Awful new chat UI in new teams update, especially for wide displays

Question

The new update shifted the chat controls from the bottom-left of the chat box to the chat's inside-right. This is a terrible design, especially for wide-screen users.

Those who prefer mouse navigation now have to drag their mouse all the way over to the other side of the screen just to get access to something that should be immediately accessible (i.e. below) the text they are typing. As I write in English, a left-to-right, top-to-bottom language, 100% of all chats will start at the top left of the chat box, so having the controls on the right side makes absolutely no logical sense.

This is an immediate downgrade in simple chat functionality.

Please revert to the previous design.

Sample of the old design (from https://practical365.com/new-functionality-for-group-chats-in-teams/):

Answer 1

Hello Novocastrian,

I am a Microsoft user like you, providing solutions to community members; I am NOT a Microsoft employee.

I totally understand your frustration with the new chat UI placement in Teams. The shift of chat controls to the right-hand side can indeed be disruptive, especially for users accustomed to the previous layout.

Potential Solutions and Feedback While there's no direct option to revert to the old layout, here are some steps you can take:

1. Provide Feedback to Microsoft: Your feedback is crucial for influencing future updates. Use the in-app feedback option within Teams to express your dissatisfaction with the new chat UI. Be specific about how it impacts your workflow and suggest potential improvements.
2. Adjust Screen Resolution: Experimenting with different screen resolutions might affect how the chat interface is displayed. A wider screen might provide more space for both the chat content and controls.
3. Keyboard Shortcuts: Utilize keyboard shortcuts to navigate the chat interface more efficiently. This can help mitigate the inconvenience of reaching for the controls on the right side.
4. Third-Party Tools (Cautionary): While not officially supported, some third-party tools or extensions might offer customization options for the Teams interface. Use these with caution as they might introduce security risks.

Additional Considerations: -User Adoption: It might take some time to adjust to the new UI. Continued use might help you adapt to the changes. -Future Updates: Microsoft is likely to gather user feedback and make adjustments to the interface based on user preferences.

By providing feedback to Microsoft and exploring potential workarounds, you can contribute to shaping the future of the Teams interface.

Hope this helps

-Stephen N.

Answer 2

I am not able to effect these changes, the best option is to make a report within the Teams app and hope that it is considered in future updates. Yu can report an issue within the Teams app itself by following the steps below:

Open Teams: Launch the Microsoft Teams application. Navigate to Help: Click on your profile picture in the top left corner of the app. Report a Problem: Select "Help" and then "Report a problem." Describe the Issue: Clearly explain the issue you're facing, including any error messages or specific steps you took before encountering the problem. Submit: Once you've provided the necessary details, submit the report.

-Stephen N.

Answer 3

I don't have permission to use the support in MS Teams, so I'm submitting feedback to this Microsoft Teams feedback forum.