Northwest University

Tech Tips

Tips that help you work better every day

Migrate Content to a Team and SharePoint Site

When your College or Department is ready to move content from the S: Drive (or another source) to a Team and/or SharePoint Site, the guide to Migrating Content into a Team or SharePoint Site will provide some helpful recommendations as well as the specific steps to follow.Summary of the steps:Pre...

Access to your Teams and SharePoint Files

File Explorer: Teams and SharePoint FilesYour personal work-related files are available via the OneDrive link using File Explorer on your Office Computer. You can also sync Teams and SharePoint Site libraries in File Explorer to access the content: Sync your Team/SharePoint Site in File Explor...

Add Department Numbers to Contacts in Teams

A few NU Departments have a general phone number, but the number is not found by searching in the Calls section of Teams.  For example, the IT Help Desk phone number (425.889.5310) cannot be found in the Contact list.      See the Employees by Department Directory (sign in required) for the cur...

Use the Scheduling Assistant to Schedule Meetings with Co-workers

The Scheduling Assistant in the Outlook Calendar enables you to view the calendars of meeting attendees and select a time that works for everyone.Add Appointments and Events to Your CalendarTo enable co-workers to schedule meetings when you are available it is important that you add all appointme...

Restore Deleted Files or Folders in OneDrive

OneDrive is your personal space for work-related content.  The content in your OneDrive is private, available only to you unless you choose to share it with others. Deleted items remain in your NU OneDrive recycle bin for 93 days. To Restore Content: Go to your OneDrive account. In the N...

How to Find a Document Shared with You

If a document has been shared with you, it is easy to find it on the Microsoft 365 Home page: Go to www.microsoft365.com in a web browser and sign in with your NU email address and password. At the top of the page, you will see Recommended documents; scroll down to the Quick access area. Opti...

Calling: How to Add Department Numbers to Contacts

Calling: How to Call Campus Security Using Teams

The phone number for NU Campus Security is not a Microsoft 365 number so cannot be found by searching in the Calls section of Teams.  It must, instead, be dialed directly: 425.864.1552.    We recommend the following action to make sure you have quick access to Campus Security:    Add Campus Sec...

Invite External Users to Join Teams Meetings

External users invited to a Teams Meeting can join from any device, and they do not need to have a Microsoft 365 account.  Two options for creating a meeting invitation:  Create a Meeting invitation from Outlook or the Teams Calendar and add the external user’s email address.  Create a Mee...

Share and Manage Access to Teams/SharePoint Documents

Content (files and folders) added to a Team is available to all members of that Team. Someone who is not a member of the Team will not have access to the content unless it is explicitly shared with them.Share a Document with an NU Employee or Student Outside your Team: In the Team or SharePoin...

Setting Up Multifactor Authentication (MFA) with Microsoft Authenticator App

Multifactor authentication (MFA) enhances the security of your NU Microsoft 365 resources.  If you are new to NU, you will be prompted to register your phone the first time you sign in to Microsoft 365 apps. We recommend using Microsoft Authenticator app for receiving notifications on your smartp...

How to Restore Deleted Files or Folders

Options for Outlook Inbox Setup

Outlook provides two options for your Inbox display: Focused and Other tabs All and Unread tabs To Switch from one option to the other: Open your Inbox and click on View in the ribbon. Click on Show Focused Inbox icon to toggle between the two options. If you are using the Focus...

Create Voice Messages using Chat

You can use the Teams mobile app to create a voice message for a co-worker. Here are the steps: Open the Teams mobile app and select Chat.  Find the desired person. At the bottom of the screen select and hold the microphone icon. Record message.  Release icon when you finish the mes...

How to Set Up and Manage Breakout Rooms in Teams Meetings

Meeting organizers using the desktop version of Teams can create and manage breakout rooms.  They can also appoint attendees to be breakout room managers. Here are a few things that meeting organizers and breakout room managers can do: Create up to 50 breakout rooms and automatically or manu...

