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Microsoft Teams has two different chat experiences: Teams for work or school and Teams Free for personal use. The buttons and steps are not identical. In work or school Teams, you normally start with New message; in Teams Free, the button is usually called New Chat.
Use the section that matches the account you are signed in to. The steps below cover one-to-one chats, group chats, mobile devices, adding participants, and the common limitations that can prevent a chat from being created.
Create a chat in Microsoft Teams for work or school
These instructions apply to an organization-managed Microsoft 365 account, whether you use the Teams desktop app or Teams on the web.
Start a one-to-one chat on desktop or the web
- Open Chat, or open your existing list of chats and channels.
- Select New message at the top of the chat and channel list.
- Enter the person’s name in the To box and select the correct person.
- Type your message in the compose box.
- Optionally select Format to expand the formatting tools.
- Select Send, or press
Enter. Sending the first message starts the chat.
You can also begin a chat without opening the New message window. Select a person’s picture in a channel to open their profile card, then choose the chat option. Alternatively, search for the person using the Search box at the top of Teams and open their profile or conversation.
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Start a one-to-one chat on mobile
- Open the Teams app and tap Chat.
- Tap New message.
- Enter the person’s name in the To field and select them.
- Type your message.
- Tap Send.
For a formatted message, tap More messaging options, then tap Format.
Create a named group chat on desktop or the web
A group chat is useful for a short-running conversation that does not need the structure of a team and channel.
- Select New message at the top of the chat and channel list.
- Select the down arrow at the far right of the To box.
- Enter a title in the Group name section.
- Enter the names of the people to include in To.
- Type the first message and select Send.
A work or school group chat can contain up to 250 people. If the discussion needs more participants, use a team or channel instead.
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- Tap Chat, then tap New message.
- Enter the participants’ names in the To field.
- Type and send the first message.
- At the top of the chat, tap the participants’ names.
- Tap Group chat name.
- Enter a name and tap Save.
Add someone to an existing group chat
On desktop or the web:
- Open the group chat.
- Select View and add participants, then select Add people.
- Enter the person’s name.
- If Teams asks how much previous conversation to include, choose the appropriate history option.
- Select Add.
On mobile:
- Open the group chat.
- Tap the participant names at the top.
- Tap Add people.
- Enter the person’s name.
- Choose how much chat history to share.
- Tap Done.
The history-selection option is available when adding someone to an existing group chat. It is not available when adding a person to a one-to-one chat. Teams also retains the existing conversation for the remaining members if someone leaves a group chat.
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Start a chat with yourself
Your own Teams chat can be useful for storing a quick note, link, or draft that you want available on multiple devices.
On desktop or the web, select New message, enter your own name in To, select your name, and send a message. On mobile, tap Chat > New message, enter your own name, type the message, and send it.
Use keyboard shortcuts to open a chat
- On Windows, press
Ctrl+Nto start a new chat or channel message. - On Mac, press
Cmd+N. - On either platform, press
Ctrl+Gto open conversation navigation. Type a channel or participant name, then select the conversation.
Call someone without first opening a chat
To call a person who is not already in a chat, type /call in the command or search box at the top of Teams. Then type or select the person’s name.
When you are already in a chat, use Video call or Audio call. These call buttons are disabled when a group chat contains more than 20 people.
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Create a chat in Teams Free
Teams Free is the personal version of Teams. Do not use the work/school New message instructions if your app shows the personal Teams interface. Teams Free generally uses New Chat and accepts names, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Start a one-to-one chat on desktop
- Select New Chat.
- Enter the person’s name, email address, or phone number in the To: field.
- Select the person from the suggestions or your contacts.
- Type your message in the Type a new message window.
- Select Send.
To include additional people, add their names, email addresses, or phone numbers to the To: field before sending.
Start a chat on Teams Free mobile
- Tap New Chat.
- Enter a name, email address, or phone number in the To: field.
- Select the person from suggestions or contacts.
- Add other people in the To: field if required.
- Type in Type a new message.
- Tap Send.
Create a group chat in Teams Free
On desktop:
- Select New Chat.
- Enter the participants’ names, phone numbers, or email addresses in To:.
- Select Name group chat and enter a name.
- Type a message and select Send.
On mobile:
- Tap New Chat near the bottom of the screen.
- Enter the participants’ names, phone numbers, or email addresses in the search field.
- Select people from Suggestions, if applicable.
- Tap Next.
- Type a message and tap Send.
Teams Free may reject a group name containing links, profanity, or other restricted terms.
Turn a one-to-one Teams Free chat into a group chat
Teams Free creates a new group conversation rather than converting the original one-to-one conversation in place:
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- Open the one-to-one chat.
- Select the top of the chat.
- Select Create a group chat.
- Enter one or more names, phone numbers, or email addresses.
- Select Create.
The original one-to-one chat remains separate.
Add people to a Teams Free chat
On desktop, select the top of the one-to-one chat, choose Create a group chat, enter the new participant’s name, phone number, or email address, and select Create.
On mobile, tap Info > Add. For a one-to-one chat, tap More > Create a group chat. Under Add members, select a suggested member or choose Enter name, phone number, or email. Tap Create, or choose the option to send an invitation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When a new Teams chat does not work
| Problem | Likely reason or fix |
|---|---|
| You cannot find the person in work or school Teams | Check the spelling and select the organization account that matches the person. If they are outside your organization, guest or external access may be restricted by your administrator. |
| You cannot add a guest by email | Guest access must be enabled for the organization. An administrator may need to change the Teams or Microsoft 365 settings. |
| A Teams Free contact has not joined the chat | A new external contact may need to accept an invitation. Someone who is not already using Teams Free may first receive an invitation to join Teams. |
| You expected the old one-to-one messages to become a group chat | In Teams Free, Create a group chat makes a separate group chat and leaves the original one-to-one chat unchanged. |
| You cannot choose how much history to share | History selection applies when adding someone to an existing group chat, not when adding someone to a one-to-one chat. |
| A shared Teams Free file is still accessible after leaving a chat | If the file uses Anyone with this link permissions, leaving or deleting the chat may not revoke access. Change or stop the sharing link in OneDrive. |
If a conversation involves a large or ongoing audience, consider creating a team and channel instead of a group chat. Chats are designed for direct conversations; channels provide a more visible, organized place for shared work.
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FAQ
What is the difference between New message and New Chat in Teams?
New message is the current label Microsoft documents for starting a chat in Teams for work or school. New Chat is the label used in Teams Free, the personal version. The account type determines which instructions apply.
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- Durable and Resilient: This full-size wireless keyboard features a spill-resistant design (2), durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height
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Can I add someone to a one-to-one Teams chat without showing the old messages?
In work or school Teams, the selectable chat-history option is available when adding people to an existing group chat, not when adding someone to a one-to-one chat. Teams Free creates a separate group chat when you use Create a group chat.
How many people can be in a work or school Teams group chat?
A work or school group chat supports up to 250 people. For a larger audience or a long-running project, use a team and channel.
Can I chat with someone outside my organization?
It depends on your organization’s external and guest-access policies. Adding a guest by email requires guest access to be enabled. In Teams Free, an external person may need to accept an invitation or join Teams before participating.
Does leaving a Teams chat delete its messages?
No. When someone leaves a group chat, Teams retains the chat and that person’s previous responses in the history available to the remaining participants. Shared files can also have separate OneDrive permissions.
The Bottom Line
For a work or school account, open Chat, select New message, choose a person in To, type the message, and select Send. For Teams Free, select New Chat and enter a name, email address, or phone number. Use a named group chat for a smaller conversation, and use a team channel when the discussion needs a larger or more permanent workspace.
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