Microsoft Teams Unifies Personal and Professional Use with Major App Update

Recently, Microsoft Teams underwent a significant update, transforming into a unified application designed for personal, work, and educational uses on Windows and Mac platforms. This change, implemented on Tuesday, removes the necessity for users to maintain two distinct Teams applications on their computers, according to Microsoft. Furthermore, participants can seamlessly switch between various accounts when engaging in video calls. The unified app was initially reported as being in the works back in March, with a public launch anticipated for May.

In an announcement via a blog post, Microsoft detailed the enhanced Teams application now available for personal, professional, and educational purposes. In the past, users were required to utilize two separate applications based on their specific needs. With this new version, users can conveniently manage all their accounts in side-by-side windows within a single application and can easily switch accounts by clicking on the profile picture icon located at the top-right of the interface. While signing in remains optional for joining meetings, users are now offered the convenience of account switching before entering a session.

This updated app retains the functionalities of the original Microsoft Teams for personal use, allowing individuals to freely create and join meetings or establish communities for collaboration through calling, chatting, and file-sharing features. The company also highlighted that enterprise administrators who impose sign-in restrictions will see those limitations respected in the new app.

Amit Fulay, Microsoft's Vice President of Product, remarked that whether participating in a customer call or planning a school fundraiser, users can easily select their desired account as they join any meeting. Members of the Gadgets 360 team confirmed the new Teams app's presence in the Microsoft Store, where it joins the existing applications available on both Android and iOS platforms. According to the company, existing Teams users will automatically receive this update, but they also have the option to download the executable setup file from the official website for installation on their Windows 11 or Windows 10 PCs and Macs.