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.
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 More apps and you’ll find it in the list. If it is not in the list, select + Apps on the left side of Teams and search for Updates.
See your updates
In Updates, the Submit tab displays updates that need to be submitted, and the Review tab displays updates available to view. Each person has Scheduled and General updates to submit or view.
Scheduled updates have been assigned a due date. General updates have yet to include a due date but are available for in-the-moment events such as facility inspections, incident reports, and more. People can request, submit, and view updates.
If it’s your first-time using Updates, don’t worry, we’ll show you the process of staying up to date with your team and give you some tips on how to use the app.
Request an update
From the app, you can request your teammates to update their work status by requesting an update:
-
Select Request an update in the top right corner of the app. (Select Manage tab in the top bar of the app.)
-
Select + New request in the top right corner.
-
Choose one of our Templates that complement your everyday updates or choose Start from blank for anything in-between. If you selected a Template, review the contents, and select Pick this template.
-
Configure the update request name and description in Basic settings, then select Next.
-
Adjust or add any questions in Form design, then select Next.
-
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 Advanced settings to set recurring due dates at specific times.
-
Select Publish.
If you create an update request with a due date, it will appear in the Submit tab under Scheduled for Submitters. If it doesn’t have a due date and can be completed at any time, it will appear in the Submit tab under General. 
For Viewers, updates will appear in the Review tab. If the update has a due date, it appears in the Review tab under Scheduled. If it doesn’t have a due date and can be completed at any time, it will appear under General.
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.
-
Select Request an update. (Click Manage tab in the top bar of the app.)
-
Under Actions, select More options (...).
-
Enable will make the request active and available for use.
-
Disable will make the request not available for use.
-
Edit will allow you to edit the request.
Confirm your request status is correct. The request status can be changed at any time.
Submit an update
Submitters can complete and add content to the update requests that have been assigned to them.
-
Select the Submit tab at the top left corner of the app.
-
Choose an assigned update request in Scheduled or General.
-
Once you’ve added all your information and attachments, select Submit.
You can also Submit a quick update to your teammates:
-
Select Submit a quick update in the top right corner of the app or select a template from New update in the top of the app.
-
Add your content and specify people you want to submit the update to as viewers.
-
Select Submit.
-
If you want to modify the question list, you can select Edit the form and save as an update request for yourself.
All your submitted updates will appear in Your Submissions, which is located below the Scheduled and General sections.
In the Submit tab, selecting See all will display your assigned updates that can’t fit in the Scheduled and General sections.
View an update
Viewers can keep up to date with the progress of updates and view the details of submitted updates.
-
Select the Review tab at the top left corner of the app.
-
Select a card to see all updates from that specific request.
Note: Selecting 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.
-
Choose an update located beneath Received to see the details and attachments of that specific submission.
Updates listed under Scheduled will showcase each update template’s Submission rate and total number that have been Submitted and are Unsubmitted. Updates under General will showcase the number of Submissions and New submissions.
In the Review tab, selecting See all will display all the Scheduled and General updates.
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.
-
Enter your desired team chat or channel.
-
Select More options (...) in the bottom right corner of the compose bar.
-
Choose Request an update.
-
Choose one of the Templates that complement your everyday updates or choose Start from blank for anything in-between. If you selected a template, review the contents, and select Pick this template.
-
Enter the request title and adjust and/or add any questions to the template in Form design, then select Next.
-
Choose the Rules settings, such as requiring file attachments and select Advanced settings to set recurring due dates at specific times.
-
Select Publish.
The Update app message extension also allows people to submit updates.
-
Enter your desired team chat or channel conversation.
-
Select More options (...) in the bottom right corner of the compose bar.
-
Select Updates app.
-
Select Write an update or choose one of the templates in Get started by writing an update.
-
Choose your desired template. Add your information and add Viewers if necessary.
-
Select Submit.
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.
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.
Open the Updates app
You’ll find Updates in Teams on the bottom of your mobile screen. Select … More, and it should appear in the app list. If it is not in the list, click + Add app at the end of the app list and search for Updates.
See your updates
In Updates, the Submit tab displays updates that need to be submitted, and the Review tab displays updates you can view. Each person has Scheduled and General updates to submit or view.
Scheduled updates have been assigned a due date. General updates have yet to include a due date but are available for in the moment events such as facility inspections, incident reports, and more.
People can request, submit, and view updates.
If it’s your first-time using Updates, don’t worry, we’ll show you the process of staying up to date with your team and give you some tips on how to use the app.
Request an update
Update requests can only be created from the desktop app. To start collecting updates from your team, click on the Desktop tab above and follow the steps there.
Manage update requests
Managing update requests can only be done on the desktop app. To begin editing, click on the Desktop tab above and follow the steps.
Submit an update
Submitters can complete and add content to update requests that have been assigned to them.
-
Select the Submit tab at the top of the app.
-
Choose an update request in Scheduled or General.
-
Once you’ve added all your information and attachments, select Submit.
All your submitted updates in Your Submissions, which is located below the Scheduled and General sections.
In the Submit tab, selecting See all will display your assigned updates that can’t fit in the Scheduled and General sections.
View an update
Viewers can keep up to date with the progress of updates and view the details of submitted updates.
-
Select the Review tab at the top of the app.
-
Select a card to see updates from that specific template.
Note: Selecting cards will display all updates from that specific template, in order of submission, and in relation to each due date if it’s a recurring update. Clicking on a specific update will display the full details of the submission.
-
Choose an update located beneath Received to see the details of that specific submission.
Updates listed under Scheduled will showcase each template’s Submission rate and total number that have been Submitted and are Unsubmitted. Updates under General will showcase the number of Submissions and New submissions.
In the Review tab, selecting See all will display all the Scheduled and General updates.
Send and receive updates in chat
From your mobile device, submit and receive updates from the message extension.
-
Enter your desired team chat or channel.
-
Click +in the bottom left corner of the compose bar.
-
Select Updates app.
-
Choose your desired update request. Add your information and add Viewers if necessary.
-
Select Submit.
The update will appear in the group chat or channel as a card allowing Viewers to view the submission. If there is already an Update card in the Chat or Channel and you have been assigned as a Submitter, select the card to submit a response directly for that update. If you have been assigned as a Viewer, select the card to view the submissions.
Want more?
Manage the Updates app for your organization in Microsoft Teams
