Microsoft Teams organizers now have more control over meeting audio permissions

Microosft Teams iOS and Surface
Microosft Teams iOS and Surface (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Teams has new options for meeting organizers and presenters to control audio permissions.
  • Presenters and organizers can now prevent individuals from unmuting.
  • The new options are rolling out now, according to the Microsoft 365 roadmap.

Microsoft Teams meetings and organizers just gained new options for audio permissions. Support for the new options is rolling out now, according to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, and gives organizers and presenters greater control over meetings.

Within Teams meetings, presenters and organizers can now prevent individual people from unmuting rather than having to prevent all attendees from unmuting. Additionally, attendees don't have to request to speak before an organizer can allow them to unmute.

Here's Microsoft's description of the feature, as found on the Microsoft 365 roadmap:

Meeting presenters and organizers can manage attendee audio permissions with greater flexibility. Attendees no longer must request to speak for the organizer or presenters to allow them to unmute, and presenters and organizers can prevent individual attendees from unmuting instead of all attendees at once.

These new options make it easier to manage large meetings and streamline the process of allowing people to speak during a meeting.

Generally, it's worth taking any dates on the Microsoft 365 roadmap with a grain of salt. The dates are always subject to change and aren't meant to be firm deadlines. That being said, this new feature is marked as "Rolling out," so it is already in the process of becoming available.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.