Would you like to use your own custom background in Teams, instead of one of the default images?
Create an image (1920×1080 is the recommended size) and save it to the following location:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads
Click the Background Settings button when you are about to enter a meeting and scroll toward the bottom of the Background Settings pane.
Click on the image of your choice and then click the Join Now button to enter the meeting.
Are you using Teams for video meetings? Here is how to change your background to one of the available built-in images.
Click the Join button to enter your meeting pre-stage screen.
Find and click the Background Settings button, located beneath the Join Now button in the video preview screen.
Note the Background Options pane that opens on the right side of the screen.
Click the background of your choice. The first in the list (circle with a slash) will cancel the background image and show your actual environment. The second item will show only a blurred background. All other options are images you may choose. After selecting an image, click the Join Now button to enter your meeting.
Are you trying to open a pre-plan PDF on your MDC and Adobe Reader insists on taking up the right side of the screen with an extra pane? Here’s a tip to turn it off permanently so you have more space for your PDF.
Getting flooded with messages that you don’t want and all have a common theme (from the same person, the same subject, etc.)? Outlook enables you to set up a rule to clean it all up in one fell swoop.
Interested in a Teams quick reference card? Click here.
Confused as to what your username and password should be?
Username: [Your Windows username] @montgomerycountymd.gov
PW: [Your Windows PW]
(Obviously, don’t type the brackets when you log in.)
Need to have a phone call with one of your contacts? Teams enables you to use your computer for voice-over-IP (VOIP) phone calls and a real advantage tot his approach is the ability to hare your desktop and show the other person your document while you work on it. The speakers and microphone on your computer must be enabled for this to work (and the same goes for the other contact’s computer).
Switch to the Calls section of Teams
Find and click the Make a call button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Note the field that emerges, the Type a name field.
Type in the name of the individual you would like to call and press the Tab key, once the name is selected.
Add more people to the call as needed.
Note the row of buttons that appears when you click on the name.
Click the icon resembling a phone.
Note: While Teams is making the call, most of the screen will be filled with the contact’s avatar or initials. Also, a floating navigation bar for the call will appear near the bottom of the screen:
Need to have a phone call with one of your contacts? Teams enables you to use your computer for voice-over-IP (VOIP) phone calls and a real advantage tot his approach is the ability to hare your desktop and show the other person your document while you work on it. The speakers and microphone on your computer must be enabled for this to work (and the same goes for the other contact’s computer).
Switch to the Chat section of Teams
Locate the person i your contacts list you would like to call.
Find and click the phone icon in the upper-right corner of the screen. Teams will call the individual.
Note: While Teams is making the call, most of the screen will be filled with the contact’s avatar or initials. Also, a floating navigation bar for the call will appear near the bottom of the screen:
Teams offers a text chat/instant messaging feature and the process is simple:
Switch to the Chat section in the left-side navigation.
Click once on the contact of your choice to select the correct person. Note the colored circle at the bottom-right of the person’s avatar (or initials), located to the left of his/her name.
Find and click in the chat text box at the bottom of the screen.
Type your message and press the Enter key on your keyboard. Wait for a reply and type in this same box. The text thread will appear in the main window.
New to Teams? In adding contacts of people, you may want to consider grouping them. For example, maybe you want to lump all of the people in your section together, while you have another for a different section entirely.
Click the Chat icon in the left-side navigation.
Find and click the Create a new contact group button at the bottom of the screen, on the left side of the window.
Type in the name of the group (e.g., FRS HR) and click the Create button.
Find and click the group header you just created. Now, it’s time to find and add people to the group.
Click the ellipsis (three dots) to the right of the group name.
Choose Add a contact to this group.
Input the name of your colleague and click the Add button.
Repeat the last few steps to add more people.