To download Microsoft Teams on Windows 11, open Microsoft’s Teams download page in your browser, select Download Microsoft Teams for Windows, and run the MSTeamsSetup.exe file that lands in your Downloads folder. When setup finishes, select Start > Microsoft Teams and sign in. The same app works with a personal Microsoft account and with a work or school account.
Applies to: Microsoft Teams desktop app on Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on October 7, 2026.
Before you download Teams
- Check whether Teams is already installed. Select Start and type Teams. If Microsoft Teams appears in the results, open it and skip to the sign-in step. Microsoft notes that Teams is also installed by default with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, so many work computers already have it.
- Know which account you will use. Microsoft Teams Free needs a personal Microsoft account. Microsoft says that if you use OneDrive, Outlook.com or Xbox Live, you already have one, and creating a new one is free. Teams for work or school needs the account your organization gave you, and that account must have a license that includes Teams.
- Confirm your PC meets the requirements. Microsoft lists a 1.1 GHz or faster processor with two cores, 4.0 GB of RAM, 3.0 GB of available disk space and a 1024 x 768 or higher display for the Windows desktop app. The minimum operating system is Windows 10 version 10.0.19041 or higher, which every Windows 11 release exceeds. Windows LTSC editions are not supported by the desktop app.
- Use only Microsoft’s own download. Microsoft Support advises downloading programs only from trusted publishers. For Teams, that means the Teams download page on microsoft.com or the Microsoft Store.
Download and install Teams from Microsoft’s website
This is the route Microsoft’s documentation points to for a manual install, and it is the shortest one for most home PCs.
- Open a web browser and go to the Microsoft Teams download page. You should see a section with download buttons for desktop and mobile.
- Select Download Microsoft Teams for Windows. Your browser starts downloading a small setup file named MSTeamsSetup.exe.
- If your browser asks what to do with the file, select Save. Microsoft Support explains that Save puts the file in your Downloads folder, while Save as lets you pick another place such as the desktop.
- Open the Downloads folder and double-click MSTeamsSetup.exe. Setup installs the current version of Teams. Follow any prompts that appear and wait for it to finish.
- Select Start > Microsoft Teams to open the app if it does not open by itself.
- Sign in. For work or school, enter your Microsoft 365 username and password. Microsoft notes that your organization may ask for additional verification, such as a code from a mobile device. For personal use, sign in with your Microsoft account.
Install Teams from the Microsoft Store instead
The Microsoft Store is a good alternative if you prefer not to run a setup file, or if your PC only allows Store apps. Microsoft says apps installed from the Store are updated automatically.
- Select Start, type Microsoft Store, and select it to open the app. You can also select the Microsoft Store icon on the taskbar.
- Search the Store for Microsoft Teams.
- Open the Microsoft Teams result that lists Microsoft as the publisher and select the install button on the app’s page. The Store downloads and installs Teams for you.
- When the install finishes, select Start > Microsoft Teams and sign in.
Check the publisher name before you install. Search results can include other apps with similar names, and only the one from Microsoft is the real Teams app.
Personal, work or school: which Teams do you need?
Older tutorials describe two separate Windows 11 apps, one for home and one for work. That is no longer how it works. Microsoft Support states that both versions of Teams are now available when you download the app, so one install covers both.
- Teams Free (personal): sign in with your personal Microsoft account.
- Teams for work or school: sign in with the account from your organization.
- Both: select your profile picture in the top right of Teams, then select Add another account. After that, select your profile picture and choose which account you want to use whenever you need to switch.
If a work or school account will not sign in, Microsoft says your IT administrator might need to turn on Teams for you or give you a license. That is something only the organization can fix.
Do not look for classic Teams
If an older guide tells you to download “classic Teams” or a file with a different installer name, ignore that step. According to Microsoft Learn, the classic Teams client reached end of availability on July 1, 2025, and it no longer works. Microsoft’s download page describes the current app as a faster, more reliable and more secure replacement, and it is the only version you should install.
How to confirm Teams installed correctly
- Open Teams and select Settings and more.
- Select Settings > About Teams.
- Look under Version. Teams shows whether you have the latest version or need to select Update now.
You rarely need to update by hand. Microsoft says Teams auto-updates when an update is available and the app is idle. When an update is waiting, a notice appears at the top of the Teams window and you can select Update > Update and restart Teams to apply it right away.
