Microsoft Teams Gets a New Video Clip Feature
Microsoft Teams video clips allow users to record and share short video messages directly in chats and channels, adding a personal, asynchronous communication option that bridges the gap between typed messages and live video calls. This feature is especially valuable for distributed teams where time zone differences make synchronous meetings impractical, and where tone and context are lost in text-only communication. EPC Group helps enterprises enable and govern video clips as part of comprehensive Teams communication strategies.
What Are Video Clips in Microsoft Teams?
Video clips are short, recorded video messages (up to 60 seconds) that users can create and send directly in Teams chats and channel conversations. Think of them as video voicemails -- personal, expressive, and asynchronous.
- Duration - Up to 60 seconds per clip (1 minute)
- Recording - Uses the device's camera and microphone; no additional software required
- Playback - Recipients view the clip inline in the chat or channel with a video player
- Captions - Automatic transcription and captions are generated for accessibility
- Storage - Clips are stored in the sender's OneDrive for Business
- Platforms - Available on Teams desktop (Windows and Mac), mobile (iOS and Android), and web
How to Record and Send a Video Clip
- Open a chat or channel conversation in Microsoft Teams
- Click the camera icon in the compose box (next to the attachment and emoji icons)
- Select Video clip from the menu
- Your camera preview will appear. Click the Record button to start recording
- Record your message (up to 60 seconds). A timer shows the remaining time
- Click Stop when finished
- Preview the clip. You can re-record if not satisfied or send to post it
- The video clip appears inline in the conversation with a play button
On mobile devices, the process is similar -- tap the camera icon in the compose box and select the video clip option. Mobile recordings support front and rear camera switching during recording.
Enterprise Use Cases for Video Clips
Video clips are not just a social feature -- they have practical enterprise applications:
- Quick updates - Send a 30-second project status update instead of scheduling a meeting or writing a lengthy message
- Code and design reviews - Walk through a code change or design mockup by recording your screen (screen recording is supported in video clips on desktop)
- Onboarding welcome messages - Managers send personalized video welcome messages to new hires in their team channel
- Training micro-lessons - Deliver quick how-to demonstrations for specific tasks or tools
- Customer and partner communication - Send a more personal response to client questions in external chats
- Executive communication - Leaders share brief, authentic video messages in organizational channels
- Cross-timezone collaboration - Replace meetings that would require someone to attend at an inconvenient time with async video messages
Admin Controls and Governance
IT administrators control the video clip feature through Teams messaging policies:
- Enable/disable - Toggle video clips on or off in the Teams admin center under Messaging policies > "Allow video messages"
- Per-user policies - Enable video clips for specific departments or roles while disabling for others
- Storage - Clips are stored in the sender's OneDrive. Standard OneDrive storage quotas, retention policies, and DLP rules apply
- Compliance - Video clips are subject to the same eDiscovery, retention, and legal hold policies as other Teams content. The auto-generated transcript is also retained
- External sharing - Video clips can be sent in external chats if both external access and video clips are enabled
Video Clips vs. Other Teams Video Features
Understanding when to use video clips versus other Teams video capabilities:
- Video clips - Short (60-second), asynchronous, personal messages in chat/channel. Best for quick updates, reactions, and explanations
- Teams meetings - Synchronous, multi-participant, real-time video calls. Best for discussions, decisions, and collaborative work sessions
- Stream recordings - Longer-form recordings for training, presentations, or documentation. Best for formal content that is published and shared widely
- Meeting recordings - Automatic capture of live meetings for later review. Best for archiving discussions and decisions
Why Choose EPC Group for Microsoft Teams Communication Strategy
With 28+ years of enterprise Microsoft consulting, EPC Group does not just enable features -- we design communication strategies that leverage video clips, async messaging, live meetings, and town halls in a cohesive framework. We help organizations reduce meeting fatigue, improve cross-timezone collaboration, and increase the personal connection in distributed teams.
- Teams communication strategy and feature governance
- Messaging policy configuration aligned with security and compliance requirements
- Adoption programs that train users on when and how to use video clips effectively
- DLP and compliance configuration for video content
- Change management for organizations transitioning to async-first communication
Modernize How Your Teams Communicate
Video clips are just one piece of a modern Teams communication strategy. EPC Group will help you design a balanced approach to sync and async collaboration that reduces meeting overload and keeps distributed teams connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the video clip feature available on all Teams plans?
Video clips are available in Microsoft Teams across Microsoft 365 Business, E3, E5, and frontline worker plans. The feature is controlled by messaging policies, so your admin needs to enable it. It is available on desktop (Windows and Mac), mobile (iOS and Android), and Teams web app.
Can I record my screen in a video clip?
On the Teams desktop app, you can record your screen during a video clip, which makes it ideal for quick demos, walkthroughs, and code reviews. The screen recording captures both your screen content and your camera (picture-in-picture). On mobile, video clips use the device camera only.
Are video clips automatically transcribed?
Yes. Teams automatically generates captions and transcripts for video clips, making them accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing users and useful for participants who prefer to read rather than watch. The transcript is also indexed for search, so you can find video clips by searching for words spoken in them.
Where are video clips stored and how does that affect storage quotas?
Video clips are stored in the sender's OneDrive for Business, in a folder called "Recordings." They count against the user's OneDrive storage quota. Standard OneDrive retention policies, DLP rules, and Conditional Access policies apply. For organizations concerned about storage consumption, monitor OneDrive usage and consider setting messaging policies to limit video clip availability to specific user groups.
Can video clips be used in external chats?
Yes, if both organizations have external access enabled and the messaging policy allows video clips. The clip is shared as a OneDrive link, so the external recipient can play it in their Teams client. Standard external sharing permissions and DLP policies apply. If your organization restricts file sharing in external chats, video clips will also be restricted.