Teams Calling: How to Setup Voicemail

In Teams, click on the three ellipses near your picture in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings, then select Calls. In the Voicemail section click on Configure voicemail button. Click on Record a greeting button.  Wait for new window to appear. Follow the instructions ...

Computer Care and Security

Before you leave for holiday break please consider the following best practices for NU issued office computers and laptops. Your Office Computer: We recommend that you close all windows and apps (save any unsaved work) and then Restart your office computer (do NOT shut down).  Restarting your ...

Windows Scale and Layout Options

Windows Scale and Layout Options Can Help Students See Projected Content Easier in ClassroomsHow to adjust Scale and Layout settings in Windows to change the size of text, apps, and other items: Navigate to the Windows logo  on your taskbar and click to reveal the settings gearwheel icon. ...

Schedule Meetings with FindTime

FindTime is an Outlook Add-in and provides a quick view of possible days and times for meeting attendees and creates a poll for your attendees to select the time that works best for them. Here is a short summary of steps: Install FindTime using the Get Add-in icon in Outlook (desktop). Comp...

Share Content during a Teams Meeting

Team Meetings attendees can share content during a meeting by selecting the Share content icon in the meeting toolbar. Sharing options include presenting the entire screen, a window, a PowerPoint file, or the Microsoft whiteboard. Here are a few things to keep in mind when sharing content using...

Share OneDrive Documents With People Outside NU

To best protect the security and privacy of NU documents, sharing with people outside NU is not an option in OneDrive. If you link to an OneDrive document, using the URL in an email that you are sending to someone outside NU, the font for the URL will turn red and you will see the “….doesn’t have...

View OneDrive Documents Shared With the NU Community

It is important to keep track of the documents in your OneDrive – Northwest University that you have shared with others.   To view folder/documents that you have shared with others: Go to office.com and sign into your NU account and click on OneDrive. OR click on the OneDrive icon (blue ...

Sharing Documents With OneDrive

Documents in your OneDrive – Northwest University folder are not available to others until you share them with team members and other NU employees.  See below for a quick tutorial and watch this video for more information on sharing documents with Microsoft 365. Share a folder or document with...

Getting to Your Email With Outlook Online

Whether you are in a classroom or forgot your laptop at home, getting to your email is quick and easy with the Microsoft 365 “Outlook Web App” (also known as OWA). This is often a better option than launching the Outlook desktop app and waiting for it to sync your data to the local computer. Two...

Renaming Team Channels and SharePoint Folders

When a channel is created in a Team, a folder is automatically created in the corresponding SharePoint site. Content saved to the folder will be available in the channel, content uploaded or created in the channel will be available in the corresponding folder in SharePoint.Currently, if you renam...

How to Modify Microsoft Teams Meeting Recording Expiration Dates

Microsoft introduced an auto-expiration feature for Teams meeting recordings earlier this year. Recordings are deleted 60 days after they are recorded if action is not taken. A yellow banner displayed underneath all Teams recordings states: “This recording is set to expire. View or change the ex...

How to add a poll to a Teams Channel or Chat to get instant feedback

This Tech Tip guides you through setting up a poll using Microsoft Forms within Teams. A poll can be added to either a Channel or Chat (including ad-hoc Meetings). Go to the Channel or Chat in which you want to include a poll. At the bottom of your Teams window, select Forms.Note: If you don’t ...

Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Teams

Keyboard shortcuts are indispensable to speed up the most common tasks. It can take a while before you feel like you know your way around these essentials, but once you do, it becomes less than a second’s work to perform a command, instead of fumbling through a menu. Here are some useful keyboard...

How to create a Microsoft Form with live responses in Excel

With Microsoft Forms, you can create surveys, quizzes, and polls that include rich, real-time analytics. Instead of exporting the results to Microsoft Excel for in-depth analysis, learn to create a Microsoft Form with live responses in Excel.Forms for ExcelFrom OneDrive for work Sign in to Mic...

