MC1059676 – Microsoft Teams: Easily call in a presenter from the roster for town halls and webinars (archived)

Product:

Teams

Platform:

Linux, Mac, Online, US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

485812

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Teams will allow organizers and presenters to quickly add a missing presenter from the roster during town halls, webinars, or structured meetings. This feature will roll out between late May and early July 2025, depending on the release phase. No admin action is required.

Details:
This feature provides the ability for organizers and presenters to quickly add a missing presenter to an ongoing Teams town hall, webinar, or structured meeting even if the missing presenter was not originally included in the event scheduling form. If the organizer or presenter realizes they've forgotten to add someone as a presenter, they can easily call them in directly from the participant roster. From the roster, organizers can choose whether to call them in as a presenter or attendee even if they are not already attending the session as an attendee. Organizers and presenters can only promote someone as a presenter if they are already in the session. With just a few clicks, the missing presenter is instantly promoted to presenter status, allowing them to join the green room, share content, control the presentation, or interact with the meeting participants.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 485812.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out late May 2025 and expect to complete by early June 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out mid-June 2025 and expect to complete by late June 2025.
General Availability (GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out late June 2025 and expect to complete by early July 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-04-22

updated:
2025-04-22

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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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 Disruption
If users are not informed about the new feature, they may be confused about the process of adding a presenter during a meeting, leading to delays and frustration.
   - roles: Organizers, Presenters
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=485812

Increased Meeting Complexity
Without preparation, the sudden ability to add presenters may lead to chaotic meetings if multiple presenters are called in without prior coordination, affecting the flow of the meeting.
   - roles: Organizers, Participants
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=485812

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're hosting a big event, like a wedding, and you suddenly realize that the person who's supposed to give a speech is missing. Instead of panicking or running around to find them, you simply pull out your phone, give them a quick call, and they join the celebration just in time to deliver their speech. This is similar to what Microsoft Teams is now offering for town halls and webinars.

With this new feature, if you find yourself in the middle of a Teams event and realize a presenter is missing, you can easily add them directly from the participant list. It's like having a guest list at a party and being able to instantly invite someone who's not there yet. The missing presenter doesn't need to have been originally included in the event's schedule. As long as they are available, you can call them in, and they can join the event immediately.

Once the presenter accepts the call, they are promoted to presenter status. This means they can participate fully, share their screen, control the presentation, and interact with the audience. It's as if they were always meant to be there, without any disruption to the flow of the event.

This feature will be available automatically between late May and early July 2025, depending on your location and release phase. No additional setup or admin action is required, making it as seamless as possible. Just like updating your guest list for an event, you might want to inform your team about this new capability and update any related instructions or guidelines.

In essence, this update to Microsoft Teams is about making sure that even if something slips through the cracks, you have a quick and easy way to ensure your event goes off without a hitch.