In some chats in Microsoft Teams (free), you might not have every feature you’re used to. When chats are created between users with a work or school account (managed by an organization) and users with a personal account, only certain options are available.

You will still be able to chat, send GIFs and emojis, and search for contacts by phone number or email. For specific information on features that are and are not available, select the applicable scenario in this article.

Policies that organizations put in place for their members might affect chats between personal and organization members, including data retention, removal of personal users from organization chats, or certain users displaying as Unknown or Anonymous. Organizations must enable chats with personal users for organization members to be searchable.

Feature

Personal Users

Organization Members

Send messages

Yes

Yes

Send polls

Yes

No *

Send tasks

Yes

No *

Send calendar invites

Yes

No *

Send photos and files

Yes

No *

Make audio or video calls

No

No

Share screens

No

No

Add SMS participants to chats

No **

No

Join Meetings

Yes

Yes (as anonymous guest)

* Organization members will be able to view, but not interact with, these items.

** SMS users will receive an invitation to use Microsoft Teams (free).

Feature

Personal Users

Organization Members

Send messages

Yes

Yes

Send polls

No

No

Send tasks

No

No

Send calendar invites

No

No

Send files

No

No

Send photos

Yes

Yes

Make audio or video calls

No

No

Share screens

No

No

Add SMS participants to chats

No

No

Remove organization members from chats

No

Yes

Join Meetings

Yes (as anonymous guest)

Yes

Contact us

For more help, contact support or ask a question in the Microsoft Teams Community.

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