What you need to know
- Microsoft released a long list of new features to Teams in January 2022.
- It's now easier to ensure that you're muted during a meeting and to check how your video feed looks.
- Microsoft also improved the Teams Room experience, including the rollout of the front row layout in preview.
Microsoft regularly rolls out updates and new features to Teams. January was no exception, as the communication platform gained new tools for meetings, phones, and management. Several new Teams devices launched or were announced last month as well, including Zebra mobile devices with Walkie Talkie buttons.
Microsoft outlines everything that's new for Teams from January 2022 in a Tech Community post. We list all of the features below and highlight some of the biggest additions. You can check out Microsoft's post for a full breakdown of everything that's new.
Meetings
A new feature for Teams helps ensure that a microphone is muted during a meeting unless specifically turned on by a participant. The app now lets you use CTRL+Space to unmute your microphone on demand. When you release those keys, the app will automatically mute your microphone again.
Here are all of the other new features related to meetings.
- Custom background on the web
- Music mode for Teams
- Mirror my video
- Isolated audio feed capabilities
- Hardware-out with AJA and Blackmagic Design Hardware
- Walkie Talkie app in Teams on Zebra Android devices and iOS devices
- Reflexis Shifts connector now available
We covered some of the new audio features for Teams in more depth earlier this month.
Devices
Usually, Microsoft highlights new pieces of hardware when discussing devices, but this month the company discusses a few new features that enhance existing devices.
Front row for Teams is currently in preview, and it presents meeting attendees at eye level when seen on Teams Rooms consoles. People also have the option to use multiple cameras in Teams Rooms on Windows.
Cortana Skills are now available in multiple languages on Teams, and a Cortana icon now appears within Teams Rooms.
Microsoft also updated Meet now support for Teams Rooms on Windows and added support for Azure Active Directory conditional access controls.
The following devices for Teams also came out in January 2022:
- Poly Studio E70
- Lenovo Go Wired Headset
- Lenovo Go Wired Speakerphone
- Meta (formerly Facebook) Portal with Microsoft Teams experience
Phone
Microsoft Teams can now transcribe one-to-one calls made through Teams Phone. Call recordings and transcriptions are also available for VoIP and PTSN calls.
Management
A handful of new features make it easier to manage various aspects of Teams. Admins can now set automatic expiration dates for Teams meeting recordings. Teams also has an improve guest user experience that allows people to decline pending invitations within Teams.
Here are the other management improvements that Microsoft shipped last month:
- App detail page view enhancements in Teams Admin Center
- Admin notifications for Custom app submissions
- Scoped Teams Device Administration Role
- Manage Surface hub device in Teams Admin Center
Government
In January, Microsoft added support for custom backgrounds on the web, including the option to blur your background. Additionally, Teams now supports sensitivity labels, which help control access to sensitive information.
