This Microsoft Teams update might finally solve a major headache
New 'quiet time' feature will shield you from Teams notification storms
If you're finding yourself overloaded with Microsoft Teams update notifications, you may be in luck, thanks to a new update.
The video conferencing service is introducing new settings across both Teams and its Microsoft Outlook email service that the company hopes will help users become less stressed or snowed under by mobile notifications.
According to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the new "quiet time settings" will help to "create better boundaries and protect your personal time" - hopefully making work a less stressful experience for users everywhere.
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Finally some quiet time
The update comes as part of the Microsoft Viva platform, which looks to help improve the all-round employee experience for customers.
Set to be available later in 2021, the Viva Insights service will soon offer the ability to silence mobile notifications from Outlook and Teams outside your working hours.
Users will also be able to set specific quiet time periods directly from within Teams and Outlook mobile, and gain "personalized insights" into how well you are disconnecting.
Given how many workers are now embracing hybrid working, the new feature could be vital for those looking to silence the endless notification pings and focus on specific work tasks both in and out of the office.
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The launch is the latest addition from Microsoft as it looks to make Teams the ideal hybrid working partner. The company recently introduced another similar update which allows users greater control over the way they receive push notifications.
Users are now able to receive notifications either within Teams itself or the native Windows notification center when a message comes in, working alongside Microsoft's "focus assist" mode to help avoid distractions. This feature is built into the Windows 10 operating system, allowing users to control the types of notifications they receive. Notifications can be filtered by priority alerts or alarms only, or disabled entirely.
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Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.