Applies ToTeams Microsoft Teams
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Welcome to Updates, an out-of-the-box app that allows you to create, submit, and review updates. People can easily see their employee updates, check-ins, and reports in one place to make sure the team is on track for success, whether those are recurring processes that happen on a regular basis or in-the-moment updates that might be needed at any time. 

Whether on a desktop or mobile device, workers are alerted in the flow of work and can easily complete and submit updates, saving everyone time and energy. 

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Open the Updates app

You’ll find Updates on the left side of Teams with other apps. Select it to start sending and receiving updates. If you don’t see it there, select + Apps on the left side of Teams and search for Updates

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Request an update

From the app, you can request your teammates to update their work status by requesting an update: 

  1. Choose one of our recommended Templates that complement your everyday updates. If you choose a Template, preview the contents, or select Use template.   Image for Request An Update

  2. You can select Explore all templates for more templates and choose Start from blank for anything in-between.  Image for Request an Update2

  3. Configure the update request name, adjust and/or add any questions to the template in Edit form.  

  4. Assign users as Submitters if they need to complete and add content to the update. Assign users as Viewers if they can see and track update progress and the details of the submissions; Decide if Submitters are required to attach files and select Set due date and recurrence at specific times.  Image for Request an Update3

  5. Select Publish

    For Submitters, the update request will appear in the Needing your updates section on homepage. If you create an update request with a due date, there will be due time and completion status information associated with the request.    Image for Submitters For Viewers, update request overview will appear in the Review updates section.  

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Manage update requests 

Update requests can be edited and can be made available by Assigners if they’re needed and made unavailable if they’re not. 

  1. Select My requests on homepage. 

  2. Under Actions, select More options (...).Image for Manage update requests

  3. Disable will make the request not available for use, Enable will make the request active and available for use, Edit will allow you to edit the request. 

Submit an update 

Submitters can complete and add content to the update requests that have been assigned to them. 

  1. Go to Updates app homepage and choose any one of the assigned requests under Needing your updates.Image for Submitters  

  2. Once you’ve added all your information and attachments, select Submit.   Image for Submit an Update2

You can also Submit a quick update to your teammates:

  1. Select Quick update in the top right corner of the app. 

  2. Add your content and specify people you want to submit the update to as Viewers

  3. Select Submit.

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View an update 

Viewers can keep up to date with the progress of updates and view the details of submitted updates. 

  1. Go to Updates app homepage and navigate to Review updates. Review the submission status for each request briefly.  

  2. Choose a card to see all updates from that specific request.   Image for View An Update

    Note: Choosing cards will display all the updates from that specific request, in order of submission, and in relation to each due date if it is a recurring request. Selecting a specific request shows the full details of the submission.

  3. Select Customize to specify what type of update data to be highlighted.  Image for View An Update

  4. Choose an update to see the details and attachments of that specific submission, or switch viewing modes to view submission content for a specific question.  Image for View An Update3

Create, send, and receive updates in chat or channel

From your desktop, enter any chat or channel conversation and request an update from the Update app message extension. You can assign which members in current chat or channel as Submitters and Viewers. 

  1. Enter your desired team chat or channel.

  2. Select More options (+) next to the send message button.  Image for Updates In Chat

  3. Choose one of the Templates that complement your everyday updates. If you choose a template, preview the Contents, or select Use template.  Image for Updates in Chat1

  4. Configure the update request name, adjust and/or add any questions to the template in Edit form.  

  5. By default, everyone in the team chat or channel are assigned as Submitters and Viewers. You can choose to expand the list and make adjustment; Decide if Submitters are required to attach files and select Set due data and recurrence at specific times. 

  6. Select Publish.

The Update app message extension also allows people to submit updates.  

  1. Enter your desired team chat or channel conversation.

  2. Select More options (+) next to the send message button. 

  3. Select Updates app.

  4. Choose or review Any assigned request created from this team chat or channel.  Updates in Chat2

Note: If there is already an update request card in the chat or channel and you have been assigned as a Submitter, select the card to submit a response. If you have been assigned a Viewer role, select the card to view the submissions.

The update request that is created or update submitted will appear in the group chat or channel as a card allowing Submitters to submit an update from it or Viewers to view the submission.  

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Want more?

What's new in Updates

Automate your workflows in Updates

Updates FAQ

Explore the Updates Lookbook

For IT admins

Manage the Updates app for your organization in Microsoft Teams

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