Summary
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Microsoft Teams can open message links in a new window, so linked messages don’t steal your current chat.
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You can use “Open in new window” in the More options menu or Ctrl+click to view linked chats side by side.
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The feature is rolling out right now for desktop devices – it is expected to be available no later than mid-August 2026.
When you’re deep in a Microsoft Teams chat with someone, the last thing you want to do is divide your attention between what’s being said and the message they’ve just linked to you. Right now, Teams users have had to master the art of juggling between the two. Fortunately, Microsoft has announced that it is adding a new option to open message links in a new window, making it much easier to monitor the current conversation.
Microsoft Teams is getting a useful way to open message links
No more back and forth
In an advertisement in Microsoft 365 Message CenterThe company breaks down what it is planning with Teams. Right now, if you click on a link that leads to a message or channel in Teams, the software will instantly direct you. If you’re in the middle of a conversation and want to click on a linked message while keeping up with what’s being said, it can be annoying to ping-pong between the two.
Fortunately, Microsoft is rolling out a useful new feature that will essentially treat message links as if you clicked on a URL:
Microsoft Teams introduces the ability to open message links in a new window. This improvement brings browser-like behavior to Teams, allowing users to view linked messages, chats, or channels side by side without losing the context of their current conversation. This update supports greater collaboration and multitasking efficiency, aligning with Microsoft’s goal of improving personal and team productivity.
You can open a message link in its own window by selecting “Open in new window” from the message’s “More Options” menu, or you can hold down CTRL/Cmd and click it. Microsoft says the feature is currently rolling out and everyone should have this useful feature on their PC by mid-August 2026.
