Teams calls

How to make a call | How to make a call from a chat | How to answer a call | Using the call tool bar | How to place a call on hold

How to make multiple calls at once | How to add a contact to an existing call | How to transfer a call | Managing your contacts | How to use speed dial

How to view your call history | How to use voicemail on Teams | How to use video calls | Change your background on video calls | How to use screen share

 How to make a call

	From the menu bar on the left, select the Calls button
	Under the Make a Call section, type in the name of the person you want to call. If you need to make a group call, you'll need to add all of the names of the people you want in the call.
	Select the telephone icon for an audio call or the video icon for a video call.

Please note that your University Teams account is unable to make calls to telephone numbers. 

Making calls to external contacts 

You will only be able to make calls to external contacts if they have an email address that is linked to a Teams account. 

How to make a call from a chat

 You can also make one-on-one and group calls directly from a chat.

Head to your chat list and select the individual or group you would like to contact.

	Select the telephone icon for an audio call
	Select the video icon for a video call

How to answer a call 

	Use the telephone icon to answer using audio
	Use the video icon to answer using video
	Use the hang up icon to reject the call

Using the call tool bar 

*the more actions tab opens up an additional menu bar: 

How to place a call on hold

	Select the more actions button on the call tool bar
	Select the hold option

To continue with your call, select Resume. 

Teams will notify you if you have been put on hold. 

How to make multiple calls

You can make multiple calls at once. 

Place your current call on hold, then make another call.

You can also take multiple calls at once. 

Select the telephone icon in the incoming call window (bottom right of your screen). 

The contact on the original call will automatically be put on hold. 

How to add a contact to an existing call 

	Select the contact icon in the call tool bar
	Add the name(s) of the contact(s) you want to add to the call. They will then be invited into the call and can accept or reject depending on their availability.

How to transfer a call 

	Select the more actions button in the call tool bar
	Select the transfer button
	Type in the contacts name and click transfer.

You can also check with the person you are transferring the call to before transferring. 

	Select the more actions button in the call tool bar.
	Select the Consult then transfer button.
	Type in the name of the contact you want to consult, and press Consult.
	You will then be able to talk to your contact before you transfer the call.  If they can accept the transfer, click Transfer.  If they can't accept the transfer, click Stop consulting - this will take you back to the original call.

Managing contacts

Your contacts list will be made up of people you regularly contact through calling Teams but you can also add and remove people yourself.

	Select Calls from the menu bar on the left
	Select Contacts
	Select the Add contact button
	Type the name of the contact you want to add and click Add. You will need to use their name rather than their phone number
	To remove a contact, click the three dots by their name in your contacts list and select Remove contact

Your contacts are not the same as your chat list - your contacts are people you call, while your chat list is people you talk to via chat. 

How to set up and use speed dial

Speed dial in Teams is a useful way of easily accessing and calling contacts you speak to often. 

	Select Calls from the menu bar on the left
	Select Speed dial
	Select Add speed dial
	Type the name of the contact you want to add. You will need to use their name, rather than their number
	Click Add

You can also set up a group in your speed dial contacts, such as your team, department, or a study group.

	Select New group from the speed dial menu
	Type the contact group name and press Create
	To add members, select the three dots by the group name and select Add a contact to this group. You can also use this menu to Rename the group or to Delete the group

To remove a contact from your speed dial list or from a speed dial group, select the three dots in their name card (find this in your speed dial menu) and choose either Remove from speed dial or Remove from this group. 

How to view your call history

	Select Calls from the menu bar on the left
	Select History. This will take you to a list of all your past calls
	You can Call back or Chat with contacts by selecting the three dots and choosing your required option

How to use voicemail in Teams

If a call is not answered you will automatically be directed to voicemail.

To leave a voice message stay on the call until you are forwarded to voicemail and leave your message after the tone. 

You will be notified by Teams when you receive a voicemail – to retrieve your voicemail select the option from the Calls menu.              

To play back your voicemail click the play button. Teams will also send you, where possible, the transcribed version of the message. In addition you will also receive a copy of the message in Outlook.

Please note that if you delete the voice message from your Outlook inbox then Teams will also automatically remove it from your list in Teams. If you require the message then do not remove it from your inbox.

How to use video calls

Although you aren't required to use your video on calls, it is a good way of communicating with your colleagues as you can see body language and facial expressions. 

	To enable video call, select the Video icon
	When your video is off, you will see the Video off icon

How to change your background on video calls

You can blur or change your background on video calls. This is useful if you would rather people weren't able to see your actual backdrop, or if you are anywhere where confidentiality or anonymity of people in the background is important. 

	Select the more actions button in the calls tool bar
	Select Show background effects
	You can choose one of the Teams backgrounds and click Apply and turn on video To blur your background, choose the second option (background blur) and click Apply and turn on video You can also upload your own picture to use as a background. To do this, click +Add new (at the top of the menu) and upload your image. The images you upload can be found at the bottom of the menu. Select the one you want and click Apply and turn on video

How to share your screen

Sharing your screen is an easy way to present during a call. 

	Select the screen share icon in the call tool bar
	Choose the document or screen you wish to present
	To end screen share, select the end screen share icon

During a screen share, you can allow a contact to take control of your screen using the Give control button at the top of the window. This is useful for investing any problems you might have with your computer, and copresenting. 

You can take back control at any point by clicking the Cancel control button

To take control of a contact's screen, click the Request control button when they are sharing their screen with you. 

Your contact will be asked to grant you permission to control their screen. They can choose to Allow or Deny, or Stop presenting, which would stop you being able to take control. 

You will receive the following message if your request to take control has been denied.