You are halfway through a Microsoft Teams meeting when real life suddenly changes the seating chart. Perhaps your laptop battery is flashing red, you need to leave your desk, or your phone has a better camera than the ancient webcam currently making you look like a witness in a documentary.
Fortunately, Microsoft Teams lets you transfer an active meeting from one device to another without asking everyone to leave and rejoin. You can move a Teams meeting from a computer to a phone, from a mobile device to a laptop, or between compatible devices signed in to the same Teams account.
The key is choosing Transfer to this device instead of Add this device. One moves the meeting; the other keeps both devices connected. This guide explains the difference, provides step-by-step instructions, and covers audio problems, missing transfer options, Teams Rooms, guest access, and several practical scenarios.
Quick Answer: How Do You Transfer a Teams Meeting?
While attending the meeting on your original device, open Microsoft Teams on the device you want to use next. Teams should display a banner showing that you are already in a meeting on another device. Select Join call, choose Transfer to this device, configure the new device’s microphone, speaker, and camera, and then select Join.
After the new device joins successfully, Teams disconnects the original device. The meeting itself continues, so the other participants do not need to do anything. You also remain in the same meeting rather than appearing as a completely separate guest.
Microsoft Support sources consulted: second-device meeting guidance and current meeting-join documentation.
What You Need Before Transferring the Meeting
A Teams meeting transfer is straightforward, but a few conditions make the process much smoother:
- Install or update Microsoft Teams on both devices.
- Sign in with the same work, school, or personal account on each device.
- Make sure the second device has a stable internet connection.
- Allow Teams to access the microphone and camera.
- Keep the original device connected until the new one has joined.
Signing in with the same account is especially important. Teams recognizes your active meeting through your account session. When the second device uses a different account, it may treat you as another participant instead of offering the normal transfer controls.
Before an important meeting, open Teams on both devices and confirm that the meeting appears on the calendar. This 30-second check can prevent the classic corporate ritual of staring at a login screen while someone asks, “Can everybody see my presentation?”
How to Transfer a Teams Meeting From a Computer to a Phone
This is the most useful method when you need to leave your desk without leaving the conversation.
Step 1: Keep the Meeting Open on Your Computer
Do not hang up or close Teams. Leaving the original meeting too early can remove the active-session banner that makes transferring easy.
Step 2: Open Teams on Your Phone
Launch the Microsoft Teams mobile app on your iPhone or Android phone. Confirm that you are signed in to the same account used on the computer.
Step 3: Select the Active-Meeting Banner
Near the top of the mobile app, Teams should show that a meeting is active on another device. Tap Join or Join call.
Step 4: Choose “Transfer to This Device”
Teams may present two choices:
- Add this device: Keeps the computer connected and adds the phone as a second device.
- Transfer to this device: Moves the meeting to the phone and disconnects the computer.
Select Transfer to this device.
Step 5: Check Your Mobile Audio and Video
Choose whether to use your phone’s microphone, speaker, earpiece, Bluetooth headset, or camera. Muting your microphone before joining is usually wise, especially when the phone and computer are physically close together.
Step 6: Join on the Phone
Tap Join now or Join. Once the mobile connection is established, the computer should leave automatically. You can now walk away from your desk while continuing to hear, speak, chat, and view shared content.
How to Transfer a Teams Meeting From a Phone to a Computer
The reverse process is almost identical. This method is helpful when you joined from the road but have now reached a desk and want a larger screen, physical keyboard, or better presentation controls.
- Keep the meeting open in the Teams mobile app.
- Open the Teams desktop app on the computer.
- Sign in with the same account used on the phone.
- Locate the banner indicating that you are in a meeting on another device.
- Select Join call.
- Choose Transfer to this device.
- Select the computer’s microphone, speakers, headset, and camera.
- Click Join now.
Your phone should disconnect after the desktop connection becomes active. Wait until you can hear the meeting on the computer before putting the phone away. Closing the phone app while the computer is still connecting can create an awkward gap in which everybody is talking and you are technically nowhere.
How to Move a Teams Meeting Between Two Computers
You can generally follow the same procedure when moving between a desktop computer and a laptop. Open Teams on the second computer, sign in to the same account, select the active-meeting notification, and choose Transfer to this device.
Before completing the switch, verify the second computer’s audio devices. Teams may automatically select built-in speakers instead of your headset, particularly when the computer has multiple monitors, docking stations, USB microphones, or Bluetooth devices.
In the desktop app, you can review these settings under Settings and more > Settings > Devices. Microsoft also provides a test-call option in many work and school environments, allowing you to check the speaker and microphone before a real meeting.
Microsoft Support sources consulted: Teams device settings and meeting audio controls.
Transfer to This Device vs. Add This Device
These options sound similar, but they serve different purposes.
Use “Transfer to This Device” When:
- You want to continue the meeting on a different device.
- You are leaving your desk and switching to a phone.
- Your original device has a weak battery or unstable connection.
