How to "Follow" a Teams Meeting You Can't Attend Overview
How to "Follow" a Teams Meeting You Can't Attend
Overview
Microsoft Teams allows you to "Follow" a meeting even if you can’t attend it live. This feature ensures you stay informed about the meeting’s content, chat, and shared files — helping you stay in the loop when your schedule doesn't allow you to join.
What Does It Mean to "Follow" a Meeting?
When you choose to follow a Teams meeting, you are subscribing to the meeting chat. This means:
You'll receive updates when others post in the meeting chat.
You’ll be able to view shared files, notes, recordings, and follow-up messages.
It helps you stay involved in projects or conversations that are important but don’t require your live participation.
Use Cases
You’re double-booked and can’t attend live, but still need to see decisions and notes.
You support a project and want visibility without disrupting the core team.
You’re an approver, stakeholder, or manager who wants post-meeting insight without needing to join.
You want to follow up on outcomes, action items, or discussions asynchronously.
How to "Follow" a Teams Meeting
Option 1: From the Calendar in Teams
Open Microsoft Teams.
Go to the Calendar tab.
Find the meeting you want to follow.
Right-click the meeting or click into the meeting invite. Choose Follow.
Another way to do this with an invite is to click Chat with participants or Open chat: once the chat opens, you are now following the meeting and will receive updates as people post in it.
⚠️ If the meeting hasn’t started yet, the chat may not be available. You can open the chat after the meeting begins or once someone posts in it.
Option 2: From the Teams Chat After the Meeting
After the meeting ends, open Chat in Teams.
Find the meeting title in your chat list (it will include the date/time).
Click into the meeting chat to review shared notes, recordings, or files.
React to or reply to messages to stay engaged if needed.
Tip
You don’t need to RSVP “Yes” to a meeting to follow it — you can still access and participate in the meeting chat as long as you’re invited.
Questions?
If you're not seeing the meeting chat or need access to meeting content, please contact the Service Desk:
🌐 https://servicedesk.husco.com