Microsoft Teams Free Users Will Soon Be Able to Join Work Meetings More Easily

Microsoft is about to simplify the process of joining Teams work meetings for people using Teams with a free Microsoft account. As of today, free users can only join work meetings as anonymous meeting guests, and they can only do so via a web browser. However, starting in February, free users be able to do so right from the Teams desktop app and keep access to the meeting chat after it ended.

“Once this feature is made available, users of Microsoft Teams (Free) will be able to join Teams for work (or school) meetings in one click, they no longer will be redirected to browser, asked to fill in their name/surname and they will be able to continue collaboration with meeting organiser and other participants via meeting chat after the meeting,” Microsoft explained on the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Organizations will still be able to control chats and meetings federation with people who use Teams with a free Microsoft account. However, Teams users with a work account will also be able to join Teams meetings hosted by free users right within the desktop app, eliminating the current redirection to a web browser.

If you’re on Windows 11, joining Teams work meetings by just clicking on a link will only work within the “Teams for work” app. It won’t work from the preinstalled Teams app (for consumers), your Outlook calendar, or third-party apps. If you’re trying to join the meeting from outside, you’ll be getting the same web-based experience as before where you’re anonymous and can’t access the meeting chat afterwards.