When Microsoft launched Windows 11, one app seemed to get some special treatment. You may have heard of it before: Microsoft Teams.
Teams was first released in 2017, but the arrival of Windows 11 saw it take center stage. In addition to being pre-installed and opening each time you start your computer, a dedicated chat window is now integrated into the taskbar.
If Teams is your go-to app for staying in touch, this might be fine. But if you prefer Zoom, another video calling app, or just meeting in real life, it can get annoying fast.
Luckily, it’s relatively easy to drastically reduce the influence of Microsoft Teams in Windows 11. Whether you just want to stop bothering yourself or completely remove the app, this tutorial is for you.
How to prevent Microsoft Teams from launching on startup
By default, many applications open each time you turn on your computer. Microsoft Teams is one of them, but it’s easy to prevent that from happening:
- Head to Settings > Apps > Startup
- Scroll down to find Microsoft Teams (you can see both work and personal versions) and click the button next to each to disable them.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Using the same method, you can also prevent any other application from opening on startup. But if you’re unsure or don’t recognize an app, it’s best not to change that. Learn more in our separate article on how to disable startup apps.
How to Manage Microsoft Teams Notifications
But even if Teams doesn’t launch on startup, it can still nag you throughout the day via notifications. Some of these might be useful, but it’s worth checking out if you need everything enabled:
- Head to Settings > System > Notifications
- Scroll down to the “Notifications from apps and other senders” subheading, then choose “Name” from the drop-down menu below.
- Find Microsoft Teams in the list (again, you can see both work and personal versions) and click on it
- Click the toggle at the top of the screen to disable all notifications. You can also click on it to choose where and how these notifications are sent. Any changes you make will be saved automatically
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Next, open the Teams app itself
- Click your icon at the top of the screen, then choose “Manage Account”
- Click the “Notifications” tab on the left side, then choose the types of notifications you want. Again, all changes will be saved automatically
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
How to remove Microsoft Teams from the taskbar
Teams chat is one of the main new features on the Windows 11 taskbar. Luckily, Microsoft is making it easy to disable:
- Head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar
- Under ‘Taskbar Items’, click the button next to ‘Chat’ to turn it off. The change will be applied immediately
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
How to uninstall Microsoft Teams
But if even the view of Teams on your computer is too much, Microsoft lets you uninstall it:
- Head to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
- In the search bar at the top of the screen, type “teams”
- For any results labeled as “Microsoft Teams”, click on the three dots on the right, then choose “Uninstall”
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Click “Uninstall” again to confirm
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
After following these steps, Teams can become a distant memory when using Windows 11. The app will be really useful to many people though, and there are ways to have fun too.
Related Articles
Table of Contents
