Accessing Microsoft Teams for Mac hasn’t always been as easy as downloading the client on a Windows device. Since Microsoft is the company behind the Windows operating system, it makes sense that they’d prioritize their own OS users first.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t access Microsoft Teams on a Mac; it just means you might need to wait a little longer for updates and new features.
For instance, when Microsoft announced its new version of Microsoft Teams (Teams 2.0) in March 2023, it was only available (in preview) to Windows users. Now that the new Teams giant is generally available (as of October 2023), it’s accessible to Mac and Windows users.
Here, I’ll guide you through the process of preparing your Mac system for teams, downloading the client, and setting up a few crucial features. Let’s dive in.
What is New Microsoft Teams?
First, I should note that I’ll be guiding you through the process of downloading and installing the new Microsoft Teams for Mac. While the classic Teams version is still available to users who already have it, Microsoft has begun phasing out “Classic” Teams for new users (As of March 31st, 2024).
Notably, if you already have Microsoft Teams and haven’t made the update to the new client yet, Microsoft does offer admins the opportunity to access the classic client until July 1st, 2024.
The good news is that the New version of Teams has full feature parity with virtually all of the capabilities of the older client. It can support 7×7 videos, call queues, PSTN calling, contextual search, and more, so you shouldn’t encounter any issues.
Plus, new features and enhancements will be available exclusively in the new Teams client, so it’s worth upgrading if you want to take advantage of support for multi-tenant, multi-account (MTMA) capabilities and Copilot upgrades.
You can learn everything you need to know about the upgraded version of Teams in my article here. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that Teams 2.0 is up to two times faster, uses 50% less memory, and uses up to 70% less disk space.
Is Microsoft Teams Available for Mac?
Initially, just like the classic Teams client, the new Teams client wasn’t available for Mac users. However, Microsoft announced the arrival of the new Teams for Mac experience in October 2023, saying that Teams will now work “natively” on all Mac devices. It can also work with devices using Apple silicon for an improved overall experience.
Just as Microsoft shared the performance upgrades for Teams 2.0 for Windows earlier in the year, they also noted that their team had seen significant improvements for Mac users. For instance, testers could switch between channels and chats faster, access information quickly, and scroll through content at break-neck speed.
Plus, Mac users can now expect a boost in performance (just like Windows users) thanks to the new Teams client’s more efficient use of device resources. The containerized app model also improves app security for Mac devices. Plus, you’ll be able to update your client quickly and effectively with Microsoft AutoUpdate.
How to Access New Microsoft Teams on a Mac
First, if you already have a Microsoft Teams account, you can experiment with the “new” version of Teams by simply logging into your account and using the “toggle” function at the top of the app client. You’ll see it positioned above the “Activity” tab, next to the search bar.
You can simply click the toggle to switch to “New Teams” and hit it again to switch back (provided your company hasn’t phased out classic Teams yet).
Since Microsoft is automatically moving customers out of the classic version and into the new client, you might also see a notification when you log in, asking you to upgrade.
If you’re starting from scratch as a new Teams user, the first thing you’ll need is an MS Teams plan.
There is a free version of the client available for both Mac and Windows users, although the features you can access will be limited. You can see how the free and paid plans compare here.
If you want a more comprehensive experience, you can choose between:
- Microsoft Teams Essentials: $4 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium: $20 per user per month.
Notably, all of these plans are separate from Microsoft Teams calling plans. Additionally, if you want the Microsoft Teams “Premium” experience, you’ll need to pay an extra $20 per month, per user, on top of one of the plans mentioned above.
How to Download Microsoft Teams for Mac
Once you have your Microsoft Teams account, you can use it on the web on any Mac device without downloading anything. However, if you want to access the Teams experience on your desktop, there are a few prerequisites. For instance:
- You need to be running MacOS Monterey version 12 or higher.
- You’ll need admin privileges for your computer.
- To see the “Try new Teams” toggle, you’ll need Teams version 1.6.00.12303 or higher. If you haven’t updated in a while, you can use the overflow menu (…) to check for updates, then restart your app.
If you meet all of these prerequisites, here’s how you can get started.
