Set Up Speed Dials and Check Contact Presence in Teams

Questions

  • How do I add someone to my speed dial in Teams?
  • How do I see if a colleague is available before I call them?
  • How do I check someone's presence status in Teams Calling?
  • What do the colored icons mean next to contacts in Teams?
  • How do I set up a speed dial list in Microsoft Teams?
  • Where can I see all my frequently called contacts in Teams?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin College faculty and staff who use Teams Calling on the desktop app. Speed Dial and presence indicators are available in the Calls view of the Teams desktop app.

  • Desktop app: macOS (Sequoia 15.x, Tahoe 26.x) and Windows 11
  • Note: A contact's availability in Teams is updated automatically based on their Outlook calendar and Teams activity, or set manually by the user themselves.

Resolution

View contact presence in Speed Dial

  1. Click the Calls icon in the left sidebar of the Teams app.
  2. The Calls view shows the dial pad on the left, call history in the center, and Contact Groups on the right.
  3. The Speed Dial group appears at the top of the Contact Groups panel by default.
  4. Each contact in Speed Dial displays a small presence indicator in the lower-right corner of their avatar icon:
    • Green circle — Available
    • Yellow circle — Away
    • Red circle — Do Not Disturb (calls go to voicemail)
    • Purple circle — Out of Office

Add a contact to Speed Dial

  1. Click the Calls icon in the left sidebar.
  2. In the Contact Groups panel on the right, hover over Speed dial until the + icon appears.
  3. Click the + and type the name of any Bowdoin community member.
  4. Select the person from the results — they will appear in your Speed Dial list immediately.
Tip: You can click a contact directly from the Speed Dial list to start a call — no need to go through the dial pad or search bar.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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