Mastering Microsoft Teams: Boost Your Productivity with Keyboard Shortcuts
Microsoft Teams has become an essential tool for collaboration and communication in the modern workplace. To maximize your efficiency and streamline your workflow while using Teams, mastering keyboard shortcuts is a game-changer. By harnessing the power of keyboard shortcuts, you can navigate Teams with lightning speed, saving time and reducing reliance on your mouse. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Teams, exploring how they can revolutionize the way you work.
Getting Started with Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Teams
Before diving into specific shortcuts for different functions within Teams, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the basics of using keyboard shortcuts in the application. To access the list of available shortcuts in Teams, simply press Alt on your keyboard, and you’ll see a series of key combinations that correspond to various actions.
Enhancing Messaging Efficiency
When it comes to messaging in Teams, quick and effective communication is key. By utilizing keyboard shortcuts, you can compose messages, reply to chats, and navigate through conversations with ease. Here are some essential shortcuts for messaging:
- Ctrl + N – Start a new chat
- Ctrl + Shift + > or < – Navigate through open chats
- Alt + Shift + 1 – Jump to the activity feed
Streamlining Meetings and Calls
Meetings and calls are integral parts of Teams, and using shortcuts can help you manage them efficiently. Whether you’re joining a meeting or sharing your screen, these shortcuts will come in handy:
- Ctrl + Shift + M – Mute/unmute your microphone
- Alt + Shift + S – Start or stop sharing your screen
- Ctrl + Shift + Space – Start or stop video
Optimizing File Management
Managing files and documents within Teams can be simplified with the right shortcuts. From uploading files to searching for documents, here are some useful shortcuts for file management:
- Ctrl + O – Open a file
- Ctrl + Shift + F – Search within Teams
- Alt + Shift + 2 – Access the files tab
Benefits of Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Teams
The benefits of incorporating keyboard shortcuts into your Teams workflow are manifold. By leveraging shortcuts, you can:
- Save time and increase efficiency
- Reduce strain on your wrists and fingers
- Enhance accessibility for users with mobility impairments
- Improve overall user experience and satisfaction
Real-Life Examples: Putting Keyboard Shortcuts into Practice
Imagine you’re in a high-stakes meeting on Teams, and you need to quickly share your screen to present a crucial update. By using the Alt + Shift + S shortcut, you can seamlessly start sharing your screen without missing a beat, impressing your colleagues with your efficiency.
Similarly, when you’re juggling multiple chat conversations in Teams, the Ctrl + Shift + > shortcut allows you to effortlessly switch between chats, keeping your communication streamlined and effective.
Conclusion
Mastering keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Teams is a surefire way to boost your productivity, work smarter, and achieve more in less time. By incorporating these shortcuts into your daily workflow, you can navigate Teams like a pro and stay one step ahead in your collaboration efforts. Start practicing these shortcuts today and experience the difference they can make in your work life!

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing
High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.
Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up
WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft
Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL
VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.
Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh
Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)
NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization
Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives
Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black
Online volume expansion
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM
The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations
Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)
Model Number: ST10000VN0008
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion
8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives
Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution
Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications
Buy Now on Amazon