How to Download Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a popular and widely used workspace and collaboration platform. Users can communicate with colleagues through voice calls, video conferences, messaging, and file-sharing, making it a common choice for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.

Of course, before one can really get the full use out of Microsoft Teams and all its features, they need to install and set it up. So, if you want to start using Teams but aren’t sure how to begin, this guide will show you all the ways you can download Microsoft Teams.

How to Download Teams on your Desktop

The first way to download Microsoft Teams is perhaps the easiest. You can download and install Teams right to your desktop at teams.microsoft.com/downloads as long as you have the necessary local rights.

Once it’s downloaded, just open the file and the installation will begin. Mac users will need admin permissions to install the Teams client, but Windows users will not.

IT professionals can also control how the installation files are disseminated to their company’s devices, using tools like JAMF Pro for macOS or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for Windows. However, this only works for the initial installation of the Teams client—individual users will have to install any future updates on their own.

You can install the desktop client on these systems:

• Windows:

  Windows 11, Windows 10 (although not Windows 10 LTSC for Teams desktop app), Windows 10 on ARM, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2012 R2.

• Mac:

  The three most recent versions of macOS (which, at the time of this writing, are macOS Ventura, Monterey, and Big Sur). When a new macOS is released, the oldest version will no longer support Microsoft Teams.

How to Download Teams on Your Mobile Device

For users who want to access Microsoft Teams on their mobile devices, there are iOS and Android apps that will allow you to join chats and make audio calls while on the go.

For iOS users, you can find it on the App Store here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-teams/id1113153706. Keep in mind that only the two most recent major versions of Apple’s mobile operating system are supported; if your device uses an older OS, you’ll have to update.

Android users can find it on the Google Play Store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.teams. Microsoft Teams is supported on the four most recent major versions of the Android operating system.

If you live in a region that doesn’t have access to the Play Store or App Store, you can find Microsoft Teams from your smartphone company’s application marketplace. For instance, users in China can find Microsoft Teams for Xiaomi, Huawei, and Baidu devices from their appropriate stores.

Make sure that you’re using the mobile platform’s app store to download and update the app directly, as Microsoft doesn’t support MDM or side-loading for mobile app deployment. Once installed, the Teams mobile app will be supported as long as the version is less than three years old (although it’s still recommended you update frequently to make sure you’re getting the latest features and security patches).

Using the Microsoft Teams Web Client

What if you want to use Microsoft Teams, but don’t want to download or install anything? In that case, there’s the Teams browser web client: a full-featured web interface that lets you make Teams calls from an Internet browser.

Teams works on several browsers, including:

• Internet Explorer 11

• Microsoft Edge (RS2 or later as well as Chromium-based)

• Google Chrome (Teams will run on the latest three versions)

• Safari

• Firefox (Teams will run on the latest three versions)

The Microsoft Teams web browser client uses webRTC to handle meetings and callings, so there’s no need to plug in or download anything. However, cookies will still need to be enabled in your browser.

Additionally, there are some limitations to using Microsoft Teams without downloading it, as the web version may lack some important features that the apps have. For instance, the web browser version of Teams does not allow users to take control of shared material during screen sharing—both participants will need to use the desktop client for that. Similarly, features like blurring backgrounds are limited to the desktop client, so web users won’t be able to access that feature.

However, there are also some advantages to using Teams on a web browser. If a user’s desktop client doesn’t support the Microsoft Teams desktop client, they can still use the web client as long as they meet the minimal hardware requirements. This means that, for instance, a computer running on a Linux operating system can still use Firefox to join Teams meetings.

Upgrade to Paid

One major appeal of Microsoft Teams is the availability of a free version. There are several limitations on free accounts, including limited storage, one-hour maximum meeting times, and a maximum of 100 participants per meeting, but it’s a valuable option for users who only need it for short meetings between a few people.

Users can also upgrade to paid accounts, which gives them up to 1TB of cloud storage per user, a maximum duration of 30 hours, and 300 participants in a single meeting. Plus, paid users will have access to meeting recordings and transcripts after the call. For larger teams and organizations, the paid version tends to be worthwhile.

Premium Microsoft Teams plans begin with Microsoft Teams Essential at $4.00 per user per month, with the Microsoft 365 Business Basic Plan costing $6, and Microsoft Business Standard costing $12.50. These plans typically require an annual commitment. Microsoft Teams is also included with Microsoft Office 365 subscriptions, which also come with other Office apps and services.

To upgrade from a free Microsoft Teams account to a paid one, open your Teams app and select “Upgrade,” then enter your login email address and purchase your new plan.

Regardless of whether you’re a paid or free user, and no matter what device you use Microsoft Teams on, you’ll be able to access it on your device of choice. You can follow these instructions to download the app and begin making calls at your convenience.