(Credit: Microsoft)
Video meetings are hard to escape these days, and those using Microsoft Teams have persistently complained about one issue: accidentally clicking the Raise Hand button when they wanted to open emojis.
Microsoft has been aware of the problem for quite a while and is now finally trying to fix it. With an update in June, Teams users will be able to “customize the meeting toolbar by pinning, unpinning, and reordering controls to match how you work,” the company said in a Microsoft 365 Roadmap update. It will also move the Raise Hand button under a Reactions tab to avoid “mis-clicks,” Microsoft says.
In the current interface, the Raise Hand button sits directly next to the emoji icon, which often leads users to click one when they meant to select the other. This mistake can create awkward moments during meetings. The Raise Hand feature signals to others that you have something to say, and they may then pause the discussion for you. If you have nothing meaningful to contribute, the whole ordeal could just disrupt the meeting's flow.
Microsoft's X account joked about it in 2024, but the fix is finally on its way and will arrive on desktop and Mac first. Microsoft has not shared any plans for mobile.
The update will also clearly separate the “Leave” button to the right. The changes “may feel different at first, but it’s designed to be faster and easier to use,” Microsoft adds.