New Microsoft Teams Desktop App is Now Available for All Users

The new Microsoft Teams desktop client that’s been available in preview since March is now generally available. Teams users can try the new app by clicking on the “New Teams” toggle in the top left corner of the app.

In this new Teams client, the React framework and Edge WebView 2 have replaced the notoriously resource-heavy Electron framework, and Microsoft says the app is now two times faster while using 50% less memory. The new Microsoft Teams has also been slightly redesigned, with more personalization options and usability improvements.

“New Teams now has full feature parity for almost all features including custom line-of-business apps, third-party apps, breakout rooms, 7×7 video, call queues, PSTN calling, contextual search in chats and channels, cross-post a channel conversation, and more,” Microsoft said today. “We have focused on providing high-quality performance and enhancing the basics in areas such as reliability, security, and IT management to make sure that new Teams meets the evolving requirements of your organization.”

The new Microsoft Teams client also adds support for the Microsoft 365 Copilot, which will officially launch on November 1 at $30 per month per user. Copilot in Teams will be able to help users catch up on messages and emails they missed, share notes and action items from a meeting, or surface useful information that’s buried in an organization’s documents.

Lastly, the new Microsoft Teams is introducing multi-tenant organization capabilities, which will facilitate cross-tenant communication and collaboration. “You can seamlessly engage with users across multiple accounts and organizations without having to drop out of a call or meeting, ensuring no disruption to your workflow,” Microsoft explained.

While all Teams users on Windows and Mac can now go back and forth between the new and classic Teams app, Microsoft is planning to make the new Teams experience the default for all users in the coming months. Going forward, all new Teams features will also be exclusively available in the new Teams app.