Navigating the New Microsoft Teams Client – Known Issues and Upcoming Features and Classic and New Teams Comparison

12 Dec Navigating the New Microsoft Teams Client – Known Issues and Upcoming Features and Classic and New Teams Comparison

Navigating the New Microsoft Teams Client – Known Issues and Upcoming Features

A Comparative Analysis of Classic and New Features

As Microsoft Teams continues to evolve, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest updates, especially when it comes to known issues and upcoming features. In this post, we’ll delve into some of the current limitations of the new Microsoft Teams client and highlight exciting features on the horizon.

The new Microsoft Teams client brings several changes and known issues. Key issues include the unavailability of features like PowerPoint Live Standout, multiple language detection for spellcheck, and certain annotations. There are also inaccuracies in spellchecker suggestions and limitations in scheduling or producing Teams Live Events. The rollout of Windows fixes for these issues is ongoing. Changes in features include different handling of notifications, absence of the Wiki app, and adjustments in adding third-party cloud storage. Additionally, organizational chart and LinkedIn lookups, saving messages, and signing out options have been altered. The overall appearance has been updated, and there are changes in accessing contacts and using search box commands.

For a detailed list of known issues and changes, visit. Current Known Issues in the New Microsoft Teams Client.

• Limited Annotation Tools: Currently, annotations from the Presenter toolbar are not available. This may affect interactive presentations.
• PowerPoint Live Standout Mode: This feature, which enhances presentation capabilities, isn’t yet available in the new client.
• Spellchecker Limitations: The ability to detect multiple languages for spellchecking is missing at the moment.
• Teams Live Event Scheduling and Production: For now, scheduling and producing a Teams Live Event will redirect users to the classic Teams web experience.
• Class Team Home Page Setup: In Microsoft Teams for Education, setting up the Home Page in a newly created Class team isn’t available on the desktop currently.
• Sensitivity Labels During Team Creation: Adding a sensitivity label during team creation is not an option in Teams for Education as of now.
• User Presence Visibility: There’s an issue with seeing the presence of other users under the Organization tab in 1:1 chats. A workaround is to restart the new Teams client or browser window, but this remains an issue for offline contacts.
• Spellcheck in Spanish: Users have reported that spellcheck is not functioning in Spanish, even when the display and Teams language is set accordingly.

Exciting Upcoming Features and Fixes Coming in December:

• Support for NDI, SDI, and ISO streaming of Teams media content.
• Ability to set presence in the taskbar and system tray.
• Support for external shared channels in grid view for Microsoft Teams for Education.

Coming in January:

• Custom backgrounds for announcement posts in channels in Teams for Education, pending policy control availability.
• Implication: These upcoming features indicate a commitment to enhancing the Teams experience, particularly in media content handling and user interface improvements.

A Comparative Analysis of Classic and New Features

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital collaboration, Microsoft Teams has emerged as a pivotal player. As an IT engineer and blogger with a keen interest in unified communications, I find it fascinating to delve into the transformation from the classic Teams client to the new Teams experience. This blog post aims to provide a detailed comparison of the features between these two iterations, highlighting the changes and their implications for users.

1. Notifications: A Shift in Customization

• Classic Teams: Offered post-level notifications within a channel, allowing users to opt in or out of specific channel notifications.
• New Teams: This granularity in notification settings is no longer available. All notification preferences are now managed within Teams Settings, and Teams notifications are fully integrated with Windows notifications.
• Implication: This change streamlines the notification process but reduces the flexibility users had in managing channel-specific alerts.

2. Channel Tabs and Apps: Simplifying Access

• Classic Teams: Featured a Wiki app for channel tabs and a Files app in the left navigation pane.
• New Teams: The Wiki app is replaced by the Notes app, and the OneDrive app supersedes the Files app.
• Implication: These changes seem to aim for a more integrated and streamlined experience, aligning with other Microsoft 365 services like OneDrive.

3. Cloud Storage Integration: A New Approach

• Classic Teams: Allowed adding third-party cloud storage directly from the Files app and Files tab in channels.
• New Teams: This functionality is removed from the OneDrive app and Files tab. Users must now add third-party storage apps from the Teams App Store.
• Implication: This modification potentially makes adding third-party storage services less intuitive but encourages exploration of the Teams App Store.

4. Organizational Insights: Enhanced User Profiles

• Classic Teams: Limited in providing organizational charts and LinkedIn information during chats.
• New Teams: Users can select a profile photo anywhere in Teams to access the organizational chart and LinkedIn tab within the profile card.
• Implication: This enhancement enriches the user profile experience, offering deeper insights into an organization’s structure and professional connections.

5. Document Library Integration: Embracing SharePoint

• Classic Teams: Enabled adding a document library (DocLib) app to a channel tab.
• New Teams: Users are directed to use the SharePoint app, from which they can add a document library as a channel tab.
• Implication: This change signifies a tighter integration with SharePoint, potentially streamlining document management but requiring users to adapt to a new workflow.

6. Chat and Collaboration Features: Some Removed, Some Evolved

• Activity Tab in Chat: No longer available in the new Teams.
• Save Messages and Files: The Save feature is removed, with a promise of a future replacement.
• User Presence and Availability: Enhanced with more detailed information, including calendar slots and work location.
• Sign Out Option: Removed from the taskbar notification area.
• Settings Dialog: Now accessed as an app from the title bar.
• Implication: These changes reflect a mix of simplification and enhancement, focusing on a more integrated and comprehensive user experience.

7. Team Management and Customization: Streamlined Processes

• Edit Team Name and Picture: Now managed in the team Settings tab.
• EDU Themed Team Avatar: No longer available.
• About Links: Moved to the Settings app under “About Teams.”
• Implication: These adjustments streamline team management, although they remove some customization options like themed avatars.

8. Help Resources and Personal Apps: Restructured Accessibility

• Help in the App Bar: Relocated under the More options menu in the title bar.
• Building Personal Apps with Adaptive Cards: This feature is no longer available.
• Implication: The relocation of help resources might require an adjustment period for users, and the removal of personal app building could impact custom workflow integrations.

9. General User Interface Updates

• The new Teams experience introduces updated colors, tooltip styles, and general appearance changes, aligning with modern design trends.

10. Advanced Tagging and Theme Settings

• Tags in “Add Member” Dialog: An advanced flow for tags is introduced.
• Teams Theme Setting: Now follows the OS theme by default, with customizable options.
• Implication: These updates indicate a move towards a more intuitive and cohesive user interface, respecting system-wide settings.

11. Contacts and Search Functionality: Refined Access

• Contacts in Chat: Replaced by the new People app, which can be pinned to the navigation pane.
• Search Box Commands: Several commands are removed, streamlining the search functionality.
• Implication: While these changes might initially disrupt familiar workflows, they seem designed to create a more focused and efficient user experience.

While the new Microsoft Teams client brings a host of improvements and new features, being aware of its current limitations is crucial for a smooth transition. As Microsoft continues to update Teams, we can expect many of these issues to be resolved, along with the introduction of innovative functionalities that enhance our collaborative experiences. Stay tuned for more updates and tips on making the most of Microsoft Teams! 🌐🚀

Have you encountered any of these issues, or are there any features you’re particularly excited about? Let’s discuss in the comments below!