How to Join a Meeting in Microsoft Teams

Nowadays, you almost don’t need in-person meetings to conduct business. With so many video conferencing options available today, you’ll probably receive a Teams invite at one point or another.

If this is your first time using the app, don’t worry! Logging in is easier than you think, and there are a few ways to do it. Find out how to join a Teams meeting, regardless of whether or not you have a Microsoft account.

Using the App to Join

One of the simplest ways to join a Teams meeting is to do so through the app. You can download the app from the official Microsoft website or open it if you already have it installed. From the Teams app, there are a couple of ways to join the meeting.

First, you can join directly from the app by clicking on Join from the meeting invite. Most people join meetings this way as it’s one of the simplest methods.

Alternatively, if you need to call into the meeting, you can use the dial-in number and conference ID. You may use this option if you’re unsure about the reliability or security of your internet connection.

Don’t forget to choose the video and audio settings that you want for the meeting. When everything is set-up to your satisfaction, go ahead and press the Join Now button.

Using the Web to Join

What if you don’t want to or can’t install the Teams app?

You don’t need to install the app to join a meeting. Go to your email invitation and click on the Join Microsoft Teams Meeting button. Following that link will open a window on your web browser.

That new window brings up a web page with a couple of options. You can download the Teams app or join the meeting using the web version.

Choosing to use the web version only works on a couple of browsers right now – namely, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you don’t have either of them, you may need to download the app to attend the meeting.

Using the web version of Teams is relatively simple, though. Your chosen browser may ask for permission for Teams to use your camera and microphone. Enable both to ensure that you get both audio and visual for your meeting. Rest assured that permissions are only applicable while the browser window is open. After the meeting, all settings go back to normal.

Next, you’ll have to enter your name and choose the settings for audio and video. If you’re close to the meeting room, select Audio Off to avoid any sound distortions. The same goes if there’s another device near you that’s connected to the same meeting.

Once you set up your camera and mic, it’s time to click on the Join Now button. You don’t enter the meeting immediately, though. Instead, you’ll go into the virtual meeting lobby, and a message goes out to the organizer that you’re there. To gain admittance into the meeting, someone in the meeting needs to admit you.

It’s important to remember that you have approximately 15 minutes of wait time in the lobby. If the time runs out without someone admitting you, Teams removes you from the lobby. Of course, you’re welcome to try joining again, but the same 15-minute time limit applies.

In this instance, it may not be a good idea to show up too early for a scheduled meeting.

Joining a Meeting with a Mobile Device

Joining a meeting using your mobile is a simple process. Go to the meeting invitation and tap on Join Microsoft Teams Meeting. Clicking on the link will take you to the app store if you don’t already have the Teams mobile app.

Keep in mind that using Teams on a mobile device does require an app download, so you may need to account for that before the meeting. After you’ve downloaded the app, you can open it directly from the store page.

Teams will prompt you for permission to use your microphone during the meeting. Make sure that you give permission; otherwise, no one will hear you during the session.

Next, you can either “Sign in and Join” or “Join in as a Guest.” If you’re joining as a Guest, the app prompts you to type in your name and click on Join Meeting when you’re ready. You can use the meeting controls during the meeting by tapping on the center of the screen, and then again to hide it.

What Happens If You Don’t See a “Join” Button?

You might not see an option to join the meeting. It can happen for a couple of reasons like a user error when setting up the meeting initially. That may be the cause, especially if the Join button appears for some meetings but not for others.

If it seems like there’s an error occurring when the meeting organizer sets up the meeting, they may have to set up the meeting through Teams instead of Outlook.

However, if you never see a Join button, you may need to speak with your IT group. There may be an error with the implementation of Teams. If you feel like this may be the case, contact your IT person and request to have the Meetings feature enabled within Teams.

Teams Simplifies Connections

Microsoft Teams is a free application, and it’s available for both desktop and mobile devices. But you don’t necessarily need to download either one to jump into a meeting, especially if you’re on a desktop device. You can go to the email invitation and use your browser to join.

What is your preferred way to join meetings? Do you see the Join button every time? Let us know about your experiences joining a meeting in Teams in the comments section below.