Microsoft Teams has become a popular communication and collaboration tool for businesses and organizations. With its various features and integrations, it allows teams to work together efficiently and effectively. However, some users may find the sidebar in Microsoft Teams to be distracting or cluttered. If you’re one of those users, don’t worry – there is a way to hide the sidebar in Microsoft Teams. In this article, we’ll show you how to do it.
Why Hide the Sidebar?
Before we dive into the steps, let’s first understand why someone would want to hide the sidebar in Microsoft Teams. The sidebar contains various tabs such as Chat, Teams, Calls, and Files, which can be useful for navigating through the app. However, for some users, having the sidebar constantly visible can be distracting and take up valuable screen space. By hiding the sidebar, you can have a cleaner and more focused view of your conversations and tasks.
Steps to Hide the Sidebar
Now, let’s get to the steps on how to hide the sidebar in Microsoft Teams.
- Open Microsoft Teams on your desktop or web browser.
- On the left side of the screen, you’ll see the sidebar with various tabs.
- Click on the three dots (…) next to the “Chat” tab.
- In the drop-down menu, select “Hide sidebar.”
That’s it! The sidebar will now be hidden, giving you a cleaner view of your conversations and tasks. If you want to bring the sidebar back, simply click on the three dots (…) next to the “Chat” tab again and select “Show sidebar.”
Other Tips for Using Microsoft Teams
While hiding the sidebar can be helpful for some users, there are other tips and tricks for using Microsoft Teams that can enhance your experience. Here are a few suggestions:
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Microsoft Teams has various keyboard shortcuts that can help you navigate and use the app more efficiently. For example, you can use “Ctrl + Shift + M” to start a new chat or “Ctrl + Shift + A” to accept a call. You can find a full list of keyboard shortcuts by clicking on your profile picture and selecting “Keyboard shortcuts.”
Customize Your Notifications
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed with notifications from Microsoft Teams, you can customize them to your liking. You can choose which types of notifications you want to receive and how you want to receive them (e.g. banner, email, etc.). To do this, click on your profile picture and select “Settings,” then go to the “Notifications” tab.
Explore Integrations
Microsoft Teams has various integrations with other apps and services, such as Trello, Asana, and Zoom. These integrations can help streamline your workflow and make collaboration even easier. To explore and add integrations, click on the “Apps” tab in the sidebar.
Conclusion
Hiding the sidebar in Microsoft Teams can help you have a more focused and clutter-free view of your conversations and tasks. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily hide and show the sidebar as needed. Additionally, by utilizing keyboard shortcuts, customizing notifications, and exploring integrations, you can enhance your overall experience with Microsoft Teams. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
