Microsoft Teams isone of the most popular team coaction and communication tools available — we evenuse Microsoft Teamshere at Digital Trends . you’re able to use it in a few unlike way of life , too , include the WWW armed service or local screen background app . But which should you habituate , the desktop app or the entanglement app ?

There are some advantages and disadvantages to using Teams either online or on the background . Let ’s take a look at them to help you decide which is good for you .

Online is easier to access

team is n’t an to a fault complicated tool to utilise , but the online web app version is arguably loose to get at and get set forth with . You do n’t have to install anything — just navigate to theMicrosoft Teams siteand access to get down visit , scheduling , video recording calling , and ( almost ) everything else Teams offers .

Conversely , for desktop role you need todownload and install Microsoft Teams , which on some managed networks , you may not have permission to do . You ’ll also need to have enough local blank to install it , although that is negligible by most modern standards . It needs to be updated , too , which can innovate bugs or compatibility issues on occasion . The web app does n’t require any of that , since it ’s automatically updated for you and just runs through your web internet browser . you could evencreate a unexampled team in Microsoft Teamsonline , which is useful .

You ’ll need a Microsoft login for each method , and both the web browser app and the local desktop reading can save that info so you do n’t need to imitate it from your password manager or remember it yourself . However , the background app can automatically set off with Windows and log you in . Once it is set up , accessing it when you first boot up your PC can be a little immediate .

Desktop works offline

One major advantage of the desktop reading of Teams is that it will work ( partially ) if you lose internet connectivity . You wo n’t be able to message anyone or use any of the connected , collaborative features without an internet connection , but you will be able to go through your honest-to-goodness conversation histories .

Some third - company tool and service can also be get at offline using the background app . There ’s more on that below .

relatively , the on-line web app version does n’t have that functionality , since you ca n’t login without that internet connection . The only way around that is if you use an app - free-base version of the web app through a instrument likeRambox , but that ’s a unique half - and - half solution .

Desktop has pop-out windows

Microsoft has continued to blow up its WWW app feature article and capabilities over the year , but one lineament it still lacks in 2024 is support for pop - out windows . With the desktop adaptation , on the other hand , you’re able to have as many as you care . Video call in separate windows , extra windows for third - party apps and services , additional chat windows — whatever you like . The web app has to put each of these in a separate chit , which can make viewing them a little less nonrational .

The web app works on anything

team is an app that works on just about any computer hardware , with aboriginal versions on Windows , macOS , and Android . But it only officially work on some versions of those operating systems . In line , the WWW app will exercise on just about anything that can run a web internet browser . That means Chrome OS , older version of Windows and macOS that are no longer plump for , and various Linux distros .

Desktop has better hardware support

If you only have one audio machine and one mike plug into your PC , then the World Wide Web app should serve just fine without difficultness . However , if you have a headset that you ’d rather expend , or a standalone microphone , or a webcam that has its own mike — it can all get a morsel complicated . The screen background version has a more robust options menu that ’s well-off to get at for making adjustments to the computer hardware you want to utilise for your calls and video confab .

Desktop works better with third-party apps

One of Teams ’ great strength is how well it works with third - party apps and services . From instrument to give admins anon. feedback from employees to organizational prick like Trello to creating a centralized knowledgebase among your “ Team ” with a Wiki , Teams can be massively expanded from its base office .

Both the web app and offline desktop applications programme work with a wide range of third - company apps , but the experience is much upright on background . The apps are already preinstalled and will work flop away every meter you use them , with no adjustments required . Conversely , the World Wide Web app does n’t always support the full desegregation of sure third - party apps and services due to web browser restriction , and if you ’re using it on a different gimmick , it might not have those tools integrated right off the bat .

The screen background app also permit those third - political party apps and services to access local data more readily , and they incline to perform better , since they can leverage the mogul of your local machine , rather than relying on the cloud . There ’s also a reproducible experience with these extra apps and Service on desktop , while the vane version can be strike byyour browser app of choiceand what rendering you ’re running .