KB0012589

Microsoft 365

Microsoft Teams

Open the Teams client on your device. You may have to log in using UVA faculty, staff, and students have access to Teams through their Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) accounts at UVA. Before signing in to portal.office.com, confirm your eligibility for an account.

Use your computingID@virginia.edu email & UVA password. Forgot Password?

On This Page...

About Microsoft Teams
Create a Team
Add & Remove Members (Do not add UVA faculty, staff, and students as "guests")
Build Your Teams Skills
Do You Need a 'Group' Too?

About Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams, aka Teams, is a communication and collaboration tool that connects faculty, staff, and students across UVA and partners beyond.

Key Teams Features

Integrated video & audio conferencing
Direct messaging with an individual or group via Chat (two-year data retention)
Persistent posts on Teams channels
Shared file storage (SharePoint Document Library)
Customizable Teams interface (w/ channels, tabs, apps)
Classroom assignments
SharePoint Team site
Shared OneNote Notebook
Shared Planner
App integrations

More on what you can do in Teams >

Create & Manage Teams

Before creating a Team, confirm with your team or department that there is not an existing Team that can be used for the same purpose.

All Teams need to be renewed annually by an owner or they will expire. For more information on expirations and renewals, see Can I restore a deleted or expired Team or Group?

Create a Team

Note: Do you need a Group? If you are looking for certain features not accessible in Teams, such as a shared Group email and calendar, you must first create a Group, and then add a new Team to it.

Via the Microsoft 365 Portal

Sign in to portal.office.com with your computingID@virginia.edu email & UVA password. Forgot Password?
Select the Teams button in the list of apps.
Click the Join or Create a Team button
On the right, select the Create a Team button.
Choose the type of Team. In most cases, you should pick Other.
Enter a descriptive name and description.
- If you have an existing Group that you want to add to a Team, click Create a Team from an existing Microsoft 365 Group at the bottom of the dialog box. You will then be prompted to pick from the list of Groups of which you are an owner.
Your Team is now ready to use.
- By default, your team is Private, meaning you'll have to add the people or groups you want on the team (see Add & Remove Teams Members). Select Public if you want anyone in the organization to be able to find and join the team.

Via the Microsoft Teams Client

Download and install the Microsoft Teams app.
Open the Teams client on your device.
- You may have to log in using your UVA email address (e.g., mstk3k@virginia.edu) and password (the password you use for NetBadge).
On the left side of Teams, click Teams.
Click the Join or create a team button, then select Create a team.
Choose the type of Team. In most cases, you should pick Other.
Enter a descriptive name and description.
- If you have an existing Group that you want to add to a team, click Create a Team from an existing Microsoft 365 Group at the bottom of the dialog box. You will then be prompted to pick from the list of Groups of which you are an owner.
Your Team is now ready to use.
- By default, your team is Private, meaning you'll have to add the people or groups you want on the team (see Add & Remove Teams Members). Select Public if you want anyone in the organization to be able to find and join the team.

Add & Remove Team Members

When inviting members from the UVA community to your Team, add them as a Member, NOT as a Guest. Members and Guests will be able to see and access all content associated with the Team. However, this excludes private Channels and the Grades tab, among other exceptions where the owner has updated permissions settings.

ITS recommends adding at least one additional owner to a Team. Owners receive the yearly renewal email and can manage membership. If you leave the University for any reason, having an additional owner will ensure that your Team/Group continues to function properly.