First things to know about calls in Microsoft Teams

Calls are a quick way to connect in Teams. You can have one-on-one calls or calls with several people. You can set them up ahead of time, like in a meeting, or you can start them on the fly while in a chat.

While meetings are a great way to collaborate in Teams, calls can be a more direct way of connecting for completing specific tasks or for getting questions answered quickly.

Here are the first things to remember about making and managing calls in Teams:

1. There are many ways to make a call in Teams

Wherever you are in Teams, you can start a call with someone (or a group of people). Here are some of the ways:

Make or answer a call from anywhere

Select either Video call Video call button or Audio call Calls button . Any call can be a video call or an audio-only call. It's always up to you.

Teams-calls icons-simple

Answering a call is simple, too. Just select Video call Video call button or Audio call Calls button when prompted. When someone calls you, you'll get a notification that lets you accept or decline the call.

Turn a chat into a call

With one click, you can turn any chat into a call in Teams. When you're in a chat, select Video call Video call button or Audio call Calls button in the upper-right corner of Teams. The person you are chatting with (or the people, if it's a group chat) will receive a call from you.

Teams-call icons-general-300

Make a call from your call history, speed dial, voicemail, or contacts

Access your call history and quickly call anyone back from the list. Go to Calls and review the History section in the center of the screen. Select any item from the list and then choose Call in the Details section on the right side of Teams.
From your speed dial, you can quickly call people that you previously saved to this list. To access your speed dial, go to Calls and then find the Speed dial section on the right side of Teams.
From your voicemail, you can quickly call back anyone who left a message. To access your voicemail, go to History and select the Voicemail button in the upper-right corner. You can call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions next to their name > Call back from the call history list, or by clicking Call under the contact details.
To view your contacts, click Calls > Contacts in the upper left of Teams. From here, you can call anyone by selecting Call to the right of their name.

Use the dial pad

If you have a calling plan enabled, you can call anyone from Teams.

To dial a number from Teams, go to Calls Calls button , and then enter the number of the person you want to reach by using the dial pad located on the left. Then click Call .

You can also type the name of a person or group and call them from the dial pad.

Teams dial pad-simple

Hover over someone's profile picture

Throughout the Teams app, you'll find profile pictures of people you're connected with. (Sometimes people choose avatars, or you might just see their initials.)

At any time, you can mouse over a profile picture and see options to make a video or an audio-only call to that person. Choose one of those options and your call will begin.

profile hover state

Use the command box

At the top of Teams, type "/call" in the box and then enter a name or number. When you make your selection, the call will begin automatically.

In this way, you can quickly find people or groups and make a call to them.

Teams-call from command box

Note: If you're in a Teams call on your mobile device, the device's screen won't turn off if you don't navigate away from the call window (or if you navigate away but come back before it turns off). If you turn off your screen during a call, you'll stay connected but the device will lock.

2. You can do a lot while on a call in Teams

During a call, you can take many actions. These are a few common actions you might take:

Place a call on hold

Select More actions More options button in your call window and choose Hold. Everyone on the call will be notified that they've been put on hold, and you can continue your call by clicking Resume.

Call menu-more actions

Transfer a call

Select More actions More options button > Transfer in your call controls. Then, type the name of the person you want to transfer the call to and select them. To finish, select Transfer.

Consult then transfer

If you want to check in with someone before you transfer a call to them, select More actions More options button > Consult then transfer.

Under Choose a person to consult, start typing the name of the person you want to reach and select them when they appear. You can call them or consult with them over chat. When you're ready, select Transfer.

Add a delegate

You can pick someone in Teams to be your delegate—to receive and make calls on your behalf. When you add a delegate, you’re essentially sharing your phone line with them, so they can see and share all of your calls.

To designate a delegate, select Settings and more Select to see more options next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings > General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. There you can see who you're a delegate for and add and remove your own delegates.

Share a line with a delegate

Select Settings and more Select to see more options next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings > General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. Click Your delegates and type the person's name in the Add a delegate box.

3. Review your call history

Your call history is located in the center of the calls experience and shows a list of past calls (including missed calls).

Go to Calls Calls button > History. From any call in the list, select More actions More options button > Call back to begin a call automatically.

You can also chat with that contact, add them to speed dial, and add them to your contacts - all from the More actions More options button menu.

Teams-History screen-general-border

4. Access your voicemail

Your voicemail is another familiar tool for getting the most out of your calling experience in Teams.

Go to Calls Calls button > History and then select Voicemail in the upper right. From here, you can:

Review messages and transcripts from calls
Customize call rules
Record a greeting
Call anyone who's left you a message

Call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions More options button next to their name > Call back Calls button from the call history list, or by clicking Calls under the contact Details on the right side of Teams.

Teams-Details-Call button