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If you can access a file on your device, you can share the file with other people in Teams. This includes files (of any type) that are:
- On the Files tab of your channels and chats
- In your OneDrive or other cloud storage
- On your local device
And there are two ways to share files in chat messages:
- Send the file itself
- Send a link to the file
Share a file in a one-on-one or group chat (desktop version)
- Select Attach beneath the box where you type a message, and then either OneDrive or Upload from my computer (depending on where the file is located).
- Select the file and then select Share or Open.
This will upload a copy of your original file. You can also upload a file by going to the Files tab and selecting Share.
Share a file with your team in a channel
- Select Attach beneath the box where you type your message in a channel.
- Do one of the following:
• Select Recent to choose a file you recently opened, and then select Upload a copy.
• Select Browse Teams and Channels to choose from all the files you have access to in Teams, and then select Upload a copy or Share a link.
• Select OneDrive or Upload from my computer (depending on where the file is located), and then select Upload a copy or Open.
You can also go to the Files tab and select Upload.
Collaborating on Files
As your team works together, you'll undoubtedly have files that you'll want to share and collaborate on. Teams makes it easy to share files and work on them together. If working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files your colleagues can even view, edit, and collaborate on them, right within Teams.
Your files library
Within each team there are channels. Think of these channels as a place for your entire team to discuss a specific topic, like upcoming training, or project updates. Each channel has its own file folder where you can share files for that specific channel. To access that folder, go to the channel and select the Files tab above the conversation window.
In the library you can upload existing files or create new ones. When you upload a file, it creates a copy in Teams.
Upload existing files
There are two primary ways to upload existing files into your library. Both methods start by going to the files folder for your channel and both methods, by default, upload copies of your files to the channel file folder.
- Drag and drop - Using your mouse, drag the file from where it's currently located and drop it on the Teams window among the files.
- Upload - Select Upload, then select the file (or files) you'd like to upload and select Open.
Any files you upload will be accessible by any member of your team. And just like in SharePoint, you can pin specific files to the top of your list for easy access.
Create a file
To create a Word, PowerPoint, or Excel document in Teams, select New, then select the kind of file you'd like to create. The new file will open in Teams so you can begin editing it, and if you'd prefer to work in the desktop version of the app, select Open in Desktop App at the top of the app, in the middle of the ribbon.
As soon as it's created your new file will be available for your team members to edit as well.
Co-edit a file
Files uploaded and shared to a team are accessible to every member of the Team. In Office for the web, Office for Android or iOS, or the latest applications from Microsoft 365, you and your team members can co-edit Word, PowerPoint, or Excel documents, or comment on Visio files. No need to check files out or worry about if one of your colleagues has the document open. Just open the file you need to edit and if other team members are editing it too your changes will be seamlessly merged as you work.
Share with people outside your team
If the file is a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file, the easiest way to share it is to open the file in its corresponding Office for the web or desktop app. Select Share at the top right corner of the window. From there enter the aliases or email addresses of people you want to email the file link or select Copy Link to choose where you share the link.
Once you've shared the file, those users can edit the file in real time (unless you unchecked Allow editing in the Link Settings dialog) just like the other members of your team can.