Microsoft has released a new version of its popular communication and collaboration app, Teams, for Windows PCs and Macs. The new app promises to run faster and use less system resources than the previous version, which was based on the Electron framework. The new app also supports all the features of Teams, including breakout rooms, third-party app integration, and multiple high-resolution monitors.
How the new Teams app improves performance on Windows
The new Teams app is based on Microsoft’s Edge WebView2 backend, which is a component that allows developers to embed web content in their native applications. WebView2 is based on the Chromium browser engine, which is also used by Electron. However, WebView2 has some advantages over Electron when it comes to performance and disk space usage.
One of the main benefits of WebView2 is that it can share the same system files and runtime as the Edge browser that is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. This means that WebView2 apps do not need to include their own version of the browser files, which can take up a lot of space and need to be updated separately. WebView2 apps can also leverage the performance optimizations and security features of Edge.
Microsoft claims that the new Teams app is “up to two times faster while using 50 percent less memory” on Windows systems. This should make Teams more responsive and reliable, especially on older or low-end PCs. Microsoft also says that the new app reduces disk space usage by 30 percent on average.
How the new Teams app improves performance on Macs
Macs do not have the Edge browser or WebView2 built-in, so the new Teams app still needs to include its own dependencies and update them separately from other WebView2 apps on the same system. However, Microsoft says that the new app still offers some performance improvements over the old Electron-based app on Macs.
According to Microsoft, the new Teams app improves Mac performance by making it faster to switch channels, improving scrolling performance, using device resources more efficiently, and optimizing Teams experience even when using multiple high-resolution monitors during calls or meetings.
Microsoft also says that the new app supports native macOS features such as notifications, dark mode, touch bar, and keyboard shortcuts.
How to get the new Teams app
The new Teams app is available for download today for Windows PCs and Macs. Users of the current Teams app will see a toggle in the upper-left corner that will automatically switch them over to the new app. All users of the current Teams app will be upgraded to the new one “in the coming months.”
Microsoft has been developing and improving Teams as one of its flagship products for remote work and hybrid work scenarios. However, Microsoft has also faced some criticism and regulatory scrutiny for how it bundles Teams with its other Microsoft 365 products and Windows 11 operating system. In response to complaints from Slack and an investigation by the European Commission, Microsoft has agreed to unbundle Teams from its other products in Europe. The version of Teams that is currently built into Windows 11 and present on the taskbar by default is also being removed from the OS starting this fall.
