# Get started with Microsoft Teams

> Install Teams or open it at teams.microsoft.com, sign in with your work account, find your way around the left bar and set your status.
>
> Source: https://docs.officeniaga.com/m365-teams-get-started/

Microsoft Teams is where your company chats, holds online meetings and shares files. Install the Teams app, or open it in your browser at [teams.microsoft.com](https://teams.microsoft.com), and sign in with your Microsoft 365 work email and password.

## Get Teams

You can use Teams in three ways, all with the same account:

- **On your computer:** on Windows, Teams usually comes with the [Microsoft 365 apps](/m365-install-apps/); find it in the **Start** menu. On a Mac, open it from the **Applications** folder. If it is missing, download it from Microsoft's Teams download page.
- **In your browser:** go to [teams.microsoft.com](https://teams.microsoft.com). Microsoft supports the latest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Teams on the web does not work in phone browsers.
- **On your phone:** install **Microsoft Teams** from the App Store or Google Play.

Microsoft retired the old "classic" Teams in 2025, so there is now one Teams app.

## Sign in

Use your work email, not a personal Microsoft account.

1. Open Teams.
2. Type your work email address and select **Next** or **Sign in**.
3. Type your password and approve the sign-in in the [Authenticator app](/m365-mfa-authenticator/) if asked.

## Find your way around

The bar on the left takes you to each part of Teams. The main ones are:

- **Activity**: mentions, replies and other things that need your attention.
- **Chat**: your one-to-one and group chats, and (in the combined view) your teams and channels. See [chats and channels](/m365-teams-chat-channels/).
- **Calendar**: your meetings, taken from your Outlook calendar. See [Teams meetings](/m365-teams-meetings/).
- **OneDrive**: your own files and files shared with you.
- **Apps**: extra apps your company has added.

If the icons have no names, turn on **Show app names** in **Settings** > **Appearance**.

## Set your status

Your status tells colleagues whether it is a good time to message you. Teams changes it automatically when you are in a meeting or away from your computer, but you can set it yourself.

1. Select your picture at the top right.
2. Select your current status and choose **Available**, **Busy**, **Do not disturb**, **Be right back**, **Appear away** or **Appear offline**.
3. To make it change back by itself, select **Duration** and choose when to reset it.

To add a short note, such as "At a client meeting until 3pm", select your picture, then **Set status message**, type it and select **Done**.

## Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at [+60 16-916 3324](https://wa.me/60169163324).

## Common issues

### The icons on the left of Teams have no names.

Microsoft hid the labels in 2026 to save space. To bring them back, select Settings and more (the three dots at the top), then Settings > Appearance, and turn on Show app names.

### My colleagues cannot see my Outlook out-of-office message in Teams.

If you have set a Teams status message, Teams shows that instead of your Outlook automatic reply. Clear your status message while you are away.

### I do not see Teams in my apps.

Microsoft sells some Business plans with and without Teams. Ask your admin whether your licence includes Teams, or WhatsApp Office Niaga.