Working better together: A simple guide to Microsoft Loop in Outlook and Teams

Author: Tech Advisory

Collaboration should be easy, not a chore. That’s why Microsoft Loop is such a game changer for teams of all sizes. It’s a simple way to keep your notes, lists, and tasks right where your conversations are happening, whether that’s in a quick Teams chat or a formal Outlook invite. This guide will show you just how easy it is to start using Loop components to keep your team organized, connected, and on the same page.

Understanding Loop components

Loop components are live, editable modules that bring your team’s work together in one spot. They turn static messages into active collaboration hubs, making it easier than ever for everyone to stay on track and in sync.

Today, Loop components are more integrated than ever, with task lists automatically syncing with Microsoft Planner and To Do. The types of Loop components you can use in Teams and Outlook include:

• Checklists, Bulleted lists, and Numbered lists
• Tables and Paragraphs
• Task lists (now with automatic sync to Planner and To Do)
• Voting tables (to reach team consensus quickly)
• Progress trackers (to monitor project milestones)
• Q&A

How to create Loop components

In Teams

1. Open Microsoft Teams and navigate to the desired Chat or Channel.
2. In the message compose box, click on the Loop Components icon (a connected loop). Make sure the text box has no text in it when you do this.
3. Select the type of component you want to insert (e.g., Task list, Table, or Paragraph).
4. Enter a Title for your component. This title also serves as the file name in your OneDrive, making it easier to search for later.
5. Once your component is created, you can start adding content. Everyone in the chat or channel can now edit it simultaneously.
6. To see who is editing, look for the live avatars in the top right corner of the component to see who is currently viewing or making changes.

In Outlook

1. Open Outlook and create a New Email or Calendar Event.
2. In the toolbar, go to the Message tab (or Insert tab for Calendar) and click on the Loop Components icon.
3. Choose the type of Loop component you want to insert.
4. Enter your content. If you are in a Calendar event, this is an ideal way to build a live meeting agenda that attendees can update before the meeting starts.
5. To add a file or link, you can @mention people or use the “/” (slash) command within the component to quickly insert dates, people, or additional lists.
6. Every component created in Outlook is automatically saved to your OneDrive. You can later open it on Office.com if you need a larger workspace.

How to share and manage components

Once you have added content to your Loop component, you can share it across different platforms. To do this, click on the Copy link icon in the upper right corner of the component.

You can then paste this link into a Teams chat, another Outlook email, or even a OneNote canvas. No matter where the link is pasted, the content remains “live.” Any edit made in the Teams chat will instantly update in the Outlook email and vice versa.

By default, Loop components sent via Outlook are shared based on your organization’s existing permissions. You can change these permissions (e.g., to “People in your organization”) by clicking on the component’s name in the top left corner and adjusting the share settings.

If you want to learn more about how to improve workplace collaboration using Microsoft 365, give our experts a call today.