New Zoom controls in Preview for Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has released a new zoom control feature in preview for Microsoft Teams. This update allows participants to zoom in and out while viewing content on a shared screen during Teams meetings and conversations.

Until now, only participants in Teams meetings could use the “pinch to zoom” motion on trackpads or other shortcuts to view content such as Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint presentations. The new zoom control is a welcome addition for those with low vision or visual impairment.

Enhanced Experience for Users

“Users in a Teams call or meeting will now see new buttons to zoom in, zoom out and restore the original size of the shared screen. This will significantly improve users’ experience when viewing the shared screen,” the Office Insider team explained.

To try out zoom controls, IT administrators will need to sign up for the Microsoft Teams public preview program. They need to configure an update policy in the Microsoft Teams management center. However, please note that meeting participants cannot view the zoom controls while using the watermark feature during Teams meetings.

Zoom Control Available for Desktop and Web Users

At the time of writing, the feature is only available in the Microsoft Teams app for Windows, macOS and web app. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft plans to add zoom controls to Teams mobile clients.

In related news, Microsoft is preparing to make the new Teams 2.0 client the default experience on Windows later this year. Last week, Anupam Pattnaik, Product Lead for Teams 2.0 at Microsoft, confirmed in the first episode of Petri’s UnplugIT podcast that the app is also coming in preview to macOS, the Web and other platforms later this year.

Microsoft Teams 2.0 debuted in public preview on Windows in March 2023. The app was rebuilt from the ground up to improve performance and reduce power consumption on Windows devices.

Source: Microsoft