Using the Chat function in Microsoft Teams

Background

This knowledge base article provides steps  to send messages using the Chat feature on Microsoft Teams.

Before You Begin

• Ensure you have an Office 365 account.
• Ensure you installed and are logged into Microsoft Teams on your computer. See our article How to Install Microsoft Office if you don't have Teams.

Steps to follow

1. Open Microsoft Teams. Click on Chats on the left-hand panel.
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the New chat button (Keyboard Shortcut : Ctrl+N)
   
   
   
3. Type in your contact's name or to be specific you can the email address. Lets see what happens when we search by the name. 
   PLEASE NOTE: If the user is in another company , MS Teams will display externally at the end of the name.
   
   Below are examples on how an internal user or an external user search will appear on teams
   
   1. An example for a match for an internal user
      
   
   
   1. An example for a match for an external user
      
      
      
      

4. Select the external user match with the wording (External ). Then type in the messages you want. 
   
   
   
   If its a new message to the contact , this is how your contact will see the prompt from Ms Teams to the Contact.