--- title: "MS Teams - Start a Chat in Teams" slug: "ms-teams-start-a-chat-in-teams" tags: ["calltower", "public"] updated: 2026-07-27T12:54:22Z published: 2026-07-27T12:54:22Z canonical: "learn.calltower.com/ms-teams-start-a-chat-in-teams" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.calltower.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # MS Teams - Start a Chat in Teams **Last updated:** Dec 21, 2018, 9:42 by Jessica C-Smith ## Desktop To send a private message, first click **New chat** ![New chat button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/db4ed006-cdaa-4702-8988-d66b7e947bc4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) at the top of the app to start a new conversation. Type the name of the person or people you want to chat with. Then, compose your message and click **Send** ![Send button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/7e63e0a5-61b9-4add-8b5a-98a50022c53b.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) . You can include up to 50 people in a group chat. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > If you want to start a conversation with the entire team, try a [channel conversation](https://support.office.com/en-us/article/start-a-channel-conversation-in-teams-5c8131ce-eaad-4798-bc73-e33f4652a9c4). ### Add people to a private chat (start a group chat) To loop more people into a private conversation, just click **Add people** ![Add people to team button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/c84aa0b9-6f19-40ba-8e5d-53df1b072cb9.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) in the top right corner of your screen. Then, type the names of the people you'd like to add, select how much of the chat history to include, and click **Add**. > [!NOTE] > Note: > > Currently, you can include chat history only when adding someone to a group chat (not a one-on-one chat). ## iOS Tap **Chat** ![Open chat button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/585608f5-11ce-4851-a9d5-d3fd68a928e5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) > **New chat** ![New chat button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/db4ed006-cdaa-4702-8988-d66b7e947bc4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) and type the name of the person or people you want to chat with. Then compose your message and tap **Send** ![Send button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/7e63e0a5-61b9-4add-8b5a-98a50022c53b.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) . ### Add people to a private chat (start a group chat) In the group chat header, tap the participants to see the **Group chat details**. Then tap **Create a new group chat** and type the names of the people you want to add. You can include up to 50 people in a group chat. For now, go to the desktop or web app to include all or part of the chat history for new participants. ## Android Tap **Chat** ![Open chat button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/585608f5-11ce-4851-a9d5-d3fd68a928e5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) > **New chat** ![New chat button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/db4ed006-cdaa-4702-8988-d66b7e947bc4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) and type the name of the person or people you want to chat with. Then compose your message and tap **Send** ![Send button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/7e63e0a5-61b9-4add-8b5a-98a50022c53b.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) . ### Add people to a private chat (start a group chat) In the group chat header, tap **More options** ![More options button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/3d070e44-b81c-482b-81a1-e0f738bedefe.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) > **Chat details** > **Add people** ![Add people button](https://cdn.us.document360.io/4662144b-ab1f-4796-8b7b-e9f9c609894f/Images/Documentation/a315ee12-6de9-4198-ad99-524269f2dbd4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-04T19%3A18%3A18Z&se=2026-11-04T20%3A18%3A18Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=gqjhu69cTghKNTmG0lFuoIHc7VUcNzz0oin79uOvyIo%3D) and type the names of the people you want to add. You can include up to 50 people in a group chat. For now, go to the desktop or web app to include all or part of the chat history for new participants. ## For more information, click on the link below: [Start a Chat in Teams](https://support.office.com/en-us/article/start-a-chat-in-teams-0c71b32b-c050-4930-a887-5afbe742b3d8#ID0EAABAAA=Desktop)