How to Transfer a Call in Microsoft Teams

Transferring calls in Microsoft Teams works differently depending on whether you are using Teams for internal calls between colleagues or using Teams Phone (the Microsoft 365 VoIP system) for external calls. This guide covers both scenarios, including blind transfers, warm transfers, and sending callers directly to voicemail.

Types of Call Transfer in Teams

During any active call in Microsoft Teams, you have two transfer options available:

• Transfer — sends the call to someone else immediately and removes you from the call entirely. Also called a blind transfer.
• Consult then transfer — lets you speak privately to the recipient before connecting them to the caller. This is also known as a supervised transfer or warm transfer, and is useful when you need to brief a colleague before handing over.

Which option you choose depends on how much context the recipient needs before taking the call.

How to Do a Blind Transfer (Immediate)

A blind transfer is the quickest way to hand a call off. The caller is transferred without you speaking to the recipient first.

1. During an active call, click the three dots (More actions) in the call controls bar at the top of the screen.
2. Select Transfer.
3. Type the name of a colleague or, if your organisation uses Teams Phone, a phone number.
4. Click Transfer now.

The call is passed to the recipient and you are removed immediately. The recipient’s phone will ring and, when they answer, they are connected directly to the original caller.

[Screenshot: Teams call controls bar with the three-dot More actions menu open, showing the Transfer option highlighted]

How to Do a Consult Then Transfer (Warm Transfer)

If you want to brief the recipient before connecting the caller, use the consult then transfer option. This puts the original caller on hold while you speak privately to the person you are transferring to.

1. During an active call, click the three dots (More actions).
2. Select Transfer.
3. Click Consult then transfer.
4. Type the name or number of the recipient and click Consult.
5. The original caller is placed on hold. You can now speak to the recipient privately to explain who is calling and why.
6. When you are ready, click Transfer to connect the two parties. You will be removed from the call.

[Screenshot: Consult then transfer screen in Teams showing the original caller on hold and the new recipient being dialled]

This approach is particularly useful for customer-facing teams where context matters, or when passing a call to a senior colleague or specialist.

Transferring to Voicemail

You can send a caller directly to a colleague’s voicemail without their phone ringing at all. This is helpful when you know the recipient is unavailable or in a meeting.

1. Click the three dots (More actions) during the call.
2. Select Transfer.
3. Type the recipient’s name.
4. Next to their name in the search results, select the voicemail icon rather than their name directly.

The caller will be routed straight to that person’s Teams voicemail. This option is only available for internal Teams contacts, not external numbers.

Requirements for Call Transfer

Call transfer is available in the following situations:

• Teams-to-Teams internal calls between colleagues in the same organisation
• Teams Phone (PSTN) calls, provided your organisation has Teams Phone licences included in or added to your Microsoft 365 plan

Call transfer does not apply to:

• Standard Teams meeting calls — use the meeting controls to manage participants instead
• Video calls between personal Microsoft accounts

In the UK, Teams Phone is available as an add-on to Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, and Enterprise plans, or is included with Microsoft 365 Business Voice bundles. If you are unsure whether your organisation has it enabled, check with your IT administrator or look under Settings > Calls in Teams — if the Calls tab is not visible, Teams Phone is not active on your account.

If the Transfer Option Is Not Available

If you do not see a Transfer option when clicking the three dots during a call, there are a few likely causes:

• Your organisation does not have Teams Phone enabled
• You are on a meeting call rather than a direct one-to-one call
• Your IT administrator has restricted call controls for your account

Speak to your IT team or Microsoft 365 administrator to confirm whether Teams Phone is part of your licence and whether call transfer has been enabled for your user profile.

Adding a Third Person to a Call Instead

If you do not have transfer available, or if you want to introduce the two parties to each other before leaving the call, you can add a third participant instead.

1. During an active call, click Add people in the call controls.
2. Type the name or number of the person you want to bring in.
3. They will be invited into the call, creating a three-way group call.

Unlike a transfer, you remain on the call when using Add people. This is useful when you need to make an introduction or hand over context before dropping off. You can then leave the group call manually once the handover is complete.

Related articles: How to Use Microsoft Teams on Mobile: Android and iPhone Guide, Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete UK Guide, How File Sharing Works in Microsoft Teams: Where Files Are Stored

For a full index of every Teams guide and troubleshooting fix on Serverman, see the Microsoft Teams complete guide and troubleshooting hub.