A group chat in Teams is a conversation space where multiple people can message back and forth at once
Unlike a channel, which lives inside a team and is visible to everyone in that team, a group chat is a separate conversation thread that only includes the people you add to it. You can start one with two people or twenty. Messages stay in that chat unless someone deletes them, and only the people in the chat can see what was said.
The main reason to use a group chat instead of a channel is privacy or speed — you do not have to set up a whole team structure, and the conversation does not clutter a shared workspace. Group chats work well for quick decisions, side conversations, or talking with people from different teams.
Key Takeaways
- Start a group chat by clicking the "New chat" button, typing names, and selecting the people you want to include.
- You can add or remove people from a group chat after you create it, but you cannot delete the chat itself once it has messages.
- Group chats are private to the people in them — others cannot see the conversation even if they work in the same organization.
- A group chat with two people is called a one-on-one chat; anything with three or more is a group chat.
How to start a new group chat from the chat list
Open Microsoft Teams and look at the left side of the screen. You will see a "Chat" section with a list of your recent conversations. At the top of that list, click the icon that looks like a speech bubble with a plus sign — this is the "New chat" button.
A box will open asking you to type names. Start typing the first name of someone you want to add. Teams will show you matching names from your organization. Click the person's name to add them. Repeat this for each person you want in the chat. You can add as many people as you need.
Once you have added everyone, click the "Create" button at the bottom. Teams will open the new group chat, and you can start typing your message right away.
What happens when you add someone to an existing group chat
If you want to add a person to a group chat that already exists, open the chat and look at the top of the conversation. You will see the names of everyone in the chat. Click on the names or the "+" icon next to them.
A menu will appear with an option to add members. Type the name of the person you want to add and click their name when it appears. The new person will be added to the chat, and they will see all the messages that were sent after they joined — not the older messages from before.
How to remove someone from a group chat
Open the group chat and click on the names at the top to see the full member list. Find the person you want to remove and hover over their name. A small "X" or remove icon will appear. Click it to remove that person from the chat.
Once someone is removed, they can no longer see the chat or send messages to it. They will not see messages sent after they leave, but they may still see messages they received while they were in the chat, depending on your organization's settings.
The difference between a group chat and a channel
A channel is part of a team and is usually visible to everyone in that team. Channels are organized by topic — like #announcements or #project-budget — and they stay in one place. A group chat is a private conversation between specific people and does not belong to any team.
Use a group chat when you need a quick, focused conversation with a small group. Use a channel when you want to organize information by topic, when many people need to see it, or when you want the conversation to stay in one searchable location. If your conversation is about a project that will last weeks or months, a channel is usually better. If it is a quick back-and-forth about a decision, a group chat is faster.
What you can do inside a group chat
In a group chat, you can type messages, share files, and use reactions (like a thumbs-up emoji) to respond without typing. You can also start a video or audio call right from the chat by clicking the call icon at the top.
You cannot pin messages, create threads, or set up scheduled messages in a group chat the way you can in a channel. If you need those features, you may want to move the conversation to a channel instead. You also cannot search a group chat as thoroughly as you can search a channel — Teams keeps group chats for a limited time before they may be archived.
How to find an old group chat
If you have not messaged someone in a while, their group chat may disappear from your chat list. To find it again, click the search icon at the top of Teams and type the person's name. Their chat will appear in the results. Click it to reopen the conversation.
If you cannot find the chat by searching, you may need to start a new one. Teams does not permanently delete group chats, but they do move out of view after a period of inactivity. Starting a new chat with the same people will create a fresh conversation thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who read my message in a group chat?
Teams does not show read receipts in group chats by default. You can turn on read receipts in your settings, but this applies to all your chats — you cannot turn it on for just one group chat. Even with read receipts on, you will only see whether someone has read the message, not when.
What happens to a group chat if I leave the organization?
If you leave your organization or your account is deleted, you will no longer be able to access the group chat. Other people in the chat can still see it and the messages, but you will be removed automatically.
Can I delete a group chat?
You cannot delete a group chat that has messages in it. You can hide it from your chat list by right-clicking and selecting "Hide chat," but the conversation will still exist for other people in the chat. If you want to remove yourself entirely, you can leave the chat instead.
Is a group chat the same as a direct message?
A direct message is a one-on-one chat with a single person. A group chat includes three or more people. Both are private and separate from channels, but they work the same way — you type, send, and see responses in a thread.