Chat: messages, mentions, reactions and Loop

Nigar and four classmates are preparing a presentation on the Caspian Sea. Their group chat is full of “Who's doing the slides?” and “Where's that file?”, and important information gets lost. Teams chat has tools that bring order: named group chats, @mentions, replies to a specific message, reactions instead of “ok” messages, and Loop components that everyone can edit.

Starting a chat

1. 1
   Create a new message

   Select New message at the top of your chat list (or press Ctrl+N) and type a name in the To field.

2. 2
   Name the group

   For a group, select the down arrow next to To, fill in Group name (for example, “Caspian project”) and add everyone. A group chat can include up to 250 people.

3. 3
   Write and send

   Type your message and press Enter to send it. To add someone later, use View and add participants › Add people and decide whether they can see the chat history.

Formatting and delivery options

For a longer message, select Format under the box (or press Ctrl+Shift+X): the box expands and shows bold, italic, underline, highlight, font size, lists and more. From the same place, Set delivery options marks a message as Important — it gets a red exclamation mark and the word IMPORTANT — and in chats you can also mark it Urgent. To send later, right-click Send and pick a date and time up to seven days ahead (work and school accounts).

Mentions, reactions and replies

When you type @ and pick a name, that person gets a notification in Activity. To react, hover over a message: choose one of five quick emoji or More reactions for any other; one message can collect up to 20 reactions. To answer an older message, hover over it and choose More options › Reply — the original appears quoted in your reply, so everyone knows what you are answering.

Files and Loop components

To share a file, drag it into the message box or choose Actions and apps › Attach file. Files sent in a chat are stored in the sender's OneDrive, in the Microsoft Teams Chat Files folder, and are shared only with the people in that chat; you will find them later on the chat's Shared tab.

To send one, leave the message box empty, select Loop components under it, choose a type, fill it in and select Send. For Nigar's group a checklist such as “Slides — Nigar, Map — Tural, Sources — Leyla” is ideal: everyone ticks off their own item.