Microsoft Teams Update: Customizable Notification Positions Now Available

If you've ever found yourself in a heated virtual meeting only to be interrupted by an annoyingly placed notification banner, you’re not alone. In fact, thousands—yes, thousands—of Microsoft Teams users have voiced their frustration with notification positioning. For years, this odd, seemingly minor design choice has quietly irked users. Well, the wait is officially over, folks! Microsoft has heard your cries, stormed the barricades of oversight, and taken action. Notification freedom has finally arrived for Teams Windows users—or at least for the lucky few in the Public Preview and Targeted Release programs. Let’s unpack everything you need to know about this long-requested feature, its benefits, and how to get it.

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What’s New?​

In this latest update to Microsoft Teams, users can now customize the position of their banner notifications. This might sound trivial, but considering the volume of complaints, it’s a game-changer for productivity junkies who’ve been battling invasive pop-ups since Teams launched.
Previously, Teams notifications were set to pop up slightly above the bottom-right corner of the screen, a placement that annoyed many, especially when it obstructed key UI elements or workflows. Now, Microsoft has rolled out four options for users to control notification positioning:

• Bottom right (classic placement, with a subtle tweak)
• Top right
• Bottom left
• Top left

The result? You, the user, get to dictate where incoming messages temporarily flash, allowing more flexibility for workflow optimization and fewer rage-inducing interruptions during critical tasks.

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Why This Change Matters​

Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the boardroom: Why are notification banners such a big deal, anyway? Aren’t they just a shift in pixels on a display? Not exactly.

Banner Placement Meets Productivity​

Notifications are essential, but poor placement can cripple focus. From mispositioned task reminders covering icons to message previews disrupting live editing in spreadsheets, productivity takes a hit when core UI elements compete with notifications for space. Hence, banner positioning is not merely cosmetic; it’s about workflow ergonomics.
Think about it: if you're working on mission-critical spreadsheets or presenting PowerPoint slides during an important client call, the last thing you need is an oversized notification covering parts of your shared screen. By offering custom banner positioning, Teams gives you the power to reclaim control—streamlining your digital workspace and elevating productivity through thoughtful design choices.

Community Driven: A Case Study in Listening​

This update stands out as a win for community feedback. A staggering 20,000 views and 387 upvotes on a Microsoft Community post about banner placement underscored just how widespread user demand really was. Even though it felt like Microsoft dragged its feet on this issue, it’s worth applauding them for finally addressing it.
The takeaway? Feature changes in productivity software should be driven by user needs, not executive intuition. And with more than 280 million monthly active Teams users, even small quality-of-life improvements can have massive impacts.

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Who Gets It (and When)?​

Here’s the not-so-exciting news: This customization feature isn’t rolling out globally just yet. Microsoft has limited the feature to:

• Teams Public Preview participants
• Users in the Microsoft 365 Targeted Release program

If you’re already enrolled in these programs (lucky you), you can dive into the new notification settings now. If not, you’ll need to either join one of these channels or patiently wait until Microsoft rolls it out globally, which could take weeks—or potentially even months.

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How to Access and Configure the New Feature​

To make the functionality your own, follow these steps:

• Open Microsoft Teams on your Windows PC.
• Go to Settings (click your profile picture in the upper-right corner).
• Navigate to Notifications and activity under the Settings menu.
• Look for the Display option under this category.
• Choose your preferred banner position:
• Bottom right
• Top right
• Bottom left
• Top left

Not Seeing the Option? Here’s Why​

If the customization menu isn’t available to you, chances are you’re not part of the Public Preview or Targeted Release groups. To get this functionality first:

• Join the Teams Public Preview Program through your organization (note: IT admins often control this access).
• Alternatively, check with your Microsoft 365 admin to see if you qualify for the Targeted Release version.

Until general availability arrives for all users, you’ll have to wait and watch as early adopters reap the benefits of customizable notification positioning.

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A Glimpse Into the Future of Teams​

This banner update adds to Microsoft’s ongoing campaign to make Teams a masterclass in user-driven enhancements. Just last month, Teams introduced other highly requested features, such as dark mode for Excel sheets and major optimizations for the Teams web client. Microsoft is hinting that 2025 will bring even more impactful updates for Teams.
Some rumors within the community and Microsoft's Tech Blog hint at features like:

• Improved meeting transcriptions with AI-driven contextual suggestions.
• The long-awaited offline message queuing.
• Enhanced poll and survey integration for smoother team collaboration.

These updates, combined with notification freedom, show how Microsoft is finally prioritizing fixing longstanding user pain points. Fingers crossed the trend continues.

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Is This Just the Beginning for Microsoft Teams Customization?​

Let’s take a step back and think big picture for a moment. Smart companies listen—and Microsoft seems to be leaning into this mantra. The customization of banner notifications could set a precedent for other quality-of-life features in Microsoft Teams and beyond.
For instance:

• Will we get custom notification tones, much like a mobile device?
• Will Microsoft expand these layout customizations to cover the default arrangement of chat windows?
• Could banner prioritization settings be on the way, allowing users to prioritize certain notifications while demoting others?

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What You Can Do Today​

• If you’re eligible for Public Preview or Targeted Release, hop into those notification settings and start experimenting with your newfound freedom.
• If you’re not, stay vocal! Use the Settings > Feedback menu to let Microsoft know you want broader, faster availability for this feature.
• Consider signing up for the Public Preview or coordinating with your IT admin to expedite access.

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Final Word​

Small, thoughtful changes can make all the difference in software we use daily—and this new notification customization for Microsoft Teams proves it. What may seem like a niche feature is actually a productivity-enhancer for millions of users worldwide.
Meanwhile, Microsoft still has miles to go in addressing other workflow issues across its productivity suite. But hey, this marks significant progress. Is it enough to get us singing Teams’ praises as the communication king? Maybe not yet. But they’ve moved the needle in the right direction—and that definitely deserves a nod. What do you think? Are notification banners critical in your workflow, or is this just a long overdue adjustment you didn’t notice? Jump into the discussion and share your thoughts below!

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Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/teams-users-get-long-awaited-notification-freedom-they-wished-for/