Make the Most of Teams with These Updates
Ever find yourself lost in a sea of chats, channels, and never-ending notifications in Microsoft Teams? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But here’s some great news: Microsoft is rolling out updates to make Teams more user-friendly, productive, and organised. Let’s check out how these new features can revolutionise the way your business communicates, and we’ll throw in some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of it with our Teams tips and updates.
Streamline Your Workspace with a Unified Chat Hub
Say goodbye to jumping between tabs and menus! Microsoft is introducing a unified Chat menu that consolidates your conversations, notifications, and key updates into one easily accessible location.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the new Chat hub to set a daily “check-in” time to review all notifications and mentions. This ensures nothing important slips through the cracks.
Never Miss a Beat with @Mentions
Ever worry you’ve missed an important mention in the chaos of notifications? The new @mentions view gathers all your tagged messages and direct mentions in one place. Whether you’re collaborating on a project or following up on critical updates, this feature keeps you in the loop.
💡 Trick: Use the Search Bar in the @mentions view to quickly find past mentions or critical discussions—especially useful in fast-paced projects.
Organise Your Way with Improved Filters and Controls
One size doesn’t fit all, and Microsoft gets that. Teams will soon offer enhanced filters to sort notifications and chats by urgency, topic, or project. You can also create custom sections to neatly organise your workspace based on your priorities.
💡 Pro Tip: Combine custom sections with naming conventions for clarity. For example, label channels by project and urgency—like “Project Alpha – Urgent” or “Marketing Updates – Weekly”.
Favourites Section: Your Fast Track to Productivity
Got key chats or channels you access daily? The new favourites section lets you pin them for quick access. Whether it’s your department’s chat or the channel for a major project, you’ll never waste time scrolling to find what matters most.
💡 Trick: Use the favourites feature to pin files, not just chats. If there’s a document or resource your team needs often, pin it for instant access.
Threaded Conversations: Coming in 2025
One of the most requested features is finally on its way! Threaded conversations will allow replies to stay grouped together, making it easier to follow discussions and avoid confusion.
💡 Pro Tip: Until threads arrive, use reply tagging. Add “Replying to [Message Sender]” at the start of your response for clarity. This temporary workaround keeps conversations cohesive.
Teams on Every Device
These updates are rolling out across desktop, Android, and iOS, ensuring your team stays connected and productive no matter where they are working.
💡 Trick: Use the mobile app’s offline mode to draft messages and queue them for delivery when you’re back online. Great for travelling or working in low-connectivity areas.
Unlock Hidden Teams Features
Ready to take Teams to the next level? Try these tips:
- Command Bar Shortcuts: Press Ctrl + / to open a list of shortcuts like “/call” to start a call or “/files” to quickly access recent files.
- Bookmark Messages: Hover over a message and click the ellipsis (…) to save important updates or instructions for easy reference.
- Poll Creation: Use the Polls app in Teams meetings to engage your team and make decisions in real time.
- Translation Tool: Right-click on a message to instantly translate it—perfect for global teams.
Your Nxt Steps
Microsoft Teams is more than just a messaging tool; it’s a powerhouse for productivity and collaboration. With these updates and tips, you can transform how your business communicates.
Not sure where to start? That’s where we come in. At Nxt Gen IT, we’re experts in helping businesses get the most out of Teams. From setup to ongoing support, we’ve got you covered.
👉 Get in touch today to supercharge your business communication with Microsoft Teams!
Ben helps growing businesses turn technology into a driver of performance instead of a barrier. At Nxt Gen IT he works with SME leaders, recruiters, and fast-scaling teams to design solutions that improve reliability, strengthen security, and unlock growth.
With a background in email deliverability and cloud systems, Ben specialises in making sure businesses communicate effectively, keep data safe, and get the most from Microsoft 365. His experience spans solution design, managed IT services, and virtual CIO support, always with a focus on practical outcomes that reduce headaches for business owners.
Ben has supported organisations across the UK, from recruitment agencies struggling with inbox placement to SaaS firms scaling fast, and SMEs needing a trusted partner for their IT. He believes tech is never the end goal: growth is. His role is to make sure technology never gets in the way of it.