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Quick Answer

In any Teams chat, click the Format (A with a pencil) icon below the text box. This opens an expanded toolbar allowing you to bold text, add bulleted lists, insert tables, or change font colors before sending.

How to Use Teams Chat Features ​

Applies to: Microsoft Teams (Desktop, Web, Mobile)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Teams chat offers more than plain text messaging. You can format text with rich styling, send code snippets, create polls, use Loop components for collaborative lists, and mark messages as urgent. This article covers the most useful chat features to improve communication.

Prerequisites ​

  • A Microsoft Teams account.

Instructions ​

1. Format Messages with Rich Text ​

Switch from simple text to a full formatting toolbar.

  1. Open a chat or channel conversation.
  2. Click the Format button (A with a paintbrush) below the message box, or press Ctrl+Shift+X.
  3. The expanded toolbar appears with options for:
    • Bold (Ctrl+B), Italic (Ctrl+I), Underline (Ctrl+U), Strikethrough.
    • Heading sizes (Heading 1, 2, 3).
    • Bulleted list, Numbered list, Quote.
    • Text highlight color and Font color.
    • Insert link — highlight text and click the link icon.
  4. Type your message and click Send.

2. Insert a Code Snippet ​

Share formatted code with syntax highlighting.

  1. Click the Format button to expand the toolbar.
  2. Click the Code snippet icon (</> symbol) on the toolbar.
  3. In the dialog, optionally select a language for syntax highlighting.
  4. Paste or type your code.
  5. Click Insert.

For inline code (within a sentence), wrap text in backticks: `your code here`.

3. Create a Poll in Chat ​

Quickly gather opinions from your chat group.

  1. Click the + (Apps) icon below the message box.
  2. Search for and select Polls (or Microsoft Forms).
  3. Enter your question and answer options.
  4. Toggle Multiple answers if you want participants to select more than one option.
  5. Click Send.
  6. Participants can vote directly in the chat.

4. Use Loop Components ​

Create collaborative content that everyone in the chat can edit in real time.

  1. Click the Loop icon (♾️) below the message box.
  2. Choose a component type:
    • Bulleted list — collaborative task tracking.
    • Table — structured data.
    • Task list — items with assignees and due dates.
    • Paragraph — shared notes.
  3. Edit the component directly in the chat — all participants can contribute.
  4. Changes sync in real time across Teams, Outlook, and the Loop app.

5. Send an Urgent or Important Message ​

Notify recipients with higher priority.

  1. Click the Set Delivery Options icon (❗ exclamation mark) below the message box.
  2. Select a priority level:
    • Standard — default delivery.
    • Important — marks the message with a red exclamation icon.
    • Urgent — notifies the recipient every 2 minutes for 20 minutes until they read it.
  3. Type your message and click Send.

Tip: Priority controls how loudly a message lands. Timing controls when it lands at all. To write now and deliver later — so a late-night thought does not ring a colleague's phone at 11pm — right-click the Send button instead and choose Schedule send. See How to Schedule Send a Chat Message in Teams.

Note: Sent it with the wrong figure in it, or to the wrong channel? You can fix or remove your own messages after the fact — How to Edit or Delete a Sent Message in Teams covers editing, deleting, and restoring a message you removed by mistake.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

Use Ctrl+Shift+X to quickly toggle between the simple and expanded formatting toolbar without reaching for the mouse.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Format toolbar not appearingUsing simple compose modePress Ctrl+Shift+X or click the Format button (A icon) below the message box.
Polls option not availableForms app not enabledPolls runs on the Forms app. Ask IT to make it available in your Teams apps, and say whether colleagues can still see Polls — that tells them if the block covers everyone or only you.
Loop component shows "Read-only"Recipient does not have edit accessEnsure the Loop component permissions allow editing. Click the component and check sharing settings.