SuperTekBoy

Practical Help for Exchange & Office 365

Office 365 Tutorials

Enabling Dark Mode in Teams Mobile

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If you are like me and like to work on a mobile device at night, or, just work with the lights off, then dark mode is for you. I find dark mode helps with eye strain. In addition, many sources also report that a dark color scheme helps conserve battery power on mobile devices.

The mobile client of Microsoft Teams has such a mode.

Let’s get started!

Enabling Dark Theme in Teams Mobile

To enable dark theme in Microsoft Teams Mobile, click the Menu button in the top-left and then Settings.

  • Accessing Microsoft Teams Mobile Menu
  • Accessing Microsoft Teams Mobile Settings Page

From the Settings page click the toggle to the right of Dark theme to on. When you do this, you will be prompted to restart the application. Click Restart. The Teams app will now restart.

  • Switching Microsoft Teams Mobile to Dark Mode C
  • Restarting Microsoft Teams Mobile app

When the Microsoft Teams client restarts it will now be in dark mode.

  • Microsoft Teams app in Dark Mode
  • Microsoft Teams app in Dark Theme

To revert simply repeat the above steps, but toggle the Dark theme to the off position.

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What do you think about this feature? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.

Improved Dark Mode in Outlook for Windows

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The black theme has been around in Outlook for Windows for some time. However, unlike Outlook Web App, or, Microsoft Teams, the black theme was not a true dark mode. Some aspects of the black theme were still fully illuminated, such as when you read or composed a message.

The screenshot below is an example of how the black theme changes certain aspects such as the folder view and toolbars to black but leaves the email preview pane in white.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Read Email

Similarly, when you compose an email the message body is also in white.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Compose Email

The new Black Theme for Outlook

Starting with version 1907 for Office Insiders, the Outlook team has extended the black theme so it now incorporates the message body and the composition panes.

Note: Anyone can enroll in the Office Insider program. However, Office Insiders receive weekly updates, which could be subject to bugs.

UPDATE 10-5-19: For those on the Monthly Channel, you can get dark mode with the 1909 monthly channel update (released September 30th).

With version 1907 the message preview pane defaults to black.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Read Email Version 1907

Similarly, when you compose an email the message body is now black.

Outlook on Windows Black Theme Compose Email 1907
[