> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ahaslides.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AhaSlides for Microsoft Teams

> Install the AhaSlides Teams add-in to run live polls, quizzes, and word clouds directly inside your Teams meetings — no screen sharing required.

The AhaSlides add-in brings your interactive presentations directly into Microsoft Teams. Participants respond from their phones or laptops while you present — no screen sharing, no separate links, no switching apps.

Once the add-in is installed, you access your AhaSlides library from a dedicated button in the Teams meeting toolbar. Pick a presentation, hit Share, and your slides go live. Participants see the interactive panel on their own devices and respond in real time — you see results update on your presenter view as they come in.

## Installing the Add-in

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="From a Channel or Chat Tab">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the channel or chat">
        Navigate to the Teams channel or group chat where you want to add AhaSlides.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Click the + (Add a tab) button">
        Find and click the **+** button at the top of the channel or chat.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Search for AhaSlides">
        Type **AhaSlides** in the search bar and select it from the results.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Sign in">
        Sign in with your AhaSlides account. AhaSlides opens as a persistent tab in that channel or chat.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="From the Meeting Toolbar">
    The AhaSlides button appears directly in your meeting toolbar. Click **AhaSlides** to open the panel, browse your presentations, and start presenting.

    <Note>
      If you don't see the AhaSlides button, click **Apps** in the toolbar and add it from there.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Presenting in a Meeting

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the panel">
    Click **AhaSlides** in the meeting toolbar. The panel opens on the right side of the Teams window, showing your presentation library — individual presentations and folders, each with slide count and participant stats.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse your library">
    Your presentations appear as a scrollable list with folder groupings. Tap any folder to browse the presentations inside it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a presentation">
    Click **Share** on any presentation to go live. Your slides appear in the main meeting view, visible to all participants.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate slides">
    Use the **← →** arrows or click any thumbnail in the slide strip at the bottom to jump between slides. The current slide number (e.g. **4 / 10**) is shown in the centre.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Use presenter notes">
    A **Notes** panel sits to the right of the slide. Click to add or view speaker notes for the current slide — only you can see these.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch presentations if needed">
    The AhaSlides panel stays open alongside your presentation. Browse and switch to a different presentation at any time without leaving the meeting.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What Participants See

Participants open the AhaSlides panel on their own devices — no join code needed when they're already in the Teams meeting. The participant screen is split into four tabs:

| Tab                  | What it shows                                                                |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Slides** (default) | The current interactive slide — input fields, answer options, voting buttons |
| **List**             | A scrollable list of all slides in the deck                                  |
| **Q\&A**             | Questions from the audience, sortable by Top / New / Answered / My questions |
| **Profile**          | Participant name and settings                                                |

## Responding to Slides

Participants interact directly from the panel:

* **Word Cloud** — type up to 3 words and submit; words appear instantly on the presenter's cloud
* **Poll** — select an answer; bar chart updates live for the presenter
* **Open Ended** — type a response and optionally upload an image
* **Rating Scale** — drag or tap to rate; results appear as a wavy line chart
* **Brainstorm** — submit ideas, then vote on others' submissions in a second phase
* **Quiz** — choose an answer before the timer runs out; get instant right/wrong feedback
* **Q\&A** — type and submit questions at any time; upvote questions from other participants

After answering, participants see: *"You have already answered this question. Please wait for the presenter to show the next slide."*

### Emoji Reactions

At the bottom of the participant panel, five emoji reactions (👍 ❤️ 😂 😮 😠) let participants express themselves at any time during the session. Reaction counts are visible to both presenter and participants.

### Ask a Question

An **Ask a question** button is always visible on the participant panel, regardless of which slide is active. This lets participants submit Q\&A questions at any point — not just on a dedicated Q\&A slide.

## Tips

<Tip>
  * **You don't need a Q\&A slide to take questions.** The "Ask a question" button is visible on every slide. Dedicated Q\&A slides give you a full question board on the presenter view; the button approach works silently in the background.
  * **Folders keep large libraries manageable.** Organise presentations into folders (e.g. "Enterprise onboarding", "Team performance") so you can find the right deck quickly mid-meeting.
  * **Emoji reactions run throughout the session.** Participants can react to any slide, not just interactive ones — useful for pacing and reading the room.
  * **Participant names are set at join.** Participants enter a display name when they connect (e.g. "Celine"). This name appears on Q\&A submissions and quiz leaderboards.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

<Warning>
  **Participants cannot see the content shared by the presenter.** The presenter shares a presentation, but participants see an error message instead of the slides. This is a Microsoft Teams limitation — AhaSlides has no control over it. It occurs when the participant is joining as a **guest** (i.e. they don't have a Microsoft Teams account).

  Ask the participant to sign in with a Microsoft Teams account and rejoin the meeting. If the participant doesn't have a Teams account, use the screen sharing workaround instead: open your presentation in a browser, go live, then share your screen in Teams. Participants can join via the access code as usual.
</Warning>

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do participants need to install the Teams add-in?">
    No. Participants see the AhaSlides panel automatically when you share a presentation. They only need to be in the Teams meeting.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do participants need an AhaSlides account?">
    No. Participants join as guests with a display name. An account is only required to create and present.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use AhaSlides without the add-in?">
    Yes. Open your presentation in a browser, go live, then use Teams' screen sharing to present. Participants join via the access code as usual. This works but doesn't give participants the integrated panel experience.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I switch between presentations mid-meeting?">
    Yes. The AhaSlides panel stays open while you present. Browse your library and click Share on a different presentation at any time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the add-in available on mobile Teams?">
    The presenter experience is optimised for desktop Teams. Participants can always respond from any device.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>


## Related topics

- [AhaSlides App for Hopin](/integrations/ahaslides-app-for-hopin.md)
- [How to integrate AhaSlides into your WebEx meeting](/integrations/how-to-integrate-ahaslides-into-your-webex-meeting.md)
- [Using PowerPoint's AhaSlides Add-in](/integrations/using-powerpoint-s-ahaslides-add-in.md)
- [Using the AhaSlides App on Zoom](/integrations/using-the-ahaslides-app-on-zoom.md)
- [AhaSlides: Interactive Presentations & Live Engagement](/getting-started/what-is-ahaslides.md)