Microsoft Teams Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a new Team in Teams?

See Microsoft's documentation for more details.

Which version of Teams should I be using?

You should be using Microsoft Teams (work or school). See Microsoft Teams in Windows 11 for more details.

What kind of Team should I create?

You can choose from 4 Team types when creating a new Team.  Generally, the "Other" type is most commonly used.  Please see Microsoft's descriptions of the types for more information.

• Class (teacher-led team featuring assignments)

• Professional Learning Community (PLC) (peer-led educator working group)

• Staff (leader-led for management, administration, etc.)

• Other (departments, organizations, clubs, study groups, and extracurriculars)

Can I create a Team without a group?

You can add a Team to an existing Microsoft 365 Group. Creating a new Team will also create a Group.

What happens when a Team is deleted?

Any content associated with that Team is also deleted. If a deleted Team contains a Plan, these items will also be deleted. 

I accidentally deleted my Team/my Team expired - can it be recovered?

In cases where a Team has been deleted and needs to be recovered, submit a request to the ITS Service Desk within 25 calendar days of deletion. 

What is the difference between Public and Private Teams?

All Team content is only visible to members of the team. Private Teams require an invitation to join, while public Teams are open for anyone at UAlbany to join as a member. ITS recommends creating Private teams in most cases.

Can I restrict who has access to email a team channel?

Yes. See Manage who can send email to a channel in Teams.

Can I delete messages within a channel of a team?

You can delete individual messages you have posted. Deleting a channel in a team will delete all messages in that channel.

Can I delete messages within the chat conversations of a team?

Yes.  See Delete a chat thread in Teams.

What happens when a Team owner's account is removed?

If a team has no owner, members are unable to self-promote a new owner. Please open a Service Desk request to have a new owner appointed. 

How do I place an audio or video call?

See Start a call from a chat in Microsoft Teams

Can someone outside of UAlbany join my Team?

Yes, you can invite guests to join your team.

How long can I use a Team that I create?

A Team will be eligible for deletion one year after its creation. The Team owner will be given multiple opportunities to renew the Team before it is deleted.

A Team that is actively in use is renewed automatically. Any of the following actions will auto-renew a Team:

• Files (SharePoint) - view, edit, download, move, share, or upload files

• Teams - visiting a teams channel

You can renew your expiring Team directly in Microsoft Teams.

For more information, see the Microsoft Teams Lifecycle.

Can I archive or restore a team that I created?

Yes, a team can be archived to keep around for reference in a read-only, searchable format and then restored again at later date if it needs to be used again.

What other tools is Teams similar to?

Teams offers much of same functionality as Slack.  (ITS does not support or provide Slack.)

More FAQs

See Microsoft Teams FAQ