Have you ever clicked the wrong thing in a Teams meeting and suddenly found yourself staring at your desktop while everyone else carried on talking? You are not alone, and there is good news.
Microsoft has moved the quit option away from the main meeting controls and into the system tray, so you are far less likely to leave a call by accident. It arrives automatically on the desktop app, with nothing for your IT team to switch on, and there is also a handy confirmation setting worth turning on.
Key takeaways
- The quit option in Teams used to sit right next to the meeting controls, so a quick misclick could drop you out of a call.
- Microsoft has moved quit to the system tray, the small area down by the clock, away from the main controls.
- The change arrives automatically on the Teams desktop app, so there is nothing your IT needs to do.
- It does not remove every misclick, so turn on the “confirm before leaving” setting in Settings then General.
- A related update lets you hide the meeting toolbar for more screen space while presenting.
What has actually changed in Teams?
For a long time, the quit option lived in the main cluster of meeting controls, which is exactly where you are clicking quickly during a fast-paced call. Aim for “Share” and miss, and you could close the meeting entirely.
Microsoft has now moved quit into the system tray instead. The idea is simple: shift it away from the buttons you use mid-meeting, so a stray click no longer ends the call. If you use the desktop version of Teams, you should already see the change.
Will this stop every accidental exit?
Not completely, and it is worth being realistic. If you are aiming for “Share” and misclick “Leave”, you can still drop out. We are not in a perfect world just yet.
What it does is remove one of the most common causes, which is the quit button sitting too close to the controls you use most. For something that used to catch people out regularly, that is a welcome fix.
The setting that helps even more
Here is a setting many people do not know about. Inside Teams you can turn on a confirmation message before you leave a meeting, so you get an “are you sure?” step instead of vanishing mid-sentence.
To switch it on: open Teams, go to Settings, then General, and enable the option to confirm before leaving a meeting. It takes ten seconds and saves a lot of awkward moments.
One more handy update
While we are on small but useful changes, Microsoft is also rolling out the ability to hide the meeting toolbar during calls. That means more screen space and fewer distractions when you are presenting or focusing on shared content. None of these are dramatic, but together they make virtual meetings feel a bit more polished.
Small wins that add up for busy teams
For the teams we support across Lichfield, Tamworth and the wider Staffordshire area who practically live in Teams, these little updates reduce embarrassment and friction. On their own they are minor. Across a week of back-to-back calls, they add up.
Keeping your apps current and your people confident with them is part of what we do as part of Microsoft 365 support and everyday IT support. If your team could get more out of Teams, our Lichfield IT support team can help. Microsoft keeps a running list of changes on the Teams support site.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to update Teams myself?
No. The Teams desktop app updates itself in the background, so the change should appear automatically. If you are ever unsure whether your apps are current, that is something we keep on top of for clients.
Where is the system tray?
It is the small area down by the clock, usually in the bottom-right corner of your Windows screen. You may need to click the little arrow to see hidden icons.
Can I get a warning before I leave a meeting?
Yes. Go to Settings then General in Teams and turn on the option to confirm before leaving a meeting. You will then get an “are you sure?” prompt.
Why does Teams change so often?
Microsoft ships frequent small updates, and most are genuine improvements like this one. We keep clients informed of the changes that actually matter, so you are not caught out.
Can you help us get more from Teams?
Yes. We set up and fine-tune Teams and the rest of Microsoft 365 as part of managed IT, including short training so your team feels confident. Give us a ring on 01543 524594 or get in touch.
– Andy Price, Founder & MD, Initial IT · 01543 524594 · hello@initialit.co.uk