How to Add Microsoft Teams to Outlook

Most users use both Microsoft Teams and Outlook heavily when their organization deploys Microsoft's suite of services. Outlook and Teams are both go-to apps for different kinds of communication needs. But sometimes, when you’re using one, you suddenly realize you need the other as well.

It’s a good thing that, being Microsoft products, they enjoy deep integration with each other. You can easily use certain features of Microsoft Teams in the Outlook app without having to open the app separately. Let’s dive in and see what all that’s about.

How to Get the Teams Add-in in Outlook

With the Teams Add-in in Outlook, you can schedule a Teams meeting directly from Outlook. The Teams Add-in is available on the Outlook app for Windows and Mac, Web, and mobile.

All you need to do on your Windows PC is have both Microsoft Teams and Outlook installed. You must have Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 2019, or Office 2021 installed on your PC, along with the Microsoft Teams (work or school) app. The Teams client will automatically determine and install the correct add-in in the Outlook app.

In Outlook for Mac, the Teams add-in will appear if you’re on the Outlook build 16.24.414.0 or later that is activated with a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 client subscription.

How to Use the Teams Add-In

The Teams Add-In makes it extremely easy to schedule meetings from the Outlook app. You should note that using the add-in, you can only schedule meetings with sure participants and not channel meetings. To schedule channel meetings, you will have to use the Microsoft Teams app.

Considering the medium you’re using, you’ll find the add-in in different places.

In the Outlook Windows Desktop app

Open the Outlook app. Then, switch to the ‘Calendar’ view from the bottom of the navigation bar on the left.

In the Home tab, go to the ‘New Teams Meeting’ option to use the Teams add-in to schedule a meeting in Microsoft Teams.

You can add other details like the meeting name (subject), attendees, and start and end time from the meeting creation dialog box.

You can also write your message along with the meeting invite. The details for joining the meeting and dial-in numbers (if the organization has a voice plan) are automatically added to the invite. Click ‘Send’ to create the meeting invite.

In Outlook for Web

Go to outlook.com to use Outlook for Web and log in with your Microsoft account. Switch to the ‘Calendar’ view from the options on the left toolbar.

Then, click ‘New event’ to create a new meeting.

Turn on the toggle for ‘Teams meeting’ to automatically schedule a meeting in Microsoft Teams from Outlook.

After you send the meeting invite, the details for joining the meeting will appear in the event.

In the Mobile App

The Teams add-in can be used while creating a new event, much like when using it for Outlook for Web.

Switch to the ‘Calendar’ tab from the bottom of the screen.

Then, tap the ‘+’ icon to create a new event.

In the event creation screen, scroll down and enable the toggle for ‘Teams Meeting’.

After you send the meeting invite, the details for the Teams meeting will appear in the calendar event.

If you or users in your organization upgraded from Skype for Business to Teams, then the Teams add-in isn’t available under certain circumstances. When you’re using Teams in the Island co-existence mode, i.e., the mode that allows both Skype and Teams for users, then the Teams add-in isn’t available in the mobile app.

It is available on the desktop app and Outlook web in the Island mode. In fact, users get a choice for both Skype and Teams in Outlook when using the Island mode by default. The options are limited only when admins change the meeting policy.

But the add-in isn’t available on the mobile app. Teams add-in is available if you’re using it in the ‘Teams only’ or ‘Skype for Business with Teams collaboration and meetings’ co-existence modes. The settings for the Co-existence mode can only be configured from the Teams Admin center by the IT admins.

Teams Add-In Not Available in the Desktop app

If you can’t find the add-in in the desktop app, there can be a few reasons.

• The Teams add-in will not appear if you have installed Outlook from the Microsoft Store. Install the click-to-run version of Office if you want to use the Teams meeting add-in.
• To use the Teams Add-in, you must have at least one Exchange mailbox in your Outlook profile with which to schedule Teams meetings. Without an Exchange mailbox for the primary user trying to schedule the meeting, the add-in won’t be available.
• The Teams Add-in requires users to sign into Teams using the Modern Authentication. If your oranization hasn’t enabled Modern Authentication, the add-in won’t be available until they do. But if modern authentication is configured and you canceed the dialog box you’ll have to sign in again using multi-factor authentication to use the add-in.
• The Teams Add-in also isn’t deployed if the option for private meetings isn’t enabled in the Teams Admin center, since you can only have private meetings with this option and not channel meetings. Only the IT admins can enable this option for their organizations. Go to the Microsoft Teams Admin Center. Then, go to ‘Meetings’ from the navigation pane on the left. A few options will expand underneath it; go to ‘Meeting Policies’ from here. In the ‘General’ section, enable the toggle for ‘Allow scheduling private meetings’.

Fix: Teams Add-in Not Working

If there’s no reason why the Teams add-in shouldn’t work but it still isn’t working, close both the Outlook and Teams desktop apps.

Now, first, sign out of the Teams desktop app and restart it. Sign in to the Teams app.

Then, restart the Outlook app. The Teams add-in should appear in the Outlook app when you repeat these steps in this exact order.

Check that the Teams Add-in isn’t disabled

If the Teams add-in still isn’t working, make sure that it isn’t disabled. Go to the ‘File’ tab from the Outlook ribbon.

Then, go to ‘Options’ from the bottom-left part of the screen.

A dialog box for Outlook Options will open. Go to ‘Add-ins’ from the navigation pane on the left.

See that the ‘Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office’ isn’t listed under Disabled Application Add-ins.

If it is, select ‘COM Add-ins’ from the drop-down menu at the bottom and click ‘Go’.

Then, find the option for Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office and click the checkbox next to it to enable it. Click ‘OK’ to add it. Then, restart Outlook.

Run the Troubleshooter

If it still isn’t working, click this link for the Teams Add-in for Outlook missing. Click ‘Open’ on the dialog box on the page. The automated troubleshooter will run and try to fix the problem for you. Follow the instructions on the screen.

If it still doesn’t work, download and install the Microsoft Recovery Support Assistant and follow the instructions on-screen for automated troubleshooting.

The Teams Add-in for Outlook can prove very productive. In addition to scheduling meetings in Microsoft Teams directly, you can also check the status of any contact from within your organization straight from Outlook. You can also start the meeting right away in the Teams app instead of scheduling it from within the Outlook app.