If message alerts do not appear after installing, open Windows Settings and go to System > Notifications > Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Learn says the Show Notification Banners setting must be on to receive Teams notifications.
Use Teams without installing anything
You do not have to install the app. Microsoft’s download page confirms that you can use Teams in a web browser at teams.microsoft.com. Microsoft Learn lists the latest three versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox as supported on Windows. Teams for the web is not supported on mobile browsers.
The web version is the right choice on a shared or borrowed computer, on a PC where you are not allowed to install software, or when you only need to join one meeting. Microsoft also says the web app is always up to date, so there is nothing to maintain.
Troubleshooting a Teams download or install
The setup file will not run on a Windows 11 S mode PC
Windows 11 in S mode only installs apps from the Microsoft Store, so use the Store method above. Microsoft does let you leave S mode through Settings > System > Activation, but it warns that switching out of S mode is one-way. Installing Teams from the Store avoids that decision entirely.
Installation is blocked on a work or school PC
Organizations often control which apps can be installed and deploy Teams themselves with management tools. If the download or the Store is blocked, do not try to work around it. Ask your IT administrator to install Teams, and use Teams in the browser in the meantime if your organization allows it.
Teams will not install or open from the Microsoft Store
Microsoft’s Store troubleshooting steps for Windows 11 start with the basics. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and install anything that is available. Then open the Microsoft Store and select Library > Get updates so the Store itself is current. Try the install again afterward.
Teams installed but you cannot sign in
First make sure you are using the right account. A personal Microsoft account will not open your organization’s Teams, and a work account will not open your personal chats. If you see an error, look for the status code at the bottom left corner of the sign-in window. Microsoft documents these common ones:
| Status code | What Microsoft says it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0xCAA20003 | An authorization problem | Make sure the date and time on your PC are set correctly |
| 0xCAA82EE2 | The request timed out | Check your internet connection, then ask IT about firewall settings |
| 0xCAA82EE7 | The server name could not be resolved | Check your internet connection, then ask IT about firewall settings |
| 0xCAA90018 | You are not using the right credentials | The Windows account you signed in with differs from your Microsoft 365 account; sign in again with the correct details |
Microsoft notes that many sign-in problems can only be resolved by your IT admin, so pass the status code along if the quick checks do not help.
The installer fails on an older or low-spec PC
Compare your PC with the requirements listed earlier, especially the 3.0 GB of available disk space. Microsoft also lists a current version of WebView2 as a requirement; it is a Microsoft component that the app relies on, and installing pending Windows updates is a sensible first step before trying again.
How to remove Teams if you change your mind
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Microsoft Teams in the list.
- Select More > Uninstall and confirm.
If the list also shows an entry named Teams Machine-Wide Installer, Microsoft Support says to uninstall that as well, otherwise Teams is not fully removed. Our guide on uninstalling a program in Windows 11 covers the other removal methods. You can install Teams again at any time with the steps above.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Teams free to download on Windows 11?
Yes. The download costs nothing, and Microsoft Teams Free works with a personal Microsoft account. Work and school features depend on the license your organization has.
Do I need a Microsoft account to use Teams?
For Teams Free, yes. Microsoft states that you need a Microsoft account to sign in, and you can create one for free. For work or school, you use the account your organization provides instead.
Can I use my work account and my personal account in the same app?
Yes. Microsoft says signing in to multiple accounts is available in the Teams desktop app for Windows. Select your profile picture, select Add another account, and then switch between accounts from the same menu.
Why does my old tutorial mention a separate Teams app for home use?
Those instructions were written for earlier Windows 11 releases. Today a single Microsoft Teams app handles personal, work and school accounts, so follow the current download steps instead.
How do I update Teams after installing it?
You normally do nothing. Teams updates itself when the app is idle. To check manually, select Settings and more > Settings > About Teams and look under Version.
Can I join a meeting without installing Teams?
Yes. Teams works in a supported browser at teams.microsoft.com, so installing the desktop app is optional.
Where is the official source for these steps?
Microsoft’s own overview is the Support article How do I get Microsoft Teams?, and the hardware list comes from Microsoft Learn’s hardware requirements for the Teams app.
Once Teams is installed and you are signed in, you may want to review which apps open automatically when you sign in to Windows. Our guide to changing startup programs in Windows 11 shows where that list lives.
Related: How to see someone’s calendar in Teams.
Related: how to remove Teams from the taskbar in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.