How to Use Microsoft Teams' New Communities Feature

Microsoft has announced a new Communities feature for the free Microsoft Teams communication platform, designed not just for large businesses but for personal use too. The Communities feature is available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Teams Essentials accounts, and lets users easily organize, share, communicate, and collaborate in a hybrid way. This feature doesn't just let you connect directly online, it also lets you prepare for in-person meetings. How do you use Microsoft Teams' new Communities feature? Let's take a look!

How Do You Use the Microsoft Teams New Communities Feature? 2023

The Communities feature in Microsoft Teams is currently available for iOS and Android and, according to Microsoft, will soon be available for desktop computers too. You can access this feature from a mobile device by going to the Home tab in the free Microsoft Teams mobile app and selecting communities.

From there, you'll see a list of the communities you're a member of. Tap the name and you'll find the messages, files, events, and calendar belonging to that community.

If you have a work or school Teams account, you'll need to switch to a personal account to use the Communities feature. Microsoft guarantees that data taken from communities cannot be shared with an employer.

How Do You Start a Community in Teams?

You can find instructions for starting a community right on the Microsoft Teams Home screen, without needing to download another app. Fill in the suggested community types, and you can brand the community with a photo of your choosing. Sharing and inviting members is also easy, and includes sending the community's email address, phone number, physical link, or QR code.

Those responsible for communities also have the ability to control settings and guidelines, moderate content, and manage participants.