Level Up Your Microsoft Teams Experience with Expanded Avatars Access

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Microsoft Teams has upped the ante in remote collaboration with their latest update to the Avatars for Teams feature. Earlier this year, we brought you news on the introduction of Avatars for Teams, a feature that gives you the opportunity to create customizable avatars, making your virtual presence in Teams meetings more dynamic and personal. Now, with the recent update, more commercial Teams customers can enjoy this interactive feature.

Screenshot of a Microsoft Teams meeting titled "Weekly Sales Meeting" with six participants. Diego, Irvin, Lidia, and Johanna are represented by their customizable avatars, whereas Krystal and Kayla are using their webcams, showing a mix of virtual and real-world participation.


Enhanced Access for Teams Users

As of June 26, 2023, Microsoft has made Avatars for Teams available to a wider range of users by expanding the licensing. Prior to this, avatar usage was confined to specific licensing packages. Now, the feature has been rolled out to Teams Essentials, Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E3/E5, and Office 365 E1/E3/E5.

Why Avatars for Teams Matter

The recent expansion of Avatars for Teams is a testament to Microsoft's commitment to fostering engaging and comfortable remote collaboration. Hybrid meetings can often be draining, and the demand for constant camera use can be overwhelming. The option to utilize an avatar alleviates this pressure, providing a fresh and innovative layer to your meetings and allowing for creative self-expression through customizable avatars and reactions.

How to Create and Apply Avatars for Teams

Creating your personalized Avatars for Teams is straightforward. Just access the Avatars app through the Teams App Store, the pre-join screen, or the in-meeting More menu. The system offers a multitude of combinations for creating an avatar that truly embodies your persona, including your physical features, clothing style, and accessories.

One of the remarkable features of Avatars for Teams is the capacity to save up to three avatars suitable for different meeting scenarios, be it a casual catch-up, a professional discussion, or a standard day-to-day conversation.

Screenshot of the Avatar creation app in Microsoft Teams, displaying various customization options for physical features, wardrobe, and accessories, indicating the interactive process of personalizing a user's virtual representation in Teams meetings.


What Teams Admins Should Know

For Teams admins, it's crucial to note that the Avatars app should be blocked for users not under the supported SKUs to avoid any confusion or potential errors. Microsoft provides guidance for this in 'Set up avatars for Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn'.

Release Timeline

The targeted rollout for the updated Avatars for Teams feature will span from late March to early April. The standard release is scheduled to begin on June 29th, lasting until the end of July.

The Microsoft Teams platform keeps revolutionizing the landscape of remote communication and collaboration. The updated Avatars for Teams feature is set to make virtual meetings more engaging, personal, and fun.

We've seen the impact of the Avatars for Teams feature in our previous post on the introduction of Microsoft Teams customizable avatars and reactions. This expansion will undeniably enhance the Teams experience for more users across the globe.

Microsoft encourages user feedback on this feature and all other aspects of Teams. You can provide your thoughts directly from the Teams client via Help > Give Feedback. This feedback is instrumental in helping Microsoft improve and refine the Teams experience.

Start enjoying a more dynamic, personal, and engaging Microsoft Teams meeting experience today with the expanded Avatars for Teams.

Location: London, UK

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