Microsoft Teams users primarily use one of two means to call one other: standard calls and meetings. If you’d like to host a call, your presence is required to initiate the call at the intended time. In contrast, you can schedule a Teams meeting in advance; hence, meeting organizers have begun to question if they must be present for a meeting to start.
Users of Microsoft Teams can schedule and host meetings wherein participants can confer with one another. Despite being the meeting organizer, you do not need to attend the meeting for it to take place.
In the following post, I will walk you through the steps needed to host a Teams meeting while absent efficiently. I’ve made an effort to ensure the guide is in-depth, extensive, and reliable. If you run into any issues, consider referring to the images provided below each step. Otherwise, leave a comment below.
If you’re looking for something specific, consider using the following links to access relevant content quickly:
- How to schedule a meeting in Teams
- How to deactivate Teams waiting room
- Where can I assign co-organizers
- Blog post recap
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How to schedule a meeting in Teams
I like to think of Teams meetings as Microsoft Teams’ primary feature— even though some users are still unfamiliar with creating new meetings. Hence, the guide below will walk you through that exact process.
Step 1 — Open the Calendar page
Refer to the sidebar on the left side of your screen. Find and select the option titled “Calendar.”
Step 2 — Select new meeting
On the calendar page, find and select the purple button labeled “New meeting.” Doing so will reveal the meeting scheduler and allow you to create your meeting.
Step 3 — Prepare and schedule your meeting
Before sending out your meeting invitation, you’ll need to fill out some of its fields. Namely, the meeting title, participants, date, and time fields. Then, click the purple “Send” button from the top right.
How to deactivate Teams waiting room to prevent people waiting when the host is absent
Being able to host a meeting while absent is helpful; however, it’s equally pointless if your participants are trapped in the lobby space.
Step 1 — Launch the meeting options page
Your meeting’s options page features several fields and numerous buttons. First, open the context menu by selecting the context menu (`…`). Then click “Meeting options.”
Step 2 — Allow everyone to bypass the lobby
Under “Meeting options,” find the dropdown labeled “Who can bypass the lobby.” To ensure your participants won’t need you at the meeting, permit “Everyone” to access Teams.
Step 3 — Save your options
Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Save.”
Where can I assign co-organizers in case of the host’s absence
Allowing anyone at all to bypass the Teams meeting lobby can be risky. There’s always the chance that someone unexpected will join. Hence, instead of allowing everyone to bypass the lobby, you can appoint co-organizers who can properly permit and deny access.
Assigning a co-organizer
On the “Meeting options” page, find and select the field labeled “Choose co-organizers.” Ensure you select trusted and responsible participants to take on the co-organizer role.
Blog post recap
A meeting organizer can schedule a meeting without participating— this can be problematic if they have not assigned co-organizers or permitted everyone to bypass the lobby. However, when done correctly, there are usually no issues.
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