Starting Your Own Meeting
Now that you know how to join, let me show you how to be the one running the show — right from your phone. Maybe you want a weekly chat with the grandkids, or your book club wants to meet online. Here's how.
First Things First
You'll need a free Teams account to HOST a meeting. Open the Teams app, tap "Sign up for free," and follow the steps. Takes about two minutes.
Start an Instant Meeting (Right Now)
- Open the Teams app on your phone
- Tap the camera icon or the "Meet now" button (it might be at the top or bottom depending on your device)
- Tap "Start meeting"
- Tap "Share invite" to copy the meeting link
- Send that link to whoever you want to join — text, email, carrier pigeon, whatever works
Schedule a Meeting for Later
- Tap on Calendar at the bottom of the Teams app
- Tap the + button to create a new meeting
- Add a title, date, and time
- Add people's email addresses
- Tap Save — they'll get an email with the link
Here's the cool part — the link you send? The person tapping it doesn't need a Teams account. You text them a link, they tap it on their phone, and they're in. That's it.
Screen Sharing & Troubleshooting
Sharing Your Screen on Mobile
Screen sharing on a phone works a little differently than on a computer. There's no window picker — when you share, it shares your entire screen. Everything. So let's be smart about it.
- Tap the More (...) button on the toolbar at the bottom
- Tap "Share screen"
- iOS will ask permission — tap "Start Broadcast". There's a 3-second countdown, then sharing begins.
- Everything on your screen is now visible to everyone in the meeting
- To stop sharing: tap the red status bar at the top of your iPhone or iPad screen, then tap Stop. Or come back to the Teams app and tap "Stop sharing" there.
Turn On Do Not Disturb First!
Since your entire screen is shared, any notification that pops up — texts, emails, app alerts — everyone in the meeting will see it. Turn on Do Not Disturb before you share:
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen (or just the top of the screen on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center. Tap Focus, then tap Do Not Disturb. The little moon icon turns on.
- Bonus iPhone tip: Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb > Add Schedule > App — pick Microsoft Teams to auto-silence notifications every time you're in a Teams meeting.
Trust me on this one. I'm just looking out for you.
Okay, Let's Talk About the Stuff That Goes Wrong
Because something always goes wrong the first time on mobile. That's normal. Here are the big ones:
"They Can't Hear Me!"
Check if you're muted (the microphone button at the bottom). Tap it to unmute. Also check if you accidentally denied microphone access when the app first opened — open the Settings app, scroll down to Teams, tap it, and make sure Microphone is turned on (the toggle should be green).
"I Can't Hear Them!"
Check your phone's volume buttons on the side. Make sure you're not on silent mode. Also check if audio is routing to your phone's speaker vs. earpiece — tap the speaker icon in the meeting to switch.
"My Camera Isn't Working!"
Make sure no other app is using the camera (close FaceTime, Zoom, Snapchat, etc.). Check your iPhone or iPad settings: open Settings, scroll to Teams, and make sure Camera is toggled on.
"My Video Keeps Freezing!"
This is almost always a connection issue on mobile. Switch to Wi-Fi if you're on cellular. If you're already on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router. You can also turn off your camera to save bandwidth — you'll still be able to hear and talk just fine.
If your video keeps freezing, it might be your internet, not Teams. Take our
Slow Internet microcourse to find out.
Quiz 3: Match the Mobile Controls
Match each button to what it actually does on your phone. Tap one on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Match each Teams mobile control to what it does.
Button
Mute
Chat
More (...)
Reactions
Hang Up (red)
What It Does
Properly exit the meeting
Turns your microphone on and off
Opens screen share, captions, and other settings
Raise hand or send a thumbs up
Send text messages during the meeting
Video Meeting Etiquette (Mobile Edition)
A few quick tips to make you look like a pro — even on your very first call from your phone.
- Mute when you're not talking. Background noise is the number one meeting killer. Your dog, your TV, your AC — nobody else wants to hear it. Just tap mute.
- Prop up your phone or tablet. Don't hold it in your hand the whole time — you'll get tired, your arm will shake, and everyone will feel seasick. Lean it against a mug, a stack of books, or use a phone stand. Problem solved.
- Stay on Wi-Fi. Cellular data works, but Wi-Fi is more stable and won't eat through your data plan. If you can connect to Wi-Fi, do it.
- Don't walk around. I know it's tempting because it's your phone. But walking means shaky video, changing lighting, and background noise. Find a spot, park yourself, and stay put.
- Landscape vs. Portrait? Either works, but landscape gives everyone a wider view of you. Most people hold their phone in portrait — that's fine too. Just don't switch back and forth mid-meeting.
- Watch your lighting. Don't sit with a window behind you — you'll look like a shadow. Face the light source. A lamp in front of you works great.
- Join a couple minutes early. This gives you time to make sure your audio and video work. Way better than fumbling with settings while everyone watches.
- Leave properly. Tap the red Hang Up button. Don't just swipe the app away — you might still be connected with your mic on. I've seen things, people. I've seen things.
That's it. You don't need a fancy background or a ring light. Just mute yourself, prop up your phone, and be on time. You're already ahead of half the people in most meetings.
Quiz 4: The Shaky Camera Problem
Quiz 4: The Shaky Camera Problem
You're on a Teams call from your phone and someone says, "Your video is really shaky and I'm getting dizzy." What's your best move?