How to open multiple Microsoft Teams channels in separate windows

Microsoft Teams recently picked up the ability to pop-out chats into separate windows, but you might be wondering when you’ll be able to do the same for your Teams channels. While that currently isn’t officially possible, there is a nifty workaround that you can use to help you skip out having to click back and forth to check messages.

Noted in a video created by Microsoft employee Kevin Stratvert, the trick involves setting up a Progressive Web App (PWA) version of Teams. In this guide, we’ll show you how you can do that, and get you in the multitasking workflow.

Step 1: Sign in with your Teams account on the Microsoft Teams Web App

The first step in this process is to visit Microsoft Teams on the web in your browser of choice. You’ll want to sign in with the same account that you’re currently using with the dedicated Teams app on the desktop app. When signing in, you might get a message suggesting you download the Teams desktop app. You can ignore this. Simply click the Use the web app instead button. This will open up your default Teams channel, just as you’d normally see it on your desktop. Make sure to turn on notifications, too, and click the Turn on Desktop Notifications button.

Step 2: Create a PWA for Teams and add it to your Taskbar

Next up, we’ll be creating a Progressive Web app for the Teams web experience. The steps will vary depending on your web browser. This works best on Google Chrome and the new Microsoft Edge in Windows 10, so we’ll be focusing on that here.

First, there’s Microsoft Edge. With Teams open in Edge, you’ll want to click the . . . button in the top right corner of the screen. After that, click where it says Apps. You’ll then see the Teams logo, and you’ll want to click Install this site as an app. This will then pop-out Teams into its own window, with a purple title bar, and experience similar to the native desktop app.

Be sure to click the channel you want open in a separate window, and pull it up alongside the native Teams desktop app. Also, keep in mind that you’ll want to right-click on the active PWA in your Taskbar, and choose the option to Pin to Taskbar. This will keep Teams pinned there, every time you want to open the PWA or a separate channel in its own window.

As for Google Chrome, the process is a bit different. You’ll still want to visit Teams on the web. Next, click to allow desktop notifications. Then, click the downward-facing dots in the top right corner of the screen. After that, click More Tools, followed by Create Shortcut. Be sure to click the Open as window checkbox, and then click Create. Again, be sure to right-click on the newly created PWA in the Taskbar, and then choose Pin to Taskbar. You’re now free to open up a separate channel alongside any channel on the Teams desktop app.

Other tips

If you have a macOS machine, then the process will be a bit different for you. While the menus will be the same as we describe above, after creating a PWA in Edge or Chrome on a Mac, you’ll see that the Teams PWA will auto-open alongside a new Finder window that says Edge Apps or Chrome Apps. You’ll notice the icon for Teams here. If you want quick access to it, you can click and drag it to your dock, to keep it pinned there. When you no longer want the shortcut, drag it to the trash.

Also, keep in mind that when you’re using the Microsoft Teams PWA alongside the desktop app, you might end up getting double notifications. If this bothers you, be sure to change your notifications settings in Edge by clicking Site Permissions in Settings and revoking Microsoft Teams notifications. You also can do the same in Chrome by going to settings and choosing Site Permissions. 

All in all, this is a nice workaround to see more than one channel at a time in Microsoft Teams. Do you think you’ll check it out? Let us know in the comments below.