Dialing with Single Number Reach

Calls are a quick way to connect in Teams. You can have one-on-one calls or calls with several people. You can set them up ahead of time like a meeting, or you can start them on the fly while in a chat (for example).

While meetings are a great way to collaborate in Teams, calls can be a more direct way of connecting for completing specific tasks or for getting questions answered quickly.

Here are the first things to remember about making and managing calls in Teams:

1. There are many ways to make a call in Teams

Wherever you are in Teams, you can start a call with someone (or a group of people). Here are some of the ways:

Make or answer a call from anywhere

Select either Video call   or Audio call . Any call can be a video call or an audio-only call. It's always up to you. 

Answering a call is simple too. Just select Video call   or Audio call  when prompted. When someone calls you, you'll get a notification that lets you accept or decline the call.

Turn a chat into a call

With one click, you can make any chat into a call in Teams. When you're in a chat, select Video call   or Audio call   in the upper-right corner of Teams. The person you are chatting with (or the people, if it's a group chat) will receive a call from you.  

Make a call from your call history, speed dial, voicemail, or contacts

• Access your call history and quickly call anyone back from the list. Go to Calls  and review the History section in the center of the screen. Select any item from the list and then choose Call   in the Details section on the right side of Teams.

• From your speed dial, you can quickly call people that you previously saved to this list. To access your speed dial, go to Calls   and then find the Speed dial section on the right side of Teams.
   

• From your voicemail, you can quickly call back anyone who left a message. To access your voicemail, go to History and select the Voicemail button in the upper-right corner. You can call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions   next to their name > Call back    from the call history list, or by clicking Call   under the contact details.

• To view your contacts, click Calls    > Contacts in the upper-left of Teams. From here, you can call anyone by selecting Call   to the right of their name.
  
  

Use the dial pad 

If you have a calling plan enabled, you can call anyone from Teams.

To dial a number from Teams, go to Calls , and then enter the number of the person you want to reach by using the dial pad located on the left. Then click Call  .  

You can also type the name of a person or group and call them from the dial pad.

Hover over someone's profile picture

Throughout the Teams app, you will find profile pictures of people you're connected with. (Sometimes people choose avatars or you might just see their initials.)

At any time, you can mouse over a profile picture and you will see options to make a video or an audio-only call to that person. Choose one of those options and your call will begin.

Use the command box

At the top of Teams, type "/call" in the box and then enter a name or number. When you make your selection, the call will begin automatically.

In this way, you can quickly find people or groups and make a call to them.

Note: If you're in a Teams call on your mobile device, the device's screen won't turn off if you don't navigate away from the call window (or if you navigate away but come back before it turns off). If you turn off your screen during a call, you'll stay connected but the device will lock. 

2. You can do a lot while on a call in Teams

During a call, you can take many actions. These are a few common actions you might take:

Place a call on hold 

Select More actions    in your call window and choose Hold. Everyone in the call will be notified that they've been put on hold, and you can continue your call by clicking Resume.

Transfer a call

Select More actions    > Transfer in your call controls. Then, type the name of the person you want to transfer the call to and select them. To finish, select Transfer. 

Consult then transfer 

If you want to check in with someone before you transfer a call to them,  select More actions    > Consult then transfer. 

Under Choose a person to consult, start typing the name of the person you want to reach and select them when they appear. You can call them, or consult with them over chat. When you're ready, select Transfer.

Add a delegate

You can pick someone in Teams to be your delegate—to receive and make calls on your behalf. When you add a delegate, you’re essentially sharing your phone line with them, so they can see and share all of your calls. 

To designate a delegate, select Settings and more     next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings > General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. There you can see who you're a delegate for, and add and remove your own delegates.  

Share a line with a delegate

Select Settings and more     next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings > General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. Click Your delegates and type the person's name in the Add a delegate box. C

3. Review your call history

Your call history is located in the center of the calls experience and shows a list of past calls (including missed calls).

Go to Calls   > History. From any call in the list, select  More actions    > Call back    to begin a call automatically. 

You can also chat with that contact, add them to speed dial, and add them to your contacts—all from the More actions menu.

4. Access your voicemail

Your voicemail is another familiar tool for getting the most out of your calling experience in Teams.

Go to Calls    > History and then select Voicemail in the upper-right. From here you can: 

• Review messages and transcripts from calls

• Customize call rules

• Record a greeting

• Call anyone who's left you a message 

Call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions     next to their name > Call back   from the call history list, or by clicking Calls   under the contact Details on the right side of Teams.