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Managing the Teams Chat icon on Windows 11

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This article describes how to manage the Chat icon on Windows 11.

Applies to:   Windows 11

Introduction to Teams Chat icon on Windows 11

Note

This article is intended for use by IT professionals who want to manage the Chat icon on Windows 11. If you're looking for more information about Chat in Windows 11, see Get started with Chat in Windows 11.

There are two different versions of Teams on Windows 11:

  • The first is installed by default and is intended for personal use through a Microsoft account.
  • The second is for an enterprise environment in which the Teams app and infrastructure will be managed by an administrator. This version is intended to be used through a work or school account.

After Windows 11 is installed, you can start using the default version of Teams Chat. By default, Chat is pinned to the taskbar, and you can use your personal account to start a call or a chat session with your colleagues or friends. To use a work or school account, you must have the Teams version installed for the work environment.

Note

The Teams for work app is not included in the Windows 11 installer and will not be installed until you set it up. Before you install the Teams app, there will be an app icon (small camera) on the taskbar.

Scenario 1: Chat icon is present on the Taskbar, but Teams isn't installed.

If you see the Chat icon on the Taskbar but you don't see the Teams app, select the Chat icon, and then check whether the following screen appears.

Chat icon is present on the Taskbar, but Teams isn't installed.

If you see this screen, select Continue to set up Teams.

Note

This indicates that Teams is not installed. Select Continue to proceed with installing the app for the logged-on user.

Run the following PowerShell cmdlet to check whether the Windows 11-based device has Teams installed:

Get-AppxPackage -name '*teams'

If this command displays no results, the Teams app isn't installed.

Command to check whether Windows 11 based device has Teams installed.

Scenario 2: Chat icon is turned on, but Teams isn't configured.

If you see the Chat icon on the taskbar, select the Chat icon, and then check whether the following screen appears.

Chat icon is turned On but Teams isn't installed.

This screen indicates that Teams is installed, but not configured for the logged-on user. To configure Teams, select Get Started.

Alternatively, users can also run the following PowerShell cmdlet to confirm the installation status of Teams:

Get-AppxPackage -name '*teams'

If this command returns the installation status, the Teams app is installed.

Command is used to confirm the installation status.

You'll see the same results when you configure Teams. Also, you should see a list of contacts in the Chat window.

Note

When you select Get Started and complete the configuration of Teams, a list of contacts appears in place of the Get Started screen which means that Teams is installed and fully configured.

Scenario 3: Chat icon is turned off and Teams app is installed.

Admins can choose to disable the Chat icon on the taskbar. If the Teams app is installed, the app will appear on Start > All apps > Microsoft Teams.

You can also verify the installation by running the following PowerShell cmdlet:

Get-AppxPackage -name '*teams'

Verify the installation of the Teams app.

To turn on Chat, right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and then move the Chat slider to On.

Move the Chat slider to On.

Using Group Policy settings

Admins can customize Group Policy settings, such as Show, Hide, and Disabled, for the Chat icon.

Note

The Disabled option is available on the Enabled > State list. Do not confuse this command with setting the policy to Disabled. The policy is located under Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Chat\.

You can configure the Chat icon on the taskbar using the following dialog box.

Customize Group Policy settings.

Removing the Chat icon using Intune

Use the new CSP setting, "Experience/ConfigureChatIcon", which removes the Chat icon. This requires the Enterprise or Education edition. For more information, see Policy CSP – Experience.

Create a new Configuration Profile for Windows 10 and later, type Custom and use the following setting:

OMA-URI = ". /Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Experience/ConfigureChatIcon"

The values for this policy are 0, 1, 2, and 3. This policy defaults to 0 if not enabled.

  • 0 – Not Configured: The Chat icon follows the default configuration for your Windows edition.
  • 1 – Show: The Chat icon appears on the taskbar by default. You can show or hide it in Settings.
  • 2 – Hide: The Chat icon doesn't appear by default. You can show or hide it in Settings.
  • 3 – Disabled: The Chat icon doesn't appear on the taskbar. Settings are not available to show or hide the icon.

Removing the Chat icon using Intune – Settings Catalog

To remove the Chat icon using Intune – Settings Catalog, do the following steps:

  1. Create a new Configuration Policy.
  2. Search for Experience.
  3. Select Configure Chat icon.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

As an admin, how do I uninstall the Teams app if users have installed it?

If Teams was installed, use this PowerShell cmdlet to uninstall it:

remove-appxpackage -package "MicrosoftTeams_21302.202.1065.6968_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"

Can I remove the Teams app from the default Windows image?

The default Windows image doesn't include the Teams app.