MC1160189 – Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android: Town hall attendee experience (archived)

Product:

Teams

Platform:

Android, Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

500702

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android with a Pro license can join town halls as attendees starting mid-October 2025. In-room participants can join via meeting ID, view captions, chat, and send reactions, enabling shared viewing without individual devices. No admin action is needed; update devices and inform organizers.

Details:
[Introduction:]
We're introducing a new capability for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android with a Pro license: rooms can now join town halls as attendees. This update supports inclusive hybrid experiences by enabling in-room participants to engage in town halls without needing individual devices.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID: 500702.
When this will happen:
General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin by mid-October 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Standard Release

Created:
2025-09-26

updated:
2025-12-18

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Impact
In-room participants may face confusion if they are not informed about the new capability to join town halls, leading to a disjointed experience during meetings.
   - roles: Meeting Organizers, Facilities Teams
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/get-started-with-town-hall-in-microsoft-teams-33baf0c6-0283-4c15-9617-3013e8d4804f, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=500702

Technological Impact
If Teams Rooms devices are not updated to the latest version, they may not function correctly during town halls, resulting in potential disruptions and user dissatisfaction.
   - roles: IT Support, End Users
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/get-started-with-town-hall-in-microsoft-teams-33baf0c6-0283-4c15-9617-3013e8d4804f, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=500702

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android is getting a new feature that will make it easier for people in a physical meeting room to participate in town hall meetings. Think of a town hall meeting like a big movie premiere. Usually, everyone would need their own ticket (or device) to watch the movie. But with this update, the whole room can watch the premiere together on a big screen, without everyone needing their own ticket.

This new feature allows a meeting room equipped with Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android to join town halls as an attendee. It's like giving the room itself a ticket to the event. People in the room can join the town hall using a meeting ID and passcode, similar to how you might enter a password to access a private screening. Once in, they can see live captions, read the chat, and even send reactions, just like they would if they were using their own devices.

This setup is perfect for shared viewing experiences, like a watch party where everyone gathers to enjoy the event together. It's designed to make hybrid meetings more inclusive, allowing everyone in the room to participate without needing to bring their own device.

To use this feature, the room needs to have a Teams Rooms Pro license and the latest version of the Teams Rooms app on Android. There's no need for any special setup or admin action to enable this feature, making it easy to implement. Just make sure to inform meeting organizers and facilities teams about this new capability so they can plan accordingly.

In summary, this update is like upgrading a regular room into a mini-theater, where everyone can enjoy the show together, enhancing the collaborative experience without the hassle of individual devices.