With everybody working from home these days, collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams are an indispensable part of the workflow. Microsoft Teams offers seamless integration with various tools including whiteboard apps that come in handy during group meetings and discussions.
In this article, we will discuss how you can enable and use the collaborative power of the Freehand app right within Microsoft Teams. The app has also gained an increase in its user-base recently due to the setback that the world is having right now.
What’s New in Freehand Virtual Whiteboard App
In line with its growth, InVision, the developer behind Freehand virtual whiteboard app announced new updates to even improve customer satisfaction in using the tool.
New features include sticky notes that come in multiple colors, sizes, and text options. Freehand now also comes with six new templates to start your digital whiteboarding exercise namely;
- Brainstorming
- Wireframing
- Retrospectives
- Standups
- Diagrams
- Ice breakers
One of the interesting features new to Freehand is the democratized access to the whiteboard itself. Users will not have constraints with time or space when using Freehand. They don’t have to go in, one person at a time. All members of a team can go in and add their thoughts and ideas to the digital whiteboard before, during, or after a meeting.
InVision has also added some fine-tuning with the virtual whiteboard features. This includes a brand new toolbar that allows easier drawing of shapes, alignment, color and opacity features, and better controls for turning lines into precise arrows or end-points for diagrams.
How to Enable Freehand by InVision Whiteboard App in Microsoft Teams
In order to use Freehand, you should have permission to allow external apps in Microsoft Teams. If not, you might need to ask the admin of your Office 365 organization account to grant you such ability.
Install Freehand Whiteboard in Microsoft Teams
To enable the Freehand by InVision app in Microsoft Teams, you need to install it first. Follow these methods:
- Click the Apps icon on the left sidebar of the Microsoft Teams screen.
- Search for the Freehand by InVision app.
- Click the Add to a team button.
- If you want to add the app to a specific chat only, click the drop-down and select Add to a chat.
- Search for a channel where you’d like to add the app and click Set up a tab.
- You will need to sign in to InVision. Once signed in, a pop-up modal will appear, prompting you to attach a new or existing Freehand.
Add Freehands to Microsoft Teams Channels
After the app is installed, you can now embed any existing or new freehand to a channel in Microsoft Teams. Everyone in the channel will be able to join the freehand and collaborate in real-time.
To add a freehand to a channel:
- Open the Microsoft Teams channel you want to work on.
- Click the + icon at the top of the page.
- Select Freehand by InVision.
- Choose an existing freehand or click New Freehand.
- Enter a freehand name and select an account.
- Click Save.
- You can now begin creating your freehand.
Rename the Freehand by InVision Tab in Microsoft Teams
Users can rename the Freehand by InVision tab inside Microsoft Teams for further customization. Please note, that this action does not rename the freehand in InVision, it only renames the tab in that specific channel.
To rename the tab:
- Open the Microsoft Teams channel that you want to work on.
- Click the tab associated with the freehand.
- Next to the tab name, click the drop-down and select Rename.
- Enter a new name and click Save.
Remove a Freehand from a Microsoft Teams Channel
- Open your Microsoft Teams channel.
- Click the tab associated with the freehand.
- Next to the tab name, click the drop-down and select Remove.
- To confirm, click Remove.
That’s it! Hopefully, you are already scribbling your new ideas in Freehand virtual whiteboard inside Microsoft Teams by now. Aside from Microsoft Teams, Freehand by InVision has also direct integration with Slack.
