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Microsoft Teams gives you several ways to start a call: from Calls, an existing chat, a person’s profile card, call history, or the command box. The correct method depends on whether you are calling another Teams user or dialing a regular telephone number.
The instructions below apply mainly to Teams for work or school. Teams Free uses a separate Skype Dial Pad for calls to landlines and mobile numbers.
Before you make a call
You can call another Teams user without a telephone calling plan. To dial an ordinary external phone number, your organization must have the appropriate phone system and calling plan set up for your account. If the Calls app has no dial pad, this is often the reason.
How to call a phone number in Teams on desktop or the web
- Open Teams and select Calls on the left.
- Enter the phone number using the on-screen dial pad, your physical keyboard, or pasted text.
- Check the number, including any country or area code required by your organization.
- Select Call.
You can also enter a Teams contact’s name in the dial-pad text box. Select the person from the drop-down list, then select Call.
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Start a group call from the dial pad
- Open Calls.
- Enter a person’s name or phone number.
- Select the matching person or number from the results.
- Add the other names or numbers.
- Select Call.
How to call someone from a Teams chat
Start a new call
- In the chat list, select New message.
- Enter one or more participants beside To.
- Select Audio call for a voice-only call, or Video call to turn on video.
Call from an existing chat
- Open the chat.
- In the upper-right corner, select Audio call or Video call.
On mobile, open the chat and tap Audio call or Video call. A call started from a chat is private; it does not appear in a team conversation, although the call entry is recorded in the chat.
Call a person from their profile
If you can see someone’s profile picture in a channel, search result, or another Teams location, select or tap it to open the profile card. Choose the audio- or video-call option. This starts a one-on-one call without requiring you to open the chat first.
Use the Teams call command
For a fast call, click the search or command box at the top of Teams and enter:
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/call Alex Morgan
/call +1 212 555 0184Return a call from history or voicemail
Call someone from call history
- Select Calls > History.
- Select the call.
- In the Details section, select Call.
Depending on the Teams interface, you can instead select More actions beside the history entry and choose Call back.
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Call a saved contact
- Select Calls > View contacts.
- Find the person.
- Select Call beside their name.
Return a voicemail call
- Open Calls > History > Voicemail.
- Select More actions > Call back, or select Call under the contact details.
How to make a call on Teams mobile
Dial a number
- Open the Teams mobile app.
- Tap Calls > Call.
- Enter the phone number.
- Start the call.
If Teams has permission to access your phone contacts, use Calls > Contacts, select a person, and start the call.
You can also open a chat and tap Audio call or Video call.
Choose which phone number to use
Some organizations assign more than one phone number to a Teams account. If this applies to you:
- Open Calls.
- Select the desired number tab at the top, or open the drop-down beside Call as myself under the dial pad.
- Enter the contact or phone number.
- Select Call.
Microsoft says an administrator can assign up to 10 phone numbers to an account. Call history identifies which assigned line was used.
What you can do during a Teams call
| Task | Steps |
|---|---|
| Enter an extension or menu option | Open the call controls at the top of the call window, select Dial pad, then enter the required tones. |
| Put the caller on hold | Select More actions > Hold. Select Resume to continue. |
| Transfer immediately | Select Transfer, type and select the recipient, then select Transfer again. |
| Speak to the recipient first | Select Consult, find the person, and select Transfer when you are ready. |
Check your microphone, speaker, and camera
- Select Settings and more beside your profile picture.
- Select Settings > Devices.
- Under Audio settings, choose the correct Speaker and Microphone.
- Under Video settings > Camera, choose the camera and check the preview.
On the Teams desktop app for Windows or Mac, select Make a test call under Audio settings. Test Call Bot records a short message, plays it back, and displays a summary. Microsoft says the recording is deleted immediately and is not retained or used. This test-call feature is not currently available in the mobile app.
