Microsoft is working on a big update for Teams that should affect many aspects of the mobile experience, including search and chats, while also adding a new visual look and feel. According to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, these features will start rolling out in the Teams mobile app next month (via TechRadar).
First off, Microsoft is improving the search functionality in Teams by introducing a new search experience on mobile. The intelligent feature will automatically make text suggestions based on the search query typed by the user. Microsoft notes that it will also enable users to “scroll to past and future dates in the calendar” with the help of a date picker option. Apparently, it will make it easier to search through shared files, chats, and other content.
On the messaging front, the company will add the ability to organizing chats in the Teams mobile app. This means that users get new options to pin important conversations and filter their chat lists. However, the firm didn’t explicitly mention the filter options that this feature will support.
In an effort to align the app with the Teams desktop experience, Microsoft is planning to overhaul the visual look and feel for mobile users. The refreshed look includes new headers, icons, and styling. The Teams app will also pick up the ability to switch to the dark theme automatically when users enable dark mode on their devices.
Lastly, Microsoft Teams is expanding the existing library of emojis, an update coming soon to the desktop app, too. The software giant is also working on some other improvements, including the option to trim GIFs in the app directly on smartphones.
Of course, the upgrades are part of an ongoing commitment Microsoft has to improve the user experience for mobile devices. There’s always been a pretty wide feature gap between the Teams desktop and mobile apps, but the mobile client is finally starting to catch up.
