If you’re looking for a new app to use for meeting with friends and colleagues online, Microsoft has made this possible through Microsoft Teams. Microsoft teams is designed to be used for instant messaging, host meetings via video chat and collaborate on files. Whilst it might be meant for work, anyone can sign up to a free account. Please note that during initial signup, if you say “use Teams for communicating with friends and family”, Microsoft will redirect you towards Skype. So make sure that you’re saying that you’re using it for work.

For starting a Teams video meeting, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one & sign in. You can create a Microsoft account with any email address. if you want, you can also download the respective desktop app for MacOS or Windows. The below process for starting a meeting is similar on both your Browser or the desktop app.

Meet Now

Click on “Meetings”, found on on the left-hand section of your screen.
You can start a meeting now, or schedule one for later.
after clicking on Meet Now, you can set a name, and set the audio & video options. Click “Join now” when you’re ready to start.
At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a row of button options. These will allow you to turn the camera on/off, share your screen, turn the microphone off/on and other options, including hanging up.
When the meeting starts, you may get a pop-up window with options for adding people to the call. this can give you a link to share, or you can send it via email. if the windows doesn’t appear or you want to this later, click on “Show participants”, located on the right side of the row of buttons.
New participants who use your link to join the meeting will need to wait until they have been approved.
if you’re hosting the meeting, you will receive a prompt on the sidebar under People or a pop-up window which will allow you to admit them to the call.

Schedule Meeting for Later

If you prefer to schedule a meeting for later, here’s how:

Click on “Meetings”, found in the left-hand side > schedule a meeting.
A window will show that will allow you to pick the time, date & title. once ready click on “Schedule”.
You will be given an option to “Copy meeting invitation” to get a link to join the meeting.
You can copy the meeting invite or share it via an online calendar.
Done. As this meeting link is unique, you’ll be able to log onto it at any time, but this way, you and the other participants will have a scheduled time to meet.