(Updated) Microsoft Teams: New experience when users minimize the meeting window

Updated October 19, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Introduction

We are improving the Microsoft Teams meeting experience when the active meeting window is minimized. This update helps users stay engaged in meetings while multitasking across other apps. With this change, users can perform key in-meeting actions—such as raising their hand and sending reactions—without restoring the full Teams meeting window. Users can also choose between two different minimized views, depending on how much meeting context they want to keep visible while they work.

This change does not affect the experience when users are sharing their screen in a Teams meeting.

This message applies to Teams for Windows desktop and Teams for Mac desktop. It is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 557179.

When this will happen

• Targeted Release: Rollout begins mid-May 2026 (previously early May) and is expected to complete by late May 2026 (previously early May).
• General Availability (Worldwide): We expect to complete rollout by end of October, 2026.

How this affects your organization

Who is affected

• All users who join and participate in Microsoft Teams meetings.

What will happen

• When users minimize a Teams meeting window, a new minimized meeting experience appears automatically.
• Users can raise their hand and send reactions without restoring the full Microsoft Teams meeting window.
• Users can choose between two minimized views:
• The feature is enabled by default and does not require any admin configuration.
• There is no change to the meeting experience while screen sharing.

• Expanded view: Displays up to four participant videos.

• Compact view: Does not display participant video and takes up less screen space.

What you can do to prepare

• No action is required.
• Consider notifying users and helpdesk staff about the new minimized meeting views in Microsoft Teams.
• Update internal training or support documentation if it references Teams meeting window behavior.

Compliance considerations

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.