Microsoft Teams Gets New Files App, 3D Mesh Avatars, and Other New Features

As Microsoft is kicking off its Enterprise Connect conference this morning, the company announced a new Teams desktop client that brings big performance improvements for Windows users. Microsoft has also unveiled several new features and capabilities coming to Microsoft Teams this month.

The new version of Microsoft Teams has been built from the ground up, and it consumes 50 percent less memory and 70 percent less storage space. Microsoft claims that launching the app or joining meetings should now be two times faster. Users should experience 1.7 times faster performance while switching between chats and channels.

The Microsoft Teams desktop client brings multi-account support for enterprise customers. The app supports AI-powered experiences such as Copilot for Microsoft Teams and intelligent recaps for meetings. Microsoft has introduced customizable group chats, threaded conversations, and interactive emojis. Other capabilities include an updated gallery view, screen-sharing support, and a pre-join experience.

Mesh Avatars for Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has released a new update that allows users to create animated Mesh Avatars for Teams meetings. The feature is similar to the existing 3D avatars available in Zoom, Apple Facetime, and Meta’s Horizon Worlds platform. Microsoft has been testing Mesh Avatars since October 2022, and the feature is finally available in public preview.

Microsoft Teams gets a new Channel experience

Microsoft has introduced a new channel experience that’s designed to be a bit more intuitive and modern to drive engagement. This release moves the compose box and recent posts to the top of the window to help users catch up on important conversations. There is also a new information pane that makes it easier to keep track of pinned posts, new channel members, and other contextual information. Microsoft has added the ability to pop out channel conversations like 1:1 chats.

New Files App in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is getting a new Files app that should make it easier to find, access, and share documents in chats, channels, and meetings. It features dedicated sections in the sidebar, such as Home, My files, Shared, Downloads, and Quick access.

Microsoft is adding an expanded view of the profile card in Microsoft Teams. The feature enables users to view contact information, job title, organizational chart, and LinkedIn profiles of colleagues. The profile card can now show Insights such as suggested tasks, birthdays, and career updates to help users celebrate important milestones. It’s now possible for users to add pronouns to profile cards and view LinkedIn profiles of external users.

Lastly, Microsoft announced a new feature that lets administrators view users and groups assigned to a specific policy. Moreover, IT Pros can now export Teams list as a CSV file directly from the Teams admin center. The company has also announced some new Teams devices, and we invite you to check out the blog post for more details.