How to Add Contacts in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has been part of Office 365 since 2016. This office communication app and service offers various features such as video calling, messaging and team channels. To use all these features, you need to add people to Microsoft Teams.

Your contacts are usually people you want to interact with, add to a team channel, or assign a task to. For organizations, adding contacts to Microsoft Teams may not be a requirement, as they are automatically updated from the organization’s directory. However, for personal Teams accounts, adding contacts can be done using the methods described below.

Adding a New Contact for Personal Microsoft Teams Account

If your Microsoft Teams account is personal, not assigned by an organization, any of the following methods can be used to add a contact.

By Syncing Mobile Device Contacts in Mobile App

One way to add contacts to Microsoft Teams is to sync your address book contacts with Microsoft Teams. Check out the steps below to understand how to do this:

Stage 1: Launch Microsoft Teams on your mobile device.

Step 2: Tap your profile picture.

Stage 3: Tap on Settings.

Step 4: Tap Contacts.

Step 5: If the toggle next to Sync contacts on my device shows a gray fill, tap on it to enable contact sync. Once this is done, contacts with Microsoft Teams accounts in your phone book will be synced with your Microsoft Teams contacts.

By Syncing Mobile Device Contacts to PC

Microsoft Teams users can also sync contacts from their mobile devices to their PCs. Here’s how it works.

Stage 1: Launch Microsoft Teams on your computer.

Step 2: Click Find and invite people at the bottom of the left pane.

Stage 3: In the new dialog, click on Sync mobile device contacts.

Step 4: Scan the QR code on PC with your mobile device.

Step 5: Once the app is downloaded to your phone, follow the prompt to sync your device contacts.

Adding New Contacts to Teams via Chat

You can also add a user’s email address linked to their personal Microsoft Teams account by searching. Here’s how it works.

Stage 1: Start Microsoft Teams.

Step 2: At the top of the left pane of the application window, select New Chat; this should open a new chat window.

Stage 3: At the top of the window in the To field, type the name, email address, or phone number of the person you want linked to their Microsoft Teams account.

When the contact accepts your chat request, they should be automatically added to your Contacts.

Adding a New Contact to Teams by Sharing a Link

Another way to add people in Microsoft Teams is to share an invite link. The link can be sent via SMS, email, social media platforms or instant messaging. Here’s how:

Stage 1: Start Microsoft Teams.

Step 2: Click Find and invite people at the bottom of the left pane.

Stage 3: In the new dialog, click Share invite link and this will copy the link to your clipboard.

Step 4: Start a preferred platform eg email and paste the link to share it with someone. When the person selects the link, it is automatically added to your address book.

Adding a New Contact for an Organization Microsoft Teams Account

If your Microsoft Teams account is linked to your organization or school, you can add people from your directory using these steps:

Stage 1: Launch Microsoft Teams on your computer.

Step 2: In the left pane, click Calls.

Stage 3: In the new window, click Contacts.

Step 4: Click Add Person.

Step 5: Type the name of the person you need to add and Microsoft Teams will check it in the directory.

Step 6: Click the Add button.

Blocking a Contact in Microsoft Teams

You can add a contact to your contact book in Microsoft Teams using any of the methods mentioned above. That way, you can always stay in touch with people at your organization, school or university. You can also block any person if you don’t want to interact with them.