How to Enable and Use Microsoft Teams Shifts

To use Microsoft Teams Shifts, open Shifts in Teams, create a schedule for your team, add people and shifts, then select Share with team. Shifts is normally enabled already. If you cannot find it, your Teams administrator should check app access before you start.

Before you start

Users need a Teams license; Shifts is not limited to Enterprise subscriptions. Guests cannot use Shifts schedules. Use Teams desktop or web for setup and schedule management, and mobile for checking shifts and submitting requests. Team owners can manage schedules; administrators can also grant members the dedicated schedule owner role without giving them ownership of the entire team.

The example screens below show fictional staff and sample settings. Your organization's layout may differ.

1. Check that Shifts is available

Shifts is enabled by default. If it is missing, an administrator should open the Teams admin center and go to Teams apps > Manage apps > Shifts.

In organizations using app centric management, open Users and groups > Availability > Edit availability. Make Shifts available to the intended users or groups, then select Apply. In older environments, check that its status is Allowed and that the user's app permission policy permits it.

Pinning only creates a shortcut; it does not grant access. A Frontline Worker policy package is not a required activation step.

2. Open and pin Shifts

In Teams desktop or web, select View more apps on the left and find Shifts. Right-click Shifts and choose Pin for easier access. On mobile, tap Shifts in the app bar; swipe up from the app bar if it is hidden.

3. Create your team's schedule

In Shifts, open Choose or create a schedule > New schedule. Select Create beside your team, set the time zone for the team's location, choose the closest city, and confirm. Each team has one schedule. The standard creation flow requires team ownership; ask your administrator about permissions if Create is unavailable.

4. Add schedule groups and people

Organize staff by role or department. Rename Unnamed group, or select Add group and use its menu to rename it. Beside a group, select Add people, find a person, and select Add.

Only members of the associated team can be added. If someone is missing, check team membership and allow time for recent changes to appear. Microsoft's schedule creation guide explains these requirements.

5. Configure schedule settings

Open Settings to review the team time zone, closest city, and starting day of the week. Enable the request types your team should use, such as open shifts, swaps, offers, and time off. Time clock is optional. Settings you cannot change may be controlled by IT; see Microsoft's schedule settings reference.

6. Add assigned and open shifts

At the intersection of a person's row and the desired date, double-click an empty cell or choose More options > Add shift. Enter start and end times, breaks, and useful notes. Select Save to keep it unshared, or Share when ready.

For unassigned coverage, use the group's Open shifts row and Add open shift. You can also copy existing shifts and edit their details.

7. Share the schedule with your team

Select Share with team, confirm the date range, choose notification options, and select Share. Saving drafts alone does not publish them. Share subsequent edits too, so employees see the updated schedule. Use More options > View shared schedule to check what is currently published. Microsoft's publishing guide also covers recalling shared shifts.

8. View shifts and submit requests

Employees can open Shifts to see published assignments. When enabled, select an open shift and choose Request, or use the available time-off, swap, and offer options. Track progress under Requests. Swaps and offers go to the coworker first and require manager approval after acceptance; they do not change the schedule immediately. See Microsoft's shift request instructions.

If Shifts still does not work

• App missing: verify the account, license, and app availability. Access changes can take up to 24 hours, occasionally longer.
• Schedule empty: confirm the correct team, date range, and published changes.
• Unable to manage shifts: check team owner or schedule owner permissions rather than changing unrelated policy packages.