11 Best Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts to Use Like a Pro

Working from home is the new norm these days. Companies and organizations around the world have switched to collaboration and video calling software like Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and WebEx to improve communication and create a digital conference room.

Of all the options mentioned, Microsoft Teams is the newest member of the crowd. And during the COVID-19 situation, Microsoft is witnessing record-breaking growth in Teams usage. And why not? The software comes with a great combination of chat/voice calls and also allows group video calls. On top of that, it comes with third-party apps integration and links nicely with Office apps.

We’ve already talked about the best Microsoft Teams tips and tricks, and in this post, we’re going to talk about the eleven best Microsoft Teams keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac. Note that these shortcuts are for desktop apps only and won’t apply to the Teams web version. Lets start.

1. Open Search

When talking to multiple people on various channels, finding a message can be a pain. You can use the search feature for this. Use Command + E on Mac or Ctrl + E on Windows keyboard shortcut to open the search menu.

2. Start New Chat

Creating a new chat is pretty simple. You can go to the chat menu and tap the create button at the top, and even better, you can use Command + N on Mac or Ctrl + N on Windows keyboard shortcut to start a new chat.

3. Sidebar Navigation

These are must-haves for every Teams user. With the keyboard shortcuts mentioned below, you can quickly jump between different menus like activity, calls, chat and more.

• Command+1 on Mac or Ctrl+1 on Windows to go to the activity menu
• Command + 2 on Mac or Ctrl + 2 on Windows to go to the chat menu
• Command + 3 on Mac or Ctrl + 3 on Windows to go to the Teams menu
• Command + 4 on Mac or Ctrl + 4 on Windows to go to the Searches menu
• Command + 5 on Mac or Ctrl + 5 on Windows to go to the File section that displays all files shared on the service

4. Add File

You can quickly attach a file from the computer or the OneDrive cloud storage app while chatting. To add files to channels or individual chats, use Command + O on a Mac or Ctrl + O on a Windows keyboard shortcut to open the menu.

5. Start Voice/Video Call

With the normal chat function, you can also make a voice or video call with the other person. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows or Command + Shift + C on Mac to make a voice search. For video calls, choose the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + U on Windows or Command + Shift + U on Mac.

6. Reject Incoming Call

During some important work, you may want to decline incoming calls to Microsoft Teams. You can tap the red reject button or, better yet, use the keyboard shortcut for it. You can use Ctrl + Shift + D on Windows or Command + Shift + D to reject calls on Mac.

7. Accept Voice/Video Calls

We talked about refusing a call earlier. Let’s look at the keyboard shortcuts for accepting calls. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S on Windows or Command + Shift + S on Mac can be used to accept incoming voice calls. Consider using Ctrl + Shift + A on Windows or Command + Shift + A on Mac to accept video calls.

8. Mute Sound

During group voice or video calls, you may want to mute the sound on your own. Users can tap the mute button in the menu or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M on Windows or Command + Shift + M on Mac.

9. Open Emoji Menu

These shortcuts are built into both Windows 10 and macOS. Using emojis in chat adds an extra touch of precision. You can tap on the small emoji icon in the chat or use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + Space on Mac or Windows +. Press the keys in Windows 10 to open the emoji menu.

10. Open Commands Menu

Microsoft Teams comes with a set of commands to increase productivity. You can type Command + / on Mac or Ctrl + / in Windows shortcut to open Commands menu and use functions like search, chat, DND, help menu, join a team and more.

11. Open Keyboard Shortcuts Menu

Microsoft Teams supports an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts for various functions. We talked about some of the most popular options above. The company provides a dedicated menu of keyboard shortcuts that power users can browse frequently to remember keyboard shortcuts. Use Command + to access the menu. On Mac or Ctrl + . key in Windows.

Use Microsoft Teams Like a Pro

As you can see from the list above, Microsoft Teams can provide a much better experience with keyboard shortcuts. Revisit the list, memorize it, and apply it to your routine for a better Microsoft Teams experience.

Next: Another popular video conferencing software, Zoom, also offers a number of keyboard shortcuts. Read the post below to find the best keyboard shortcuts for Zoom.