Introduction to Setting Up Public or Private Teams in Microsoft Teams: A Step-by-Step Guide

Microsoft Teams is a robust collaboration platform that enables you to create teams tailored to various projects, departments, or interests. Depending on your requirements, you can set up either public or private teams. Public teams are accessible to everyone in your organization, while private teams are restricted to invited members only. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to create both types of teams.

Steps to Create a Public or Private Team

1. Open Microsoft Teams: Launch the Microsoft Teams app on your desktop or navigate to the web version.

2. Go to Teams: Click on the "Teams" icon on the left sidebar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Create a Team: Select "Create a team" on the Teams list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Give your team a name, description, name your first channel, and select your Team type.

• Team type:
  • Private: People need permission to join
  •  Public: Anyone in your organization can join.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Once your team is created, you will have the option to add members: You can add members immediately or skip this step and add them later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing Team Settings

After creating your team, you can manage its settings to ensure it meets your needs.

Steps to Manage Team Settings:

1. Access Team Settings: Click on the three dots (More options) next to your team’s name and select "Manage team."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Edit Team Details: In the "Settings" tab, you can edit the team’s name, description, and privacy settings. You can also add or remove members, set permissions, and configure other settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Switching Between Public and Private

If you need to change the privacy settings of an existing team, you can do so easily.

Steps to Change Privacy Settings:

1. Go to Team Settings: Click on the three dots (More options) next to your team’s name and select "Manage team” as previously mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Edit Privacy Settings: Again, in the "Settings" tab, expand the "Team details" section and click "Edit." You can then switch between public and private.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In conclusion, creating public and private teams in Microsoft Teams is a straightforward process that allows you to tailor your collaboration spaces to your specific needs. Public teams are great for open collaboration, while private teams provide a secure environment for sensitive projects. By following these steps, you can set up and manage your teams effectively, ensuring that your organization can collaborate efficiently and securely.

This is just an introduction to setting up teams in Microsoft Teams. Stay tuned for additional in-depth blogs on Teams features and capabilities! For additional tips and resources, be sure to follow our Nonprofit Community | Microsoft Community Hub for blogs, updates, and expert advice on maximizing your nonprofit tools.