Overview

Chats in Microsoft Teams allow quick, direct communication between individuals or small groups. Chats are ideal for fast questions, informal conversations, or short-lived discussions that do not require a full Team or channel.

Types of Chats

Teams offers two main chat modes:
• One-on-One Chats — Direct messages between you and one other person.
• Group Chats — Used when 3–250 people need to communicate informally without creating a full Team.

When to Use Chat Instead of Teams/Channels

Use Chat for:
• Quick questions or clarifications.
• One-on-one conversations.
• Temporary or fast-moving discussions.
• Personal messages that do not need long-term organization.
Avoid using Chat for long-term or group collaboration — use Teams & Channels instead.

Files in Chat

When you upload or share a file in a chat:
• The file is stored in your OneDrive.
• A link is automatically shared with chat participants.
• Permissions are set so only people in the chat can access the file.
This means chat files are not stored in a Team’s SharePoint site, so they should not be used for departmental or long-term storage.

Chat Tools & Features

Chats include several helpful features:
• Formatting tools — Bold, italics, highlighting, lists, and more.
• Reactions — Like, love, laugh, etc., for quick acknowledgment.
• @Mentions — Mention a person in a group chat to get attention.
• Pinning — Pin important chats to the top of your list.
• Search — Search messages, people, or files using keywords.