MS Teams: Browser vs Desktop Application

Microsoft Teams Browser and Desktop Application Differences

The Microsoft Teams desktop application is available for all students, faculty, and staff. It can be downloaded directly from Microsoft Links to an external site..

To minimize CPU usage, you can also access Microsoft Teams from a web browser at teams.microsoft.com Links to an external site.. However, there are some functions missing when using MS Teams in browser.

Note: Teams application takes up more resources from your computer than the browser version. Meaning, if you have a slower computer, it might be better to use the browser version.

Supported browsers such as Chrome and Microsoft Edge do not differ much from the desktop application. However, MS Teams does have drawbacks on unsupported browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Explorer 11.

Here are some drawbacks when using the browser version in an unsupported browser:

  1. The "Calls" option does not appear, which means users can not make an audio call or a video call.
  2. Audio is available through a PSTN connection only. Users can't use their microphone.
  3. Users can't share their camera or see other participants' videos but can view presented content through image-based screen sharing.
  4. Users can't share their screen, although they can see a screen that another meeting participant shares.
  5. Users can't take control during a screen sharing session.
  6. Users won't receive incoming call notifications.
  7. If the call is interrupted, the meeting won't automatically reconnect.
  8. Users can't start meetings.

To learn more about Tool Name, contact ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca.

UBC Okanagan Centre for Teaching and Learning Microsoft Teams

Updated December 2020