- You need the camera, keyboard, or screen on another device.
- You no longer need the original device in the meeting.
Use “Add This Device” When:
- You want to view shared content on one screen and participants on another.
- You want to present from a laptop while listening through a phone.
- You are using a mobile device as a companion in a meeting room.
- You need access to files, chat, or controls on a second device.
- You want to use a tablet for notes while staying connected on a computer.
When you add a second device, Teams commonly joins it with the microphone and speaker disabled to reduce feedback. Keep only one nearby device connected to the meeting audio. Otherwise, the two devices can produce an echo loud enough to make everyone reconsider the invention of videoconferencing.
Microsoft Support sources consulted: adding a second device and companion-device behavior.
What Happens to Chat, Video, Screen Sharing, and Recording?
Meeting Chat
Your meeting chat remains attached to the meeting and your account. After transferring, you can continue reading and sending messages from the new device. Messages do not disappear merely because you changed hardware.
Camera and Microphone
The new device uses its own camera and audio configuration. Your previous mute state may not always be the setting you expect, so check the microphone icon immediately after joining. Also confirm that Teams has permission to access the new device’s camera and microphone.
Screen Sharing
If you were presenting from the original device, do not assume the presentation will automatically continue from the new one. Stop sharing before transferring when possible, then begin sharing again from the destination device.
When uninterrupted presentation is essential, use Add this device rather than transferring immediately. Join the second device without audio, prepare the content there, and switch presentation responsibilities carefully.
Meeting Recording
A meeting recording belongs to the meeting rather than to the physical device used to start it. Moving to another device does not normally end the meeting for everyone. However, recording permissions and controls depend on your role, license, organizational policies, and the meeting organizer’s settings.
Organizer and Presenter Roles
Your meeting role is linked to your account. Transferring devices should not turn an organizer into an attendee. Nevertheless, controls can look different on mobile and desktop, and some presentation features are more limited on smaller devices.
Microsoft Support sources consulted: presenting content, meeting recordings, attendee permissions, and meeting options.
Why Is “Transfer to This Device” Missing?
If Teams does not display the transfer option, work through these possible causes.
You Are Signed In to Different Accounts
Check the profile icon on both devices. A company account, personal Microsoft account, guest account, and account from another organization may appear similar but represent different identities.
The Teams App Is Outdated
Update Teams through Microsoft, the Apple App Store, or Google Play. Then close and reopen the application. Older app versions may display different controls or fail to recognize the active session correctly.
You Joined Anonymously or as a Guest
People can join many Teams meetings without an account, but cross-device continuity is more reliable when both devices use the same authenticated account. If you joined through a guest link, the second device may create a separate guest session.
Your Organization Restricts the Feature
Work and school accounts are managed by IT policies. Security requirements, conditional-access rules, device-management settings, or account restrictions may prevent the second device from joining normally.
The Active-Meeting Banner Has Not Appeared
Open the Teams calendar on the second device and select the meeting manually. You may see the transfer choice after selecting Join. Also verify that the second device has internet access and that Teams is not stuck in offline mode.
You Are Using a Mobile Browser
Microsoft recommends using the Teams mobile app on phones and tablets. Teams meetings are not fully supported through mobile web browsers, so install the app instead of relying on a browser tab.
Microsoft Support sources consulted: guest joining, mobile limitations, and meeting-connection troubleshooting.
How to Prevent Echo and Audio Feedback
Audio feedback is the most common problem when two devices briefly share the same physical space.
- Mute the second device before joining.
- Use only one device for the microphone and speaker.
- Wear headphones when both devices must remain connected.
- Lower the speaker volume before starting the transfer.
- Move the devices farther apart if you are adding rather than transferring.
On desktop Teams, open the audio settings from the microphone menu during the meeting. Select the correct speaker and microphone instead of trusting automatic detection. On mobile, use the speaker control to choose the phone speaker, earpiece, or a connected Bluetooth device.
If audio still fails, confirm that the operating system has granted microphone permission to Teams. Disconnect and reconnect Bluetooth accessories, test the built-in microphone, and consider joining the audio portion by phone if that option is included in the meeting invitation.
Transferring a Meeting in a Microsoft Teams Room
When you enter a conference room equipped with Microsoft Teams Rooms or a Surface Hub, you may be able to join from your phone as a companion device. This lets the room system handle the main audio and video while your mobile device provides personal controls, chat, reactions, or content-sharing tools.
In this situation, joining as an additional device is often better than transferring completely. Keep the mobile microphone and speaker disabled so the room’s audio system remains the single source of sound.
Some proximity and companion features depend on organizational membership, room configuration, Bluetooth, device permissions, and the equipment deployed by your company. If the room does not appear in Teams, use the meeting invitation or room console to join manually.
Best Practices for a Smooth Device Transfer
- Switch before the battery emergency: Transfer while the original device still has enough power and connectivity to remain in the meeting.
