@mentions in Microsoft Teams work the same way as on social media — type @ followed by a name to send a direct notification to that person, even if they are not actively watching the conversation. Knowing how to use them correctly saves time and reduces missed messages. Whether you are working in a busy channel or a one-to-one chat, mentions are the most reliable way to make sure the right people see your message promptly.
How to @Mention a Person
You can use a personal @mention in any message box — whether that is a direct chat, a channel post, or a reply within a thread.
- Click into the message box at the bottom of the conversation.
- Type @ and then begin typing the person’s name.
- A dropdown list of matching names will appear. Select the correct person from the list.
- Their name will appear highlighted in your message text.
- Send your message as normal.
Once sent, the recipient receives a notification regardless of what they are currently doing in Teams — even if they are in another channel or have stepped away from their desk. The message also appears in their Activity feed so they can find it easily when they return.
[Screenshot: A Teams message box showing the @ dropdown with a list of suggested names as the user types]
How to @Mention a Team or Channel
Teams allows you to mention an entire team or a specific channel, which sends a notification to multiple people at once.
- @Team name — notifies every member of that Team, whether or not they are currently active.
- @Channel name — notifies everyone who is following that specific channel.
To use either, type @ in the message box and begin typing the team or channel name. Teams will show both people and teams or channels in the dropdown — look for the label indicating it is a team or channel rather than an individual.
Both options should be used with care. Sending a notification to an entire team or channel can quickly become disruptive if done frequently for low-priority messages.
[Screenshot: Teams dropdown showing the distinction between a person result and a Team result when typing @]
@Mention Types and When to Use Each
| Mention type | Who gets notified | When to use | Overuse warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| @name | One specific person | When the message is relevant to that individual — a question, task, or update directed at them | Low risk, but avoid mentioning someone repeatedly in quick succession |
| @team | All members of a Team | Announcements or information that genuinely applies to every team member | High impact — notifies everyone, including those on leave or in meetings |
| @channel | Everyone following that channel | Channel-wide updates, reminders, or requests relevant to the channel’s purpose | Can create notification fatigue if used for minor updates |
| @everyone | Every member of the channel, regardless of follow settings | Critical, time-sensitive announcements only — such as a system outage or urgent safety information | Very high impact — overrides preferences and reaches all members; use very rarely |
Responding to an @Mention
If you have been mentioned in a message, the quickest way to find it is through the Activity feed.
- Click the bell icon in the left-hand sidebar to open your Activity feed.
- Use the filter option at the top right of the feed and select @mentions.
- This displays every message where you have been mentioned, across all chats and channels, in chronological order.
- Click any entry to jump directly to that message in context.
This is particularly useful if you have been away from Teams for a period and need to catch up on anything requiring your attention without scrolling through every channel manually.
[Screenshot: The Activity feed in Teams with the filter dropdown open, showing the @mentions filter option selected]
Turning Off @Mention Notifications
If @team or @channel mentions are generating too many notifications — a common issue in large organisations — you can adjust the settings without disabling personal @mentions.
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Teams.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Go to Notifications in the left-hand panel.
- Scroll to the Mentions section.
- You can change @team and @channel mentions to banner only, feed only, or off — while keeping personal @mentions set to banner and feed so you never miss a direct notification.
This configuration suits most users working in active organisations where team-wide mentions are common but personal mentions require immediate attention.
@Mentions in Channel Posts vs Replies
When you need to bring someone into an existing conversation, @mentioning them in a reply within the thread is nearly always better than starting a new post.
Replying keeps the full context visible — the person you mention can read the preceding messages immediately and understand the situation without you having to explain it again. The notification they receive links directly to the reply within the thread, not to an isolated message with no background.
Starting a new post with an @mention is more appropriate when you are raising a new topic, not when you are continuing a discussion that already exists in the channel.
Common @Mention Mistakes
A few habits quickly become a source of frustration for the people you work with.
- @mentioning an entire team for something relevant to one person. If your message is directed at a single colleague, use their name — not the whole team. Broadcasting a personal request wastes everyone else’s attention.
- Not mentioning anyone and expecting a response. A message posted to a channel without any @mention may go unread for hours, especially in busy teams. If you need someone to act, tell them directly.
- Using @everyone unnecessarily. This mention overrides Do Not Disturb settings for all channel members, which means it interrupts people even when they have deliberately set themselves as unavailable. Reserve it for genuinely urgent communications.
- Mentioning someone in the wrong channel. Always check you are posting in a channel relevant to the topic. Dropping an @mention in an unrelated channel adds confusion and makes it harder for others to follow the conversation.
Used thoughtfully, @mentions are one of the most effective tools in Teams for keeping communication clear and ensuring the right people are looped in at the right time.
Related articles: Microsoft Teams Chat vs Channels: What’s the Difference?, How to Pin a Message in Microsoft Teams, How to Search in Microsoft Teams, How to Set Out of Office in Microsoft Teams
For a full index of every Teams guide and troubleshooting fix on Serverman, see the Microsoft Teams complete guide and troubleshooting hub.
