When you’ve ever by chance raised your hand mid-meeting on Microsoft Groups, you realize the ache. Instantly, everybody’s taking a look at you, and all you are able to do is scramble to unmute and awkwardly make clear that it was a mistake.
Microsoft has lastly determined to do one thing about it by transferring the elevate hand button away from the principle toolbar. The corporate can be planning a big redesign of the Groups assembly toolbar, which is prone to roll out on desktop and macOS in June 2026.
Beginning a help group for many who have by chance raised their hand throughout a Groups assembly 🖐️
— Microsoft 365 (@Microsoft365) September 12, 2024
How will Microsoft Groups repair the unintended elevate hand challenge?
The replace, listed on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap underneath ID 560321, will transfer the Increase Hand button out of the principle toolbar. It should seem underneath the Reactions button as a substitute. That is necessary as a result of the 2 features look comparable sufficient at a look to combine up simply.
By chance hitting Increase Hand if you meant to ship an emoji response is a surprisingly widespread frustration for Groups customers. The Go away button can be getting its personal clearly separated spot on the precise facet of the assembly window. That ought to repair each unintended exits and the frantic button-hunting that occurs on the finish of calls.
Will it’s doable to customise the brand new Microsoft Groups assembly toolbar?
Microsoft Groups
Sure, and that’s the opposite large a part of this replace. You’ll have the ability to pin, unpin, and reorder controls on the assembly toolbar to match the way you truly work. Nonetheless, Microsoft hasn’t shared any pictures of the brand new toolbar but. The corporate does acknowledge the shift might take some getting used to, noting it “could really feel totally different at first.”
Microsoft can be engaged on different quality-of-life fixes for Groups. A pre-join mic and speaker check is reportedly within the works, letting you file a brief audio clip and play it again earlier than coming into a name, so that you’re not the individual asking “can everybody hear me?” at first of each assembly.

