Switching Back to Classic Chats and Teams: Your Guide to Navigating Preferences in Microsoft Teams

If you're finding the new combined Chat/Teams interface challenging—or simply prefer the classic display—you can easily switch back to the classic view in your settings. This article will show you how.

While I personally find the new interface intuitive—especially with its filters that make locating unread messages straightforward—I understand it may not be everyone’s preference. The new interface works similarly to a SharePoint library, allowing you to filter down on your metadata (see screenshot below).

Optimize Your Experience with the New Interface

If you choose to explore the updated layout, these tips can help you make the most of it:

  1. Leverage Filters
    Filters, such as "Unread," are powerful tools for managing messages efficiently. Just remember to clear the filter after use to return to your main view.

  2. Streamline with Collapse All Sections
    Use the "Collapse All Sections" option (accessible via the ellipsis menu) to declutter your screen and quickly locate specific chats or groups.

3. Organize Chats into Groupings
Structure your chats into project-based or workflow-specific groupings. For example, I organize chats by project, which allows me to keep the "Chats" tab focused on meetings. Filters make it easy to find the relevant group or conversation quickly.

4. Utilize Hotkeys
Hotkeys like Ctrl+N streamline navigation by enabling you to search for and open chats instantly. Combine this with collapsing and expanding sections to efficiently locate unread messages or key channels.

Switching Back to the Classic Teams Interface

If the updated interface doesn't align with your preferences, Teams offers the flexibility to switch back to the classic view through your settings, ensuring you can work in the way that feels most productive.

We hope you found this article helpful. Need more support in Teams or other Microsoft 365 tools? Contact Gravity Union for guidance and tailored solutions!

Jeff Dunbar

Jeff is a technical expert in the design and configuration of SharePoint, Microsoft/Office 365 and Collabware. Jeff has created and maintained sites, site collections, and applications for SharePoint for small to large scale environments. He assists companies in managing their compliance using third-party add-ons and out-of-the-box records management. Jeff has planned and implemented information architecture, content management, content design, usability studies, and site re-designs.

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