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- Rotating Noise-Canceling Mic: Minimizes unwanted background noise for clear conversations; the rotating boom arm can be tucked out of the way when not in use
- Handy Inline Controls: Simple inline controls on the headset cable let you adjust the volume or mute calls without disruption
- USB-C Plug-and-Play: Simply plug the USB-C cable into your computer, including MacBook Neo laptops, and you're ready to talk or listen without installing software.
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Common Teams calling problems
The dial pad is missing
Your organization may not have purchased or assigned a calling plan or another telephone service. Teams-to-Teams calls can still work even when external phone dialing is unavailable.
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An external number will not connect
Calling a regular telephone number depends on your organization’s Teams phone setup. Contact your Teams administrator if you believe your account should have external calling.
A contact does not appear in the dial-pad results
Microsoft documents a specific touchscreen issue: the contact drop-down may not appear when you enter text through a laptop touchscreen. Use the physical keyboard instead.
Chat calling buttons are disabled
Microsoft says calling buttons are disabled in group chats with more than 20 people. Video calls support up to 20 people according to the same documentation. For a larger discussion, create a Teams meeting instead.
Teams cannot make an emergency call
Teams cannot make a 911 call if it is not connected to the internet. Emergency calling behavior also depends on your organization’s configuration and location information, so do not treat Teams as a substitute for an available emergency phone.
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An Apple device asks for local-network access
On an Apple device running iOS 14, Teams may request local-network access the first time you join a Teams meeting or call. Microsoft attributes this to iOS 14 privacy changes and says the permission supports its peer-to-peer architecture.
Teams Free: calling landlines and mobile numbers
Do not look for the ordinary work-or-school Teams dial pad if you use Teams Free. Microsoft currently documents phone-number calls in Teams Free through Skype Dial Pad, which requires Skype Credits or an eligible associated Skype account.
Teams Free on mobile
- Open Teams Free.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap Skype Dial Pad.
- Enter or tap a phone number.
- Tap Call.
Teams Free on desktop
- Sign in with the Skype account associated with your Skype Credits.
- Select Settings and more in the upper-right corner.
- Select Skype Dial Pad.
- Enter or select a number.
- Select Call.
If Skype Dial Pad is not shown, update Teams Free and confirm that you are signed in with the Skype account associated with the credits. Calling another Teams user remains a separate Teams-to-Teams function.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Manage call settings
For current call options, open Settings and more > Settings > Calls. This area includes call handling and forwarding, voicemail, ringtones, delegates, and related options.
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Some older Microsoft help pages show delegate management under Settings and more > Settings > General > Delegation > Manage delegates. If that path is absent, use the current Calls settings page instead.
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Sources
- Use the dial pad to make a call in Microsoft Teams
- Start a call from a chat in Microsoft Teams
- First things to know about calls in Microsoft Teams
- Manage your call settings in Microsoft Teams
- Make a call with Skype Dial Pad in Microsoft Teams Free
FAQ
Can I call a phone number from Microsoft Teams?
Yes, in Teams for work or school, but your organization must provide the required phone system and calling plan. Without that setup, you can still call other Teams users.
How do I make an audio call in Teams?
Open a chat and select Audio call, or select Calls, enter a contact or number, and select Call.
How do I call someone in Teams without opening a chat?
Use the command box at the top of Teams and enter /call followed by the person’s name or phone number.
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Why does Teams not show a dial pad?
Your account may not have a calling plan or external telephone service assigned. Ask your Teams administrator to check the organization’s calling configuration.
Can I call a landline with Teams Free?
Teams Free uses Skype Dial Pad for landlines and mobile numbers. It is shown to eligible users with active or inactive Skype Credits and the associated Skype account.
How do I test my Teams microphone?
In the desktop app, open Settings and more > Settings > Devices, then select Make a test call under Audio settings.
The Bottom Line
For a Teams user, the quickest option is usually to open the chat and select Audio call or Video call. To dial a normal telephone number, use Calls and its dial pad—but only if your work or school account has the required calling service. Teams Free uses Skype Dial Pad instead.
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