Step 1: Create or Sign in to your Account
While you can always wait until you’ve downloaded Microsoft Teams for Mac to sign in, it’s often a little easier to log into your account in advance. On your web browser, visit the Microsoft Teams website and click on the “Sign in” button. You should see it in the top right corner of the page.
If you already have a Microsoft account, enter your details and click “Sign In”. If you don’t have an account already, click “Create One”, and follow the prompts to get your account set up. You might need to choose to purchase a Teams subscription at this time.
Step 2: Visit the Download Page
Head over to the official Microsoft Teams website or visit this web page to bypass any additional information about the app and download the client directly. You should see a button that says, “Download app for Desktop.” Click on this.
Keep in mind that while other sites might offer you the option to download Microsoft Teams, it’s a good idea to get the app directly from Microsoft’s site. Third-party links and downloads are pretty dangerous these days.
Step 3: Follow the Installation Instructions
After you click the download button, Microsoft Teams client will either load automatically, or you can access it in your Downloads folder by clicking the “installer” file. Microsoft will guide you through the process of logging into your account (if you haven’t already), and introduce you to some of the basic features you can access on MS Teams.
I’d recommend choosing the “Keep me signed in” option if you want to avoid being logged out automatically. However, this might not be a good idea if you share your Mac with other users, so think about your security requirements in advance.
Also, remember that staying “signed in” won’t necessarily keep your status active on Teams. Check our article on how you can keep your status green, if you’re worried about constantly appearing as “Away” when you’re working outside of Teams.
Step 4: Customize Your Settings
When you first download Microsoft Teams for Mac, you’ll be asked a few questions that will help configure your settings. For instance, you can choose whether you want to get updates automatically. If you want to make more granular changes to your settings, you can click on the “…” button on the client and click on “Settings”.
Here, you can make various changes to your Microsoft Teams experience, such as determining whether Teams should automatically launch when you turn on your Mac, and stay running when you close the application (For notifications). You can also turn on suggested replies, spell-checking options, and options to show recent activity.
Plus, you can customize your Teams notifications (how often and how you receive notifications), your Microsoft Teams themes, app permissions, and more. I’d recommend turning system notifications on, to ensure you stay up to date on conversations. You’ll need to go into your MacOS settings to do this.
Open your MacOS System Preferences page, and click on “Notifications & Focus” (for Monterey OS) or “Notifications” (for MacOS Ventura and Sonoma). Click on “Microsoft Teams”, then select “Allow notifications”.
Step 5: Explore the Features of Microsoft Teams for Mac
Once you have all your settings implemented, you’re free to start experimenting with all the features of Teams. You can invite users to communicate with you on Teams by sending an invite to their email, then start building channels for specific groups.
You’ll also be able to use your calendar to schedule video and audio meetings, share files, and add apps to Microsoft Teams from Microsoft AppSource. Here’s a quick guide to some of the top features of Microsoft Teams you can explore. Notably, for some features, you will need to alter settings on your MacOS system. For instance, if you want to screen share on Microsoft Teams for Mac, you’ll need to change your privacy settings.
Open the MacOS System Preferences page again, and click on “Security and Privacy”, then the “Privacy” tab (for Monterey OS), followed by “Screen Recording”. Select the “+” button to add Microsoft Teams as an option for content recording.
Troubleshooting and Uninstalling Microsoft Teams
If you encounter any issues when using Microsoft Teams on your Mac desktop, the easiest way to rectify the problem is to log out and back in or clear the cache. You can also check whether there are any outages or issues you need to be aware of on the Microsoft website and report issues to the team.
If you decide to uninstall your desktop client, all you need to do is open Launchpad or the Finder solution on your device and search for Microsoft Teams to uninstall it. However, this won’t cancel your Microsoft Teams account. You’ll still be able to log in via the web.
Using Microsoft Teams on Your Mac
While Mac users might not be the first to access new versions of Microsoft Teams or new features, they’re not completely excluded. You can still use all the features of Microsoft Teams as a desktop client on your Mac device.
One quick tip to keep in mind is that since Microsoft Teams is constantly evolving, it’s a good idea to track the latest changes and keep your client up-to-date. Enable automatic updates, or check for any updates you can apply regularly using the “…” menu.
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