Generate a Table of Contents in Word

The Headings in your Word document can be used to automatically create a table of contents. For each Heading that you want in the table of contents, highlight the text and then select the type of Heading in the Ribbon (Home > Styles).To create the table of contents Put your cursor where you wan...

Access your Microsoft Sticky Notes from Anywhere

Some of us use Sticky Notes to organize our daily workflow and priorities. Do you know that there is a Sticky Notes application built into Office365 and Windows 10? Just like the real sticky notes, you can create, edit, coordinate colors, format and arrange notes any way you want. The good thing ...

How to Ignore Email Conversations

Is your Inbox cluttered with conversations or email threads you don’t need to be part of?You can keep unwanted conversations out of your Inbox by using the Ignore Conversation feature. Any future emails on the subject will automatically be moved to your Deleted Items folder. Select any message ...

Internet Calendar (iCalendar)

In Outlook, when you want to invite people to attend a meeting or event, you usually send a meeting request. The recipient can then accept the request and the item is added to his or her calendar. Alternatively, you can add an Internet calendar (iCalendar) attachment or a link to an iCalendar fil...

Get someone’s attention with @mentions in Outlook

Do you know that you can get someone’s attention in an email message or a meeting invite with the @ symbol, followed by their name? Not only their name gets highlighted in the message body or invite details, but Outlook will automatically add them to the To line of the email or meeting invite, an...

Send an email message based on a template

Do you need to send information that infrequently changes from message to message? You can create and save a message as a template, then reuse it as a template and add new information if needed.Create an email message template On the Home menu, click New E-mail. In the message body, enter the ...

Group Chat in Teams

Not every interaction deserves a full Team creation or its own Channel. In many cases, a simple Group Chat is enough for short term collaboration with others internally and externally.At the top of your Group, you can:Select the Chat’s picture to choose a group picture. You can scroll through the...

Which to use - Teams or SharePoint Online?

Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Online are complementary collaboration tools that are part of the Microsoft 365 suite. Microsoft Teams is the hub for teamwork. It allows for real-time collaboration, chat, calls, meetings, and file sharing. SharePoint Online is primarily a document management and i...

Disable Notifications During Teams Meetings

Getting countless notifications while presenting can be annoying. You can mute notifications to avoid unwanted distraction while still getting alerts about activity related to the meeting you are in.Mute during a meetingWhile you are in a meeting, go to the top of the meeting window and select Mo...

Personal Booking Overview

Personal Bookings is a feature within Microsoft Bookings that enables individual users to create and manage their personal schedules. Note that an organizer needs a Bookings license to create a Personal Booking page, anyone can schedule time with you, even if they don't have a Microsoft account.A...

How to set up Bookings for a one-time event or a specific date range

Bookings allows people to schedule appointments that do not conflict with anything already scheduled on their Outlook Calendar. It is easy to set up a service (booking option) for a one-time event for a day or a date range. Go to your Bookings dashboard and open a Shared booking page. Click Se...

Presenting with Cameo in Microsoft PowerPoint

With Cameo, you can insert your live camera feed directly on a PowerPoint slide so that you can be inside your presentation. You can use this feature to create a more immersive experience for your audience. You can then apply the same effects to your camera feed as you can to a picture or other o...

Track Meeting Response Status

Whether you are the Meeting organizer or an attendee, you can find out which attendees have accepted or declined the meeting request. You can also see who has not yet responded.To check meeting attendees’ response status: Open the meeting request from the Calendar. On the Meeting or Meeting Oc...

Get notified when someone is available in Teams

Let’s say you have an important question for a colleague and have stopped by their office multiple times only to find them in a meeting or away. It’s inefficient to continually walk by their office. How can you talk to them as they become available without having to monitor their status on Teams?...

New Teams Meeting Features

Spatial AudioThis new audio experience spatializes the voices of attendees across the visual meeting stage in the Gallery view, helps make conversations more natural, and makes the conversation easier to follow when multiple people are speaking together. You can find this setting under More (…) →...

