Microsoft Teams will finally let users move freely between breakout rooms

Have you ever been in a Microsoft Teams meeting and wanted to move between breakout rooms like in Zoom? Well, some good news is coming. In August 2024, Microsoft plans to introduce a feature allowing all participants (not only the moderators) to move around breakout rooms freely in Teams. For those who have experienced the hybrid workforce or online schooling, breakout rooms have been a significant part of group discussions, and this change will be greatly appreciated.

Why is this so important? Previously, in Microsoft Teams, only the meeting moderator could move between breakout rooms, which could create extra complexity in meeting management. But now, everyone can select and alter rooms as they please, allowing for easier and faster teamwork.

The feature, explained in the latest entry to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, will make coordinating breakout rooms easier for organizers and attendees. It will be released worldwide on all platforms, including Mac and Windows desktops and iOS and Android mobiles. So, no matter what your device is, this feature can work.

Now, meeting organizers can make the list of breakout rooms visible to all meeting participants and allow them to choose which room to join. Enabling this setting in breakout rooms allows participants to move freely from one room to another, simplifying breakout room coordination for meeting organizers and participants.

Microsoft

Rooms for breaking out are essentially ‘sub-meeting’ spaces inside a main Teams meeting, designed for smaller group discussions. Why did Microsoft take so long to introduce this feature?

On Microsoft’s Community page, you will find requests dating back to 2022, in which people share their annoyance about not having these features. Others also suggested that Zoom’s feature to let participants move around rooms made it better for meetings that need breakout sessions.

This improvement answers the users’ requests and annoyances, showing that Microsoft has finally listened to their feedback.

When August 2024 arrives, prepare to manage your Team meetings more freely. Whether you are working together on a project, attending a workshop, or participating in online classes, changing breakout rooms as you wish will surely enhance the enjoyment and productivity of these events.

Speaking of features that should have been in Microsoft Teams right from the beginning, the platform lets users change the sound of their notifications more than seven years after its release.