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- External chats without a Teams account: Easy collaboration with partners via email address – clear security guidelines are essential.
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- Channels in separate windows: Even more clarity and efficiency thanks to the multi-window view.
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- Copilot chat summaries: Saves time when catching up on messages and is especially valuable for power users.
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- Network quality at a glance: Quick diagnosis of connection issues with automatic optimization recommendations.
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Automatic location updates: Simplifies on-site collaboration.
Latest Microsoft Teams Updates at a Glance – Q1 2026
Teams chat available for anyone with an email address
You are working with an external designer on an urgent change. In the past, you could only reach them by email or had to set up a guest account in Teams, which was time-consuming and not worthwhile for quick questions. Now you simply start a Teams chat using their email address. The designer can respond immediately, exchange files, and you can clarify details in real time. This saves time and makes communication much easier.
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Clear guidelines for external chats: Define when and with whom external chats are allowed.
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Employee awareness: Inform your team about the secure handling of external partners and the protection of confidential data.
Channels can now be opened in a new window
A small update that can significantly simplify everyday work. You can now open not only chats or entire sections in a separate window, but finally Teams channels as well. This feature continues the recent updates in which the multi-window view has been rolled out more and more across the entire app.
Our practical example:
You work on multiple projects and need to be active in different Teams channels. In the past, this was cumbersome because you constantly had to switch back and forth between channels. With the new update, you simply open each relevant channel in its own window. This way, you can keep track of discussions in the project team, review files in another channel at the same time, and still have a chat open on the side. This saves time and makes work much more relaxed, especially when things need to move quickly.
Our recommendation remains the same as with the previous multi-window updates: set up your personal work environment so that the most important windows are always within reach. Dinotronic supports you in configuring Teams optimally and integrating the new possibilities into your existing work processes.
Advanced chat summaries with Copilot
Message overload is part of everyday work, and this new update offers an important response. Microsoft Copilot 365 can now generate summaries of missed messages, so you no longer need to read every single message individually. This update is only available to users with a Copilot license.
Imagine returning to work after two weeks of vacation and opening Microsoft Teams. Hundreds of unread messages are waiting for you – normally a real time sink. With the new Copilot feature, you receive a concise summary of the most important points. This gets you back up to speed within minutes and enables you to take action right away.
This feature can deliver a real efficiency boost. We recommend reviewing Copilot’s capabilities holistically to get the most value out of it. We would be happy to support you with a structured AI assessment to help you make the most of Copilot.
Network quality indicator
In the coming quarter, Teams will display network quality directly within the app. If network issues occur, suggestions for reducing bandwidth usage will be shown. If Teams calls sound choppy, you can see at a glance whether the issue is caused by your own network or by the other party’s connection.
We recommend actively using this feature to quickly identify disruptions and implement the suggested measures. A quick look at the indicator can help make meetings more efficient and interruption-free. If network issues persist in your environment, we would be happy to support you with troubleshooting and optimizing your connectivity.
Automatic location updates
In the coming quarter, Microsoft Teams will be enhanced with a new feature that simplifies work organization: as soon as you connect to your organization’s Wi-Fi, Teams can automatically update your work location and display the building you are in. This feature is disabled by default. The decision to enable it lies with your company’s administrators, and its use requires your explicit consent (opt-in). Location data is determined exclusively based on the connected Wi-Fi and is used only within your organization.
A practical example:
If you work in a company with multiple buildings, your location is automatically set to “Headquarters” when you connect to the headquarters’ Wi-Fi. If you later move to “Building B,” Teams updates your location accordingly. This way, your colleagues always know where you can be reached, without you having to make manual changes.
This feature can bring greater transparency to your organization and simplify collaboration, especially when planning on-site meetings. If you plan to enable this feature in your company, we strongly recommend informing users in advance, explaining the benefits, and clearly outlining the data protection measures. As this function could be perceived as monitoring, transparent communication is essential.
Conclusion
The new Microsoft Teams updates for the first quarter of 2026 clearly demonstrate how strongly the platform continues to evolve to make the digital workplace more efficient, flexible, and secure. From improved communication with external partners to intelligent features such as chat summaries with Copilot, and practical capabilities like network quality indicators and automatic location updates, each update delivers tangible value for everyday work.
To fully benefit from these enhancements, it is crucial not only to implement the features technically, but also to actively inform and involve employees. Transparency and clear guidelines are key, especially for features that may carry potential for conflict.
Dinotronic is happy to support you in integrating these new capabilities into your processes and in fully leveraging the benefits for your organization.
👉 Contact us for a no-obligation consultation and learn how to use Microsoft Teams optimally for your business.
Our Microsoft Teams expert
Nico Schwerzmann is a Microsoft Teams specialist at Dinotronic and supports companies on a daily basis with the implementation, optimization, and secure use of modern collaboration solutions. His focus is not only on implementing new features correctly from a technical perspective, but also on clearly demonstrating their concrete benefits for everyday work. Thanks to his strong hands-on experience and deep understanding of SME requirements, he connects Microsoft updates with clear recommendations on security, governance, and efficient collaboration. His contributions help both decision-makers and end users use Microsoft Teams in a sustainable and future-ready way.
