Microsoft Teams and Outlook Groups: Whats the Difference?

Microsoft 365 and Office
1

Hello,

I'm having trouble getting a group created in Teams to appear in Outlook.

Although I can search for the group and add it to my favorites, it doesn't show up in the Groups tab. When I navigate away from and back to the Groups page, it gets removed from my favorites.

When I access the group through Discover Groups, I can see apps like Teams, Notebook, Site, and Planner, but not Outlook or Calendar, which I can see in another working group.

Both groups were set up in Teams and are listed as Microsoft 365 groups.

2

Hey there,

Sounds like you’re experiencing some issues with Microsoft Teams and Outlook Groups. Let me break it down for you:

First off, the main difference between Microsoft Teams and Outlook Groups is their primary purpose:

  • Microsoft Teams: Designed for real-time collaboration, communication, and file sharing within channels. It’s perfect for team projects and everyday chat.
  • Outlook Groups: Focuses on email-based collaboration, often used for sending emails to a group of people. Think of it as a shared inbox.

Now, about your issue:

  1. Make sure the group is properly configured:

    • Ensure the group is set up as a Microsoft 365 group in Teams.
    • Check that the group has the necessary permissions and settings to sync with Outlook.

  2. Check the group type:

    • Go to Teams and navigate to the group settings.
    • Verify the group type is set as “Microsoft 365 group” (not “Private” or “Public”).
    • If it’s not a Microsoft 365 group, convert it or create a new one.

  3. Wait for sync:

    • It might take some time for the group to sync between Teams and Outlook.
    • Try waiting for at least 30 minutes to an hour before checking again.

  4. Check your Outlook settings:

    • Ensure your Outlook client is connected to the same Microsoft 365 account as Teams.
    • Verify that the “Groups” tab is enabled in Outlook by going to File > Options > Calendar > Resource Scheduling > Resource Lists > Groups.

  5. Re-add the group:

    • Remove the group from your favorites and try re-adding it.
    • If it still doesn’t appear, try accessing the group through Discover Groups and re-add it.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you might want to reach out to your organization’s IT support for further assistance or investigate if there are any specific policies blocking the sync.