Enable Together Mode in Microsoft Teams

Overview

Together mode is feature of Microsoft Teams new meeting experience, that uses AI segmentation to digitally place participants in a shared background, making it feel like everyone is sitting in the same room. Currently Together mode can accommodate up to 49 participants. For now, Together mode is ideal when each participant is in front of a webcam. Microsoft is exploring how the feature can evolve to support conference rooms and other situations.

In this article:

• When To and Not To Use It
• Make Sure Teams is up-to-date
• Enable New Meeting Experience
• Together Mode
• Together mode Scene

What materials do I need?

• Microsoft Teams client, latest version
• 6, or more, participants from the University of Alaska system

How do I use this technology?

When To and Not To Use It

As in most forms of virtual meetings the various modes of are optimized for different types of events. Below are some scenarios where Together mode should or should not be used.

When To Use It

• Events in which multiple people will speak; it tends to be easier and more comfortable for people to find moments to enter a conversation.
• When participants are involved in a lot of video meetings, individuals report less meeting fatigue.
• Helpful when a gropu might have trouble staying attentive.
• Supports presenters who need to "read the room" to gauge feedback/response to topic being presented/discussed.

When Not To Use It

• Showing physical content in the environment such as a physical whiteboard since Together mode only brings the participant, not the environment, into the shared space.
• When presenting PowerPoint presentations. If a PowerPoint is the primary focus of the event it will tend to take up the entire meeting duration Together mode might not be helpful.
• When participants are walking around, or otherwise moving the camera during the session. It'll look like you're jumping around in your seat.

Make Sure Teams is up-to-date

1. Launch Microsoft Teams application.
2. In the upper right corner click the Profile icon.
   
   
    
3. Click Check for udpates.
   
   
    
4. Now Teams will automatically check and install required updates.
5. If prompted, restart Microsoft Teams.

Enable New Meeting Experience

1. Launch Microsoft Teams application.
2. In the upper right corner click the Profile icon.
   
   
    
3. Click Settings.
   
   
    
4. Verify that Turn on new meeting experience (New meetings and calls will open in separate windows. Requires restarting Teams.) is selected.
   1. If not, click the box to the left as shown in the below picture.
      
      
       
5. Click the Close button.
   
   
    
6. If necessary, restart Microsoft Teams.

Together Mode

1. In the meeting window click the More actions button.
   
   
    
2. Click Together mode.
   
   
    
3. Microsoft Teams will now split out the faces using AI and bring everyone together.
   
   

Together mode Scene

Once Together mode is enabled you can select the scene that everyone will see. These scenes can transport your group to a variety of settings including an outdoor amphitheatre, conference room, classroom, and more.

1. Switch the meeting to Together mode.
2. Click Change scene.
3. Select the desired scene.
    
   Important

   The selected scene will be be viewed by all participants.

Need additional help or have issues

For additional assistance contact the IT Services Technical Support Center via phone at (907) 786-4646, toll-free at (877) 633-3888, email us at uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu.