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Note: Some experiences detailed below are only available in the new Teams. To learn more, see Switch to the new Microsoft Teams.

You start one-on-one and group chats the same way: by selecting New chat New chat icon at the top of your chat list.

Start a new chat

Start a one-on-one chat

Once you've selected New chat New chat icon in Teams and entered a person’s name, compose your message in the box at the bottom of the chat.

Screenshot showing chat compose bar

To open formatting options, select Format  Expand button  beneath the box where you type your message.

Screenshot showing chat compose formatting window

When you're ready, select Send Send a message icon. or press Enter to start the chat.

You can also start a one-on-one chat from someone's profile card. Open it by choosing their picture in a channel or by using search.

Start a chat with yourself

You’ll see your name pinned to the top of your chat list by default. Use this space for drafts, to send messages and files to yourself, or to get to know chat features a little better. 

chat with yourself pinned to chat list on desktop

If you unpin the chat and want to find it again, select New chat New chat icon  and enter your name into the To field. Compose your message just as you would in a regular one-on-one chat.

Start and name a group chat

Create a group chat the same way you start a one-on-one chat. 

  1. Select New chat New chat icon in Teams at the top of your chat list.

  2. Select the down arrow to the far right of the To field and then type a name for the chat in the Group name field.

  3. Type the names of the people you’d like to add in the To field.

Name a group chat A
Start a new chat and select the down arrow

Name a group chat B
Type a name for the group chat and add people

This starts a new conversation. Everyone who has access to the group chat can send messages.

You can include up to 250 people in a group chat. 

Add people to the conversation

To loop more people into the conversation, select Add people Add people to team button (or View and add participants in group chat) in the top right corner of Teams. Then, type the names of the people you'd like to chat with, choose how much of the chat history to include, and select Add

Note: When adding someone to a group chat (not a one-on-one), you can include the chat history. 

Add people to a chat

Teams saves the entire chat history, all the way back to the first message. If someone leaves the group their chat responses remain in your chat history.

See who's in a group chat

To see who’s in a group chat, select View and add participants in the chat header to show a list of everyone’s names.

See who is in a group chat

Want to learn more? See First things to know about chats and First things to know about group chats.

You start one-on-one and group chats the same way: by tapping Chat > New chat  New chat icon.

start a new chat on mobile

Start a one-on-one chat 

Once you've tapped New chat  New chat icon and entered a person’s name, compose your message in the box at the bottom of the chat. To open formatting options

  1. Tap More messaging options  Teams plus button black.

    format a chat message on mobile

  2. Tap Format  Expand button.

    open formatting tool for chat message on mobile

Compose your message and when you're ready, tap Send  Send a message icon. to start the chat.

Start a chat with yourself

You’ll see your name pinned to the top of your chat list by default.

chat with yourself pinned to chat list on mobile

You can use this space to send messages, files, and more to yourself in Teams. If you unpin it and want to find the chat again, just tap New chat  New chat icon and enter your name.

search for chat with yourself on mobile

Start and name a group chat 

Create a group chat the same way you start a one-on-one chat.  

  1. Tap New chat  New chat icon and then type the names of the people you’d like to add in the To field.

  2. Compose and send your message.

  3. Tap the names of the participants at the top of your screen.

    tap group chat participant names on mobile

  4. Tap Group chat name.

    create a group chat name on mobile

  5. Type a group name and then tap Save.

    save new group chat name on mobile

Everyone who has access to the group chat can send messages. 

Add people to the conversation 

To loop more people into the conversation:

  1. Tap the names of the participants at the top of your screen then tap Add people  Add people to team button.

    add people to a group chat on mobile

  2. Type the names of the people you'd like to chat with, choose how much of the chat history to include, then tap Done.

    share chat history on mobile

Note: Note: When adding someone to a group chat (not a one-on-one), you can include the chat history.  

Teams saves the entire chat history, all the way back to the first message. If someone leaves the group their chat responses remain in your chat history.

See who's in a group chat 

To see who’s in a group chat, tap the names of the participants at the top of your screen and you’ll see a list of everyone’s names. 

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