- Mute before moving: This prevents accidental background noise during the transition.
- Check the camera angle: A phone placed flat on a desk gives participants an excellent view of your ceiling fan but not much else.
- Use headphones in shared spaces: Protect meeting privacy and reduce echo.
- Prepare presentation files in advance: Open the files on the destination device before transferring.
- Test unfamiliar devices: Confirm permissions, speakers, microphones, and cameras before important calls.
- Keep Teams updated: Current versions are more likely to include the latest cross-device controls and fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Transfer a Teams Meeting Without Leaving It?
Yes. Use the active-meeting notification on the second device and select Transfer to this device. Teams connects the new device before removing the original one.
Will Other Participants Know That I Changed Devices?
They may briefly notice your video disappear, your audio pause, or your connection status change. However, Teams does not require everyone else to rejoin the meeting.
Can I Keep Both Devices in the Meeting?
Yes. Select Add this device instead of transferring. Disable audio on one of the devices to avoid echo.
Can I Transfer From Windows to an iPhone or Android Phone?
Yes, provided that the Teams app is installed, both devices use the same account, and your organizational policies permit the connection.
Can I Transfer From the Teams Web App?
You may be able to move between a supported desktop browser and the Teams app, but the desktop application generally offers the most consistent device controls. On phones and tablets, use the Teams mobile app rather than a mobile browser.
Does Transferring Stop My Screen Share?
It may interrupt content being presented from the original device. Stop sharing before the transfer and restart it from the new device, or add the second device first when presentation continuity matters.
Can a Guest Transfer a Meeting?
Guest behavior varies depending on how the person joined, which account is active, and the organizer’s policies. Joining both devices with the same authenticated account provides the best chance of seeing the transfer option.
Real-World Experiences When Moving Teams Meetings Between Devices
The easiest transfers usually happen when both devices are already prepared. Consider a project manager who joins a morning status meeting from a laptop but must leave for an appointment before the discussion ends. Instead of announcing an early departure, the manager opens Teams on a phone, taps the active meeting banner, selects Transfer to this device, and checks that the phone is muted. After joining, the laptop disconnects and the conversation continues through Bluetooth earbuds. The entire switch takes less time than explaining why the switch is necessary.
A different situation occurs when someone begins a meeting on a phone while commuting and later arrives at the office. The larger desktop screen is better for reviewing spreadsheets, reading chat messages, and sharing documents. The person opens Teams on the office computer and transfers the meeting. The most common surprise is that the computer chooses a monitor’s built-in speaker or a docking-station microphone instead of the headset. Checking the pre-join audio menu prevents several minutes of enthusiastic talking into the wrong piece of hardware.
Presenters face a more complicated decision. Imagine that a sales representative is sharing a product demonstration from a laptop when the laptop begins overheating. A direct transfer could interrupt the screen share. A safer approach is to add a tablet or second computer without audio, open the required presentation there, and confirm that the content is ready. The presenter can stop sharing on the first device, begin sharing from the second one, and then leave the original device. This controlled handoff avoids showing attendees a desktop full of unrelated windows, unfinished notes, and the mysterious folder named “Final_Final_UseThisOne.”
Meeting-room users often benefit from adding rather than transferring. A participant may join through a Teams Room for high-quality room audio while using a personal phone to follow the chat and send links. The phone should join without audio because two active microphones in one room can create immediate feedback. When configured correctly, this setup combines the room’s professional camera and speakers with the convenience of personal controls.
Weak Wi-Fi introduces another lesson. If a laptop connection becomes unstable, transferring to a phone using cellular data can rescue the meeting. However, turning off Wi-Fi on the phone before the transfer may be necessary when the phone is connected to the same unreliable network. Video also consumes more data and battery power, so using audio only may provide a more stable mobile experience.
The most frustrating transfers usually involve account mismatches. A user may be signed in with a work account on the laptop but a personal account on the phone. Instead of offering a transfer, Teams treats the phone as a new participant. Verifying the profile and organization before the meeting solves this problem. For people who work with several client organizations, labeling accounts and checking the active tenant can save considerable confusion.
These experiences point to one practical rule: do not treat device switching as an emergency feature you test for the first time during an executive presentation. Try it during an informal meeting. Learn where the transfer banner appears, confirm which headset Teams selects, and practice the difference between transferring and adding. Once the process is familiar, moving a Teams meeting between devices feels less like troubleshooting and more like changing seats.
Conclusion
To transfer a Microsoft Teams meeting to another device, open Teams on the destination device, select the active meeting, choose Transfer to this device, configure the new audio and video settings, and join. The original device should disconnect automatically after the new connection is established.
Choose Add this device when you want both devices to remain connected, such as when using one screen for video and another for content. Keep audio active on only one nearby device, verify that both devices use the same account, and prepare presentation files before switching.
Note: Microsoft periodically updates Teams interfaces and feature availability. Button names or locations may vary slightly by app version, device type, account, meeting policy, and organization settings.
