Getting Started with Overview

Introduction

This quick-start guide will review the basic layout, features, tools, and settings to get you up and running in Overview.

Overview is the comprehensive dashboard your Microsoft Teams experience has been missing that surfaces your most important chats, channels, files, meetings, and ongoing calls, all in one easy-to-use place.

Accessing Overview

We highly recommend pinning the Overview tab to your Teams sidebar for easy access. If the app is not automatically pinned to your Teams sidebar, it may be under your apps. Right-click to pin.

Overview Navigation Guide

The Main Components of the Overview Dashboard:

Quick links
These sections provide at-a-glance status information and quick links to get you connected to meetings and colleagues without having to leave Overview.

Columns

The columns in Overview display important information found in various areas of the Teams interface. These columns include calendar, chats, channels, and files.

Tools

There are a number of handy tools available in Overview.

1. The Search bar
The search function in Overview is a handy way to sort quickly through messages, upcoming meetings, and shared files to find the information you need.

2. The ‘Meet now’ button
Allows users to start a new 1:1 Teams call, a group meeting, or a channel meeting directly from the Overview dashboard.

3. The 'New chat' button
Allows users to start a new 1:1 or group chat from the Overview dashboard.

Settings

Customize the Overview dashboard to display information most important to you, in a way that’s best suited to your personal style.

1. Select Content
Clicking the eye symbol in the upper right corner of the Overview dashboard will produce a dropdown menu with options for selecting and deselecting items you wish to display on your dashboard.

2. Settings
The cog icon in the upper right corner of the dashboard will open a display settings modal when selected. That modal will give options to apply a custom background image, data sort options, and display layout options.

3. Sort column data
The three dot menu that appears at the top of each column gives the option to sort data chronologically or numerically.

4. Pop out the app
Pop Overview out into its own window so that you don't have to navigate away from it when accessing another Teams app.

5. Refresh
Shaky internet connection? No problem. Overview has a refresh button built in for manual reloading when necessary.

Conclusion

If you are interested in learning more about Overview, check out the rest of our articles on the Overview resource page. There, you will find a full user guide, support, and technical documents to help you get the most out of your Overview experience.