<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="540" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10-07-25-Microsoft-teams.webp" alt="Microsoft Teams Rolls Out Threaded Chats" class="wp-image-26769" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10-07-25-Microsoft-teams.webp 960w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10-07-25-Microsoft-teams-300x169.webp 300w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10-07-25-Microsoft-teams-768x432.webp 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Synopsis</h4>



<p>Microsoft Teams now rolls out threaded conversations in public preview, allowing users to focus on specific discussions with emoji and GIF upgrades, thereby redefining how chaos in chats is handled.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Key takeaways</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>No more endless scrolls—users can now follow specific conversations within channels.</li>



<li>Channel owners must choose between “post-based” and “thread-based” layouts, which limits real-time spontaneity.</li>



<li>Teams adds multiple emoji reactions per message for layered expression.</li>



<li>Emoji can now trigger workflows, turning chat reactions into automated actions.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Threaded conversations</h2>



<p>After years of user frustration and requests, Microsoft has finally delivered threaded conversations inside <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftteamsblog/from-threads-to-workflows-microsoft-teams-features-that-boost-everyone%E2%80%99s-product/4430879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Teams channels</a>, a feature that <a href="https://slack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Slack</a> users have taken for granted since 2014.</p>



<p>“Threaded conversations within channels have been one of our top requested features,” Microsoft acknowledges, as the Verge reports.</p>



<p><strong>Threads allow users to:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reply within a specific discussion without spamming the main channel.</li>



<li>Follow only what’s relevant, hiding unrelated noise.</li>



<li>Pull important updates back into the main channel when needed.</li>
</ul>



<p>Unlike Slack’s open-ended approach, Microsoft’s implementation requires channel owners to select a layout:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Post-based (current style, no threads)</li>



<li>Thread-based (new threaded conversations)</li>
</ul>



<p>Once chosen, the layout applies to the entire channel, restricting mid-flow flexibility for dynamic teams that prefer switching between casual and structured chats.</p>



<p>For enterprises with complex discussions across projects, this can reduce notification fatigue and endless scrolling, but the rigid structure may not suit fast-moving teams needing spontaneous updates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Followed the threads pane</h2>



<p>To manage threads without overwhelming users, Teams is introducing a “Followed Threads” pane.</p>



<p><strong>How it works:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Users automatically follow threads they start, reply to, or are @mentioned in.</li>



<li>They can manually follow or unfollow any other threads.</li>



<li>The pane acts as a filter, surfacing only what you care about.</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW!<br><br>Threads in Teams channels—to make collaboration more efficient and focused. With threads, you can reply directly to specific messages, keeping related conversations grouped together without disrupting the main flow.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MicrosoftTeams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MicrosoftTeams</a> <a href="https://t.co/fMIJVOtzOQ">pic.twitter.com/fMIJVOtzOQ</a></p>&mdash; Laura Rogers, Microsoft MVP (@WonderLaura) <a href="https://twitter.com/WonderLaura/status/1942899811486773278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Emoji reactions</h2>



<p>Another big update: Teams now supports multiple emoji reactions on a single message, moving beyond the one-reaction limit that often restricted nuanced team interactions.</p>



<p><strong>The update includes:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ability to add, remove, and view multiple emoji on messages.</li>



<li>Improved /gif search for smoother inline GIF sharing.</li>
</ul>



<p>This is more than a playful addition. Microsoft is also turning emoji reactions into workflow triggers. For example:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Adding a red flag emoji could create a support ticket in your helpdesk tool.</li>



<li>Reacting with a green tick could trigger a DevOps pipeline.</li>
</ul>



<p>This connects Microsoft Teams to Power Automate, shifting reactions from just expressive signals to actionable workflows.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GIF search</h2>



<p>Teams now upgrades its GIF capabilities with enhanced /gif search:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Users can instantly search and post GIFs in conversations, maintaining context and speed.</li>



<li>This aligns Teams with Slack’s playful communication style, something Teams has often been criticized for lacking.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Microsoft’s rollout of threaded conversations is both a win and a compromise:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>It solves chaos in conversations, but rigid channel layouts can frustrate teams that want flexibility.</li>



<li>Emoji-powered workflows transform casual reactions into actionable business steps, showcasing Teams’ vision to seamlessly integrate chat and productivity.</li>



<li>By incorporating Slack-like features, Teams is catching up, but still struggles to maintain simplicity in an increasingly complex tool.</li>
</ul>



<p>The Verge’s Sean Hollister notes that Microsoft plans to complete the rollout by mid-2025, indicating this is just the first step in transforming Teams into a platform that balances structured conversations, expressive communication, and actionable workflows.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom line</h2>



<p>Microsoft Teams’ threaded conversation preview isn’t just another feature drop—it’s a necessary evolution to make sense of overwhelming chat streams, paired with expressive reactions and workflow triggers to drive action directly from conversations.</p>



<p>For users, the choice is clear:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Embrace focused conversations with reduced noise.</li>



<li>Adapt to less flexibility in channel layouts.</li>



<li>Use emojis not just for fun but to get things done.</li>
</ul>



<p>Teams have just become more powerful—if you’re willing to adjust your workflow to their new rules.</p>



<p><a href="https://octet.design/journal/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe</a> to our global Design Journal and stay updated with the daily <a href="https://octet.design/journal/design-news/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">design news</a>.<br></p>
<footer class="author-bio-section" ><div class="author-flex"><div class="author-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="90" height="90" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_1457-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-90x90 size-90x90" alt="" /></div><div class="author-info"><div class="author-name"><strong>Jayshree Ochwani</strong></div><p class="author-bio">Jayshree Ochwani is a seasoned content strategist and communications professional passionate about crafting compelling and impactful messaging. With years of experience creating high-quality content across various platforms, she brings a keen eye for detail and a unique ability to transform ideas into engaging narratives that captivate and resonate with diverse audiences.

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