How to Create a Team in Microsoft Teams (and Manage It)

To create a team in Microsoft Teams, open Chat > New items > New team, enter the team details, name its first channel, and select Create. You can then add people, organize channels, and adjust permissions as a team owner.

These instructions cover Teams for work or school on desktop and web. Teams for personal use has a different Communities experience. Your organization can restrict team creation.

How to create a team in Microsoft Teams

1. Open the new-team menu

In the combined chat-and-channels view, select Chat. If your app uses separate navigation, select Teams instead. Above the list, choose New items > New team, following Microsoft's current creation workflow.

2. Enter a name and choose privacy

Give the team a recognizable name and an optional description explaining its purpose. Choose Private for controlled membership or Public so people in your organization can join. Public does not mean open to the internet. Apply a sensitivity label if your organization requires one.

3. Name the first channel and create the team

Enter a first-channel name, such as Announcements, then select Create. The first channel no longer has to be called General. It cannot be deleted or archived. Creating the team makes you its owner.

Already have a suitable group or team? Under More create team options, you can reuse an existing team or eligible Microsoft 365 group. Group-based creation carries over the group's membership; copying a team lets you choose what to copy. If a group does not appear, check that you own it and that it does not already have a connected team.

How to manage members, channels, and settings

4. Add members and assign another owner

Beside the team name, select More options (...) > Add member. Search for coworkers, select the correct people, and choose Add. For outside collaborators, enter their email addresses; guest access must be allowed by your organization. Guests must accept their invitation, and access can take a few hours to become available.

To appoint a backup owner, open Manage team > Members, expand Members and guests, and change the person's team role to Owner. Only an owner can promote another member. Review this list when people change roles or leave.

5. Create channels for distinct topics

Open the team's More options > Add channel. Enter a name, optional description, and channel type, then complete creation. Microsoft's channel types serve different audiences:

Choose carefully: channel types cannot be converted afterward. Only team owners can create shared channels. External shared-channel collaboration also requires administrators to configure B2B direct connect. A private channel needs its own member list.

6. Review team settings

Open More options > Manage team > Settings. Under Team details > Edit, owners can change the name, description, or privacy where permitted. Review Member permissions to control channel and app changes. These team settings remain subject to organization policies.

Create and manage teams in the admin center

7. Create a team as an administrator

A Teams license alone does not grant administrative rights. Use an authorized account, such as a Teams Administrator. The Teams Reader role is read-only.

Open the Teams admin center, select Teams > Manage teams > Add, and enter the name, description, privacy, and any required sensitivity label. Complete the pane to create the team.

8. Manage the team's membership and channels

In Teams > Manage teams, select the team name to open its details. In Members, use Add to add people and review owner roles. In Channels, use Add to create a channel with a name, description, and appropriate type. Standard channels inherit team membership. Microsoft's admin-center guide covers these management tools.

Why is an option missing?

• No New team option: confirm you are in the correct work or school organization, then ask IT whether team creation is restricted.
• Cannot manage members or settings: check your team-owner role or administrative permissions.
• Cannot invite outsiders or create shared channels: ask IT to check guest-access and shared-channel policies before trying again.