Using WRITER for Microsoft Teams

Last updated: August 28, 2026

WRITER for Microsoft Teams lets you interact with WRITER Agent from inside Microsoft Teams itself. You can start a session, run a playbook, or resume a previous session from a Teams chat or channel. The WRITER Agent app lives in your Teams environment, and you communicate with it through direct chats, channel @mentions, and slash commands.

Important: WRITER for Microsoft Teams requires a Teams admin to install the WRITER Agent app into your Teams environment. If the app is not available in your Teams, contact your Teams admin.

WRITER for Microsoft Teams is distinct from the Microsoft Teams connector. WRITER for Microsoft Teams lets you interact with WRITER Agent from inside Teams. The Microsoft Teams connector lets WRITER Agent take actions in Teams from within a WRITER Agent session.

Setting up WRITER for Microsoft Teams

Setting up WRITER for Microsoft Teams takes three steps: adding the WRITER app in Teams, connecting your WRITER account, and selecting your WRITER team.

Step 1: Add the WRITER app in Microsoft Teams

Important: A Teams admin must install the WRITER app into your organization before you can connect. If the app is not available in your Teams environment, contact your Teams admin

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  1. In Microsoft Teams, select Apps from the left navigation bar.

  2. Search for WRITER and select it from the results.

  3. Select Open to open a direct chat with the agent.

Step 2: Connect your WRITER account

  1. In your direct chat with WRITER, type login and send the message.

  2. The WRITER agent responds with a card prompting you to connect. Select Connect to WRITER.

  3. Complete the authentication flow in the browser window that opens.

  4. The agent confirms your connection, displaying your organization and team.

After logging in, a team picker appears so you can select the right team.

Once you have made your selection, your WRITER for Microsoft Teams setup is complete and you are ready to use WRITER Agent from Teams.

Slash commands

Once connected, use the following slash commands in your Teams chat with WRITER:

  • /writer help — Show available commands

  • /writer login — Authenticate with your WRITER account

  • /writer logout — Log out from your WRITER account

  • /writer playbooks — Run a playbook

Note: Inactive slash commands need a moment to warm up. If you receive a "trouble connecting" error, wait three seconds and select Submit again.

Starting a new session

Open a direct chat with WRITER and type your message or instruction. WRITER Agent processes your request and responds directly in Teams.

@mentioning WRITER Agent in a channel

You can bring WRITER Agent into any Teams channel by @mentioning it.

Important: Before @mentioning WRITER Agent in a channel, add the app to the team. The app does not auto-join channels. If you @mention the agent and nothing happens, the app has not been added to the team.

  1. In the channel where you want to use WRITER Agent, type @WRITER.

  2. Confirm the app appears in the channel member list.

  3. Type @WRITER followed by your message or instruction.

  4. WRITER Agent reads the context and responds directly in Teams.

Using WRITER in group chats

WRITER can be added to group chats, but Microsoft Teams does not allow bots to be added to existing group chats after the fact. To use WRITER in a group chat, start a new conversation that includes WRITER as a member from the outset. Once the agent is in the group chat, it persists for the remainder of that conversation.

Important: You cannot add WRITER to an existing group chat. Create a new group chat that includes WRITER from the start.

Running playbooks from Microsoft Teams

Playbooks can be triggered conversationally, just by mentioning a playbook to @WRITER in a channel or a DM, no slash command required. To trigger a playbook via a slash command you can:

  1. In your WRITER chat, type /writer playbooks.

  2. Enter your playbook name 

  3. WRITER Agent executes the playbook and reports results directly in Teams.

Important: Playbooks must be published (not saved as drafts) and shared with your account or your team to appear in the playbook picker. Draft or unshared playbooks will not surface in Teams.

Using WRITER on Microsoft Teams mobile apps

Every function described in this article can be completed on mobile devices via the Microsoft Teams app.

Working with files

You can share files directly with WRITER Agent in your Teams chat. WRITER Agent can parse and work with both business documents and media files, making it useful for extracting information, summarizing content, and transcribing audio — all without leaving Teams.

