Using Microsoft Teams for webinars

Thanks for signing up to our webinar. We've put together these handy instructions to help you join. 

A cut out of a woman on a webinar wearing headphones and looking at a computer screen

Instructions 

Step 1: Open the Meeting Invitation

Open the email and you can either click on ‘Accept’ and it will be added to your calendar, or you can just click on the ‘Join event’ button from within the email at the time of the event.

Image of webinar sign up confirmation

If joining from your calendar, there will be a link within the calendar invite it for you to access the event. 

Screen grab of a Microsoft Team link

Step 2: Open in browser

If prompted, choose to ‘continue on this browser’. You will also see options to join on the Teams app or to download the app. You do not need to download the app to join the meeting. Click 'Continue on this browser'.

Screen grab showing Join your Teams meeting

Step 3: Allow browser permissions

If this is your first time joining a Teams meeting via a browser, your browser will ask for permission to use your microphone and camera. ‘Allow’ these permissions so you can contribute to the webinar if you choose to. 

If you choose to ‘Block’ you can still join but you won’t be able to participate in the meeting.

Screen grab of a Microsoft Teams instruction

Step 4: Join the meeting

Enter your name and click on the 'Join now' button.  

Sometimes, you may have to wait in the lobby until the meeting organiser admits you. 

From a computer

Screengrab of a Teams meeting

From a mobile phone

Screen grab of a Teams meeting from a mobile phone

Step 5: Participate in the meeting

Once admitted, you'll see the Teams meeting interface. You can turn your camera and microphone on or off using the controls at the top or bottom of the screen, however, this may be restricted by the meeting organiser, and they will prompt you, if necessary, when to participate. 

From a computer 

Screengrab of a Teams meeting camera and microphone instruction

From a mobile phone 

Screengrab of a Teams instruction from a mobile phone

Step 6: Using the Chat box

You will need to use the toolbar to access the chat which may vary from the top or the bottom of the screen depending on whether you are on a computer or phone. Remember, everyone will be able to see the comment or question you write into the chat box.  

From a computer  

Use the toolbar at the top of the screen to access the chat box by clicking on the speech bubble icon. This will open the chat on the side of your screen. 

Screengrab from a Teams meeting Chat box instruction

From a phone 

Hover over the top of the screen to access the chat box or click on the three dots and access the chat box from the options there. 

Screengrab from a Teams meeting Chat box instruction on a mobile phone

Step 7: Leaving the meeting

Click the red hang-up button to leave the meeting when it's over. 

From a computer 

Screengrab of Leave button

From a mobile phone 

Screengrab on a Teams meeting Leave button on a mobile phone

Troubleshooting 

Can’t hear the presenter?

If you can't hear the presenter or others during the event, check whether your speaker is muted or disconnected in your device settings.  

  1. In your Teams meeting window, select the dropdown arrow next to Mic. 
  2. Select More actions   then Audio settings . 
  3. Under Speaker, 
    1. Make sure your device is unmuted. 
    2. Make sure your device is selected from the Speaker dropdown menu.  

If this doesn’t fix the issue, it’s worth trying to leave the meeting and joining again.

Can’t see the presentation on the screen?

If you can’t see the presentation or slides on the screen during the event 

  1. You could try leaving the event and joining again 
  2. You could try joining via another browser e.g. if using Chrome or Safari, try Edge 
  3. You could clear the cache on your device (Try Googling for instructions on how to do this for your specific device) 
  4. You may need to update the version of Teams you are using, if using the app.