Customizing Chat message spacing in Teams

Microsoft Teams allows you to tailor the spacing of your Chat messages to better suit your preferences and screen size. You can adjust the Chat density to display more text at once or provide additional spacing between messages.Display More Text in Compact ModeBy default, Teams is set to comfy mo...

Accessibility Checker with Microsoft 365

You can use the Accessibility Checker to enhance content accessibility for individuals with disabilities in Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, OneNote notebooks, and Outlook emails.Follow these steps: Navigate to the Review tab. Note: In Outlook, the Review tab is vis...

OneDrive Files On-Demand

OneDrive Files On-Demand allows you to reclaim storage space on your device. You can choose to keep files online only, or designate certain files and folders to be constantly accessible locally on your device. WindowsFiles On-Demand settings are specific to each device. Be sure to enable it on ev...

Work Efficiently with Edge

You can now enhance Productivity with built-in tools in Microsoft Edge.Sidebar Integration with Microsoft 365 AppsYou can effortlessly access a suite of tools and applications right within Edge tabs using the sidebar. To display sidebar apps, navigate to the Settings menu in Edge, select Sidebar ...

Teams Chat vs Channel Posts

When using the Teams app, there are a couple options for sending messages – including file attachments – to other NU employees and students: Chat (1:1 or group) and Posts (within a Team Channel). Read on to learn more or review the options.Direct ChatsDirect chats can be accessed through the chat...

Customize Outlook Navigation Pane

The Outlook Navigation Pane, located on the left edge of the Outlook window, is a vertical bar providing quick access to various Outlook modules like Mail, Calendar, and People, along with links to other Microsoft apps like OneDrive. Personalizing this bar can streamline your access to frequently...

Microsoft To Do - Streamlining Your Task Management

Microsoft To Do is a versatile cross-platform application designed to streamline the creation, management, and sharing of tasks and lists. Seamlessly integrated with Outlook Tasks, To Do empowers you to effortlessly create, edit, and share task lists from your office, home, or while on the move.A...

Microsoft 365 App Launcher

The Microsoft 365 app launcher is a convenient menu featuring a curated selection of apps and services tailored to your licensing. Accessible via the waffle icon () on Microsoft365.com, it simplifies the process of launching and transitioning between applications. Moreover, it spotlights your rec...

How to find and delete emails by date in Outlook

The Search box at the top of your Outlook window is a versatile tool, functioning as both a keyword locator and a dynamic filter, allowing you to find precisely what you are looking for.Locating emails using Outlook’s Search tool: Click in the Search box, then click the chevron (v). Use the...

Edit “New” menu in Teams

In a SharePoint document library or Team site, the “Edit New menu” option is conveniently located within the [+] New drop-down list. You have the flexibility to refine the content types displayed in the [+] New drop-down list. This involves adding frequently used content types or excluding ...

Unlocking the Power of Dictate in MS Word

Dictation empowers you to effortlessly transform speech into text within Microsoft 365. It’s a convenient method for expressing your ideas, crafting drafts or outlines, and capturing notes.For Windows: Open a new or existing document and go to Home > Dictate while signed into Microsoft 365 on a...

Master Conversation View & Cleanup in Outlook

You can optimize your email management by leveraging Conversation View in Outlook. This feature enables you to effortlessly navigate and act upon entire email threads, streamlining your inbox and enhancing overall efficiency. Additionally, Conversation Cleanup aids in decluttering your inbox by e...

Effective Team Membership Management: See Who's on a Team

To access the list of members within a team, simply locate the team name and choose More options > Manage team. The Members and guests section provides a comprehensive list of participants.Team owners are listed under the Owners heading, granting them specific administrative privileges. As a team...

Excel Templates: Add function and flair with Excel templates.