Supported file types

WRITER Agent supports the following file categories:

  • Business documents: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, CSV, TXT, and other common office formats

  • Images: PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP

  • Audio: MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, FLAC

  • Video: MP4, MOV, WebM

Sharing a file with WRITER Agent

  1. Open your direct chat with WRITER.

  2. Select the Attach (paperclip) icon in the message input area.

  3. Choose the file you want to share from your device or OneDrive.

  4. Add a message with your instruction, such as "Summarize this report" or "Extract the key metrics from this spreadsheet."

  5. Select Send.

  6. WRITER Agent processes the file and responds directly in Teams.

Tip: Include a specific instruction with your file so WRITER Agent knows what you need. For example, "Extract the action items from this meeting notes PDF" produces more useful output than attaching the file alone.

Working with media files

WRITER Agent can transcribe audio and video files, extract text from images, and describe visual content. This makes it useful for processing recorded meetings, voice notes, screenshots, and photos.

Example prompts:

  • "Transcribe this audio recording and summarize the key points."

  • "Extract the text from this screenshot."

  • "Describe what's shown in this image and identify any issues."

Capturing and sharing files on mobile

On the Microsoft Teams mobile app, you can capture content directly and share it with WRITER Agent in a single flow:

  • Snap a photo: Use the camera to photograph a whiteboard, printed document, receipt, or any physical material, then send it to WRITER Agent for text extraction, summarization, or analysis.

  • Record a voice note: Record an audio clip and send it to WRITER Agent for transcription and processing.

  • Share from your camera roll: Attach existing photos or videos from your device.

Tip: On mobile, snapping a photo of a whiteboard or printed document and asking WRITER Agent to extract and organize the text is a quick way to digitize physical content.

Troubleshooting

The bot isn't responding to my @mention in a channel

WRITER Agent does not auto-join channels. Add the app to the team before @mentioning it.

  1. In the channel where you want to use WRITER Agent, type @WRITER.

  2. Confirm the app appears in the channel member list.

  3. Type your @WRITER message again.

My playbooks aren't showing in the playbook picker

Playbooks must be published and shared with your account or team to appear in Teams.

  1. Open the WRITER web app and confirm the playbook is published, not saved as a draft.

  2. Confirm the playbook is shared with you directly or via your team.

  3. If the playbook was recently created or updated, save or republish it in the WRITER web app.

  4. Return to Teams and run /writer playbooks again.

I'm getting a "trouble connecting" error when using a slash command

Inactive slash commands need a moment to warm up. Wait three seconds and select Submit again. This is typically a one-time behavior per session.

I'm getting a "something went wrong" error

This error originates from the core WRITER Agent side and may occur intermittently, particularly during release periods. Retry your request after a short wait. If the error persists, report it through the /logfeedback command.

The login button isn't working or I see a spinning wheel

  1. Type /writer logout to disconnect your current session.

  2. Type /writer login to start a fresh authentication.

  3. Select the Connect to WRITER button immediately after it appears.

Interacting with an existing thread causes a timeout

Calling an existing thread via @mention in Teams can cause timeouts or disrupt the original session. For complex thread-based workflows, use the WRITER web app.

FAQs

Can I use WRITER in a group chat?

Yes, but Microsoft Teams does not allow bots to be added to existing group chats. To use WRITER in a group chat, start a new conversation that includes WRITER as a member from the outset. Once the agent is in the group chat, it persists for the remainder of that conversation.

Can I trigger a playbook directly from within a Teams thread?

Yes, just @WRITER to run a playbook conversationally.

Do I need the Microsoft Teams connector to use WRITER for Microsoft Teams?

No. Basic WRITER for Microsoft Teams functionality — chatting with the bot, using it in channels, and running playbooks — works without the Microsoft Teams connector. The connector is required for reading private channels, chats, and advanced functions. Once connected on the WRITER web app, the connector works in channels automatically.

How do I disconnect my WRITER account from Microsoft Teams?

Type /writer logout in your WRITER chat. This disconnects your WRITER account from Microsoft Teams. To reconnect, type /writer login and complete the authentication flow again. If you need to change teams or orgs first logout and select login to choose your team or org.