edits and deletions
  • GIFs and emojis
  • File uploads

Learn more about Zoom Team Chat interop here.

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