Planning an event with a budget? Want to stay organized with your everyday tasks? Track a project or invoices? Using one of the pre-built Excel templates for time management, budgeting, project planning, and much more, makes it easy to stay organized and see a lot of information at once.To start ...

Effective Use of Reply Signatures

To maintain clarity and reduce visual clutter, consider using a shortened version of your email signature for replies. This approach minimizes distractions, allowing recipients to focus on the message content with ease.Key Attributes of Reply Email SignaturesA reply email signature serves as a st...

Saving Drafts in Outlook: Personalize Your Draft Saving Preferences

By default, messages are saved to your Drafts folder every three minutes until sent. You can adjust the time interval or location for saving unsent messages, as per your preferences. On the File tab, click Options (at the lower-left corner) > Mail. Under Save messages, make the following modif...

Creating Forms in Word

Did you know that you can incorporate content controls in Word to create forms that users can easily fill out? These content controls include elements such as check boxes, text boxes, date pickers, and drop-down lists.Displaying the Developer TabWindows Navigate to the File tab, then go to Opti...

Teams Layout: Grid vs List

The Microsoft Teams app provides two options for displaying and navigating between your Teams: Grid (default) and List. Here’s how each layout works: Grid: Teams are displayed as individual tiles, providing a visual overview.Teams can be accessed one at a time. List: The full list of your Te...

Managing Saved Passwords Across Devices/Broswers

Storing passwords in browsers and smartphones offers convenience, but it can lead to forgetting login information when switching devices or browsers. Here’s how to check your saved passwords on different devices and browsers:Google Chrome (Desktop): Access Google Password Manger via the Profile...

Changing Your Default Browser: Choose Which Browser to Open Links/Files

Customize the browser you want to use for opening links and files on your system. Here’s how to do it:For Windows: Select Start >Settings > Apps > Dafault apps. Under Web browser, click the browser currently listed, and then select your preferred browser. For macOS Ventura or later: From th...

Transform Emails into Tasks in Outlook

This Tech Tip walks through two options for converting an email into a task within Outlook’s T-Do Bar and the To Do app. The first method creates a temporary task associated with the email and is removed from your list when the email message is deleted. The second method allows you to effectively...

Set Up Alerts in SharePoint and Get Notified When an Item Changes

Stay informed about changes to files and folders in SharePoint by setting up alerts. SharePoint alerts are helpful for tracking projects and team collaborations, and for receiving prompt updates when documents or items change. Here’s how to set up alerts for a list, library, folder, file, or list...

Text Wrapping in Word

This Tech Tip edition provides instructions for how to wrap text around pictures to position them in various locations within your Word document.Word for Windows: Select the picture. Click on Layout Options. Choose the layout you want. In Line with Text places the picture within a paragraph, ...

Replying to Specific Messages in Teams

Clarity is crucial for effective communication, especially in group or meeting chats. Replying to a specific message helps maintain clarity.Replying to a specific message: Hover over the message you want to reply to and choose Reply The selected message will appear in the compose box. Type yo...

Latest Features and Enhancements in Teams

Explore the following features and enhancements in the new Teams and learn how they can benefit you and your department.Manage Your Activity Feed:You now have the option to remove items from your Activity feed, allowing you to focus on the most relevant notifications. You can also easily adjust s...

How to Export and Import Your Web Browser Bookmarks

Google Chrome At the top-right of the Chrom browser, click More> Bookmarks and lists > Bookmark manager.At the top, click or More> Export Bookmarks to save your bookmarks as an HTML file that you can use to import into another browser, or More> Import bookmarks if you already have the file.Source...

Phishing and Scams

There are a couple ways you can take part in protecting your credentials, account, and devices. You’re part of multifactor authentication. We recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your smartphone to facilitate the multifactor authentication step that’s required for signing into Micro...

OneDrive App for Teams

The integrated OneDrive app in Teams offers a streamlined file management experience within Microsoft 365, allowing for quick organization and easy access to your files.Key Features of the OneDrive App for Teams: [ + Add new ]: Create files or folders directly from OneDrive Home, and easily up...

