It's just got easier and quicker to join a Teams meeting! You can use either your Teams personal account or Microsoft Teams (work or school) account to attend a Teams meeting. Teams adapts to you and what you want to do.
What's the difference between Microsoft Teams (free) and Microsoft Teams (work or school)?
If you're not sure what the difference is between Teams accounts—Microsoft Teams (free) (sometimes called Teams personal) and Microsoft Teams (work or school), here's a summary to help you decide what works best for you.
Microsoft Teams (free) works for personal and daily life. It's a welcoming space where everyone can enhance social connections and foster meaningful relationships. For example, you can connect with your family and friends outside the office or start or join a community based on your interests. Find features such as start a video chat or Communities in Teams.
Microsoft Teams (work or school) works for business and educational organizations to make it easy to collaborate, plan and innovate together. Microsoft Teams help & learning can help you find the essential Teams features.
Note: The option to use either your Teams personal account or Microsoft Teams (work or school) account to join a Teams meeting began rolling out in February and is releasing gradually over the new few weeks.
Before joining a meeting, check your version of Teams and update. If you have a Microsoft Teams (free) and Teams (work or school) account, determine if switching accounts to join a meeting is the best decision for you.
Check your version of Teams and update
To keep Teams performing its best, make sure to check for updates and install them.
Microsoft Teams (free)
In the Teams app, tap your profile picture > Settings > About, and you'll see the version you're using. Then to update, go to iOS App Store or Google Play Store and search for Teams, then install any updates.
Microsoft Teams (work or school)
Tap your profile picture > Settings > About. Then to update, go to iOS App Store or Google Play Store and search for Teams, then install any updates.
Select which account to use when attending a Teams meeting
When you receive an invite to a meeting, you can join from your Teams calendar. You're not required to switch accounts to attend the meeting. In some cases, using a single Teams account to join meeting will suit your needs, but there might be instances when switching accounts is the best decision for you.
For example, you might have a scheduled doctor's appointment, but you don't want to use your Teams (work or school) account to attend a meeting with your personal physician. Then you can switch to your Teams personal account to join your appointment.
Sometimes it's best not to switch accounts. For instance, when attending an interview meeting with your dream company, you'll want to attend with your Teams personal account.
You'll have the option to switch accounts when you join the meeting. In the pre-join window, you can select a different Teams account or continue with your current signed-in Teams account.
Join a meeting
If you want to join a Teams meeting organized by a Teams for work or school user and don't have a Teams for work or school account, you can use your Teams personal account and join on the Teams app or join as guest with a meeting link.
For the best meeting experience, sign in with your Teams personal account. You'll see key details, including the chat during and after the meeting and the list of participants.
Join on the Teams app
You can sign in with your Microsoft Teams (free) account and join a Teams for work or school meeting.
Step 1: In the Teams app, tap the Calendar tab.
Step 2: Find the meeting you want to attend and tap Join > Join now.
Join as a guest
If you choose not to sign in to your Microsoft Teams (free) account, you can join a Teams for work or school meeting as a guest.
Step 1: Tap the Teams meeting link.
Step 2: You'll be prompted to enter your name, and then you'll be connected to the meeting.
Note: If the host has turned on the lobby, they'll have to admit you before you can join the meeting, otherwise you should join the meeting immediately.
Now Microsoft Teams (free) participants can join Teams (work or school) meetings quickly and easily without installing the Teams for work or school app. While there are some capabilities not available to Teams personal participants, there are still so many other features to use and enjoy.
Things to try during a meeting:
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View the meeting chat during and after the meeting including updates.
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View the list of meeting participants.
Things not available:
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Excel live, PowerPoint live, and Word live presentations aren't available, however, participants can request the organizer to switch to a different sharable presentation program.
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Recording files aren't available; however, participants can ask the meeting organizer for access to the recording file.
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Microsoft Whiteboard isn't available
Before joining a meeting, check your version of Teams and update. If you have a Microsoft Teams (free) and Teams (work or school) account, determine if switching accounts to join a meeting is the best decision for you.
Check your version of Teams and update
To keep Teams performing its best, make sure to check for updates and install them
In Teams, select Settings and more > Settings > About Teams , then look under Version to see if you have the latest version or need to Update now.
In Teams, select Settings and more > Settings > About Teams , then look under Version to see if you have the latest version or need to Update now.
Select which account to use when attending a Teams meeting
When you receive an invite to a meeting, you can join from your Teams calendar. You're not required to switch accounts to attend the meeting. In some cases, using a single Teams account to join meeting will suit your needs, but there might be instances when switching accounts is the best decision for you.
For example, you might have a scheduled doctor's appointment, but you don't want to use your Teams (work or school) account to attend a meeting with your personal physician. Then you can switch to your Teams personal account to join your appointment.
Sometimes it's best not to switch accounts. For instance, when attending an interview meeting with your dream company, you'll want to attend with your Teams personal account.
Note: When switching Teams accounts, make sure the meeting invite is in the Calendar of the Teams account you plan to use.
Join a meeting
If you want to join a Teams meeting organized by a Teams for work or school user and don’t have a Teams for work or school account, you can use your Teams personal account and join on the Teams app or join as guest with a meeting link.
For the best meeting experience, sign in with your Teams personal account. You'll see key details, including the chats during and after the meeting and the list of participants.
Note: Some meeting options might not be available on Windows 11, 10, Mac, and Web.
Join on the Teams app
You can sign in with your Microsoft Teams (free) account and join a Teams for work school meeting.
Step 1: In Teams, select Calendar on the leftmost side to view your meetings.
Step 2: Choose the meeting you want to attend and select the meeting link or Join.
Step 3: After the pre-join window opens, select Join now.
Join as a guest
If you choose not to sign in to your account, you can join the Teams for work or school meeting as a guest in your browser. This option requires no app installation, and most meeting features are available in the browser.
Step 1: Open the meeting link in your default browser.
Step 2: Enter your name at the prompt and select if you want to join with the camera or microphone turned on.
Note: If the host has turned on the lobby, they'll have to admit you before you can join the meeting, otherwise you should join the meeting immediately.
Now Microsoft Teams (free) participants can join Teams (work or school) meetings quickly and easily without installing the Teams for work or school app. While there are some capabilities not available to Teams personal participants, there are still so many other features to use and enjoy.
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Features |
Supported |
Details |
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Chat |
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View the chat from the meeting, both during and after, to see any updates. |
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Participant list |
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View the list of meeting participants. |
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PowerPoint live |
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Live presentations aren't currently available. However, participants can ask the organizer to switch to regular screensharing. |
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Recording file |
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Access to recording files might not be available. To record meetings, you must be a Teams (work or school) user. |
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Microsoft Whiteboard |
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Related topic
Contact us
For more help, contact support or ask a question in the Microsoft Teams Community.