Managing Notifications in Teams

Manage Notifications for Channel Posts You can now turn notifications on or off for specific Channel Posts, giving you greater control over what you stay updated on. Click More options (…) in the top right corner of a Post. If you’re already following the post, you’ll see “Turn off notifications....

Use Personal Contact Groups to Organize Contacts

A personal Contact Group is a collection of email addresses that makes it easier to send emails to a specific group of people.Create a Contact Group On the Navigation Pane (the vertical bar on the left edge of the Outlook window), select People. Select Home > New Contact Group. In the Contac...

Using Jump Lists for Quick Access

Jump Lists provide quick access to the files and features you use most frequently. They display a list of recently used files associated with programs pinned to the taskbar or Start menu. To open a Jump List, right-click on any pinned program in the taskbar or Start Menu, and the list of recentl...

Using the Taskbar in Windows

You can personalize your taskbar in many ways—change its colors, pin your favorite apps, rearrange buttons, and even minimize all open programs to quickly view your desktop. Pinning an App to the Taskbar To pin (or unpin) an app for quick access: In the search box on the taskbar, type the app ...

Choosing the Best PowerPoint View for Your Task

In PowerPoint, selecting the right view helps you work more effectively. You can find various View options on the View tab. Views for Creating Your Presentation Normal view: The main editing view with three areas—thumbnails pane, slide pane, and notes pane—where you can write and design your ...

Text Editing Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows

Keyboard shortcuts provide a quicker way to perform tasks that are typically done with a mouse. Use the following shortcuts to edit the text more efficiently: Text Editing Shortcuts Ctrl + A – Select all text Ctrl + B – Bold selected text Ctrl + C – Copy text Ctrl + F – Find text Ctrl...

How Outlook Status Affects Bookings

Outlook offers several availability settings that can be configured when creating or editing events in your calendar. Keeping your Outlook calendar updated is a useful way to communicate your availability to others.Free/Busy status of Outlook Calendar Events FREE: This status does not block y...

Tips for Creating Impactful Presentations

Visual aids are powerful tools for communicating ideas and engaging your audience. However, cluttered slides, cliché stock images, and distracting design elements can detract from even the best presentations. Use these easy PowerPoint tips to create a more impactful presentation for any occasion....

Customize Your Browser’s New Tab Page

When you open a new tab in your browser, you will find frequently visited websites displayed under the search box. To customize these shortcuts or quick links, follow these steps based on your browser: Customize Links Adding a shortcut Click the empty tile labeled “[+] Add shortcut,” enter the ...

Channel Calendars in Teams

Did you know you can create a Channel Calendar in Teams for small teams managing multiple projects or events in a single channel? Channel Calendars automatically notify the Channel of new events, helping ensure no one misses a meeting. Events will also sync with your Outlook calendar. Follow thes...

Recalling or Replacing a Sent Email

Have you ever realized right after hitting “Send” that your email contained an error or was missing important information? Outlook’s Recall Email feature can help you retrieve or replace a sent message if both you and your recipients are within the same organization. Mac users please refer to the...

Windows Hello: A Secure Sign-In Method

Windows Hello provides a fast, secure, and convenient way to sign in to your Windows devices using a PIN, facial recognition (if supported), or fingerprint authentication (if supported). Security Note Your biometric data is stored entirely and exclusively on your device’s security chip. Windows H...

Customizing the Windows 11 Taskbar

Windows 11 features Widgets and centers taskbar icons by default. To personalize your taskbar: • Right-click an empty area on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. • Use the Taskbar items section to toggle Widgets and other items on or off. • Expand Taskbar behaviors to find more opti...

Managing Windows Notifications

Windows organizes system and app notifications in Action Center (Windows 10) or Notification Center (Windows 11), making them easily accessible directly from the taskbar. Windows 10 • To open Action Center, click the Action Center icon on the taskbar or press Windows logo key + A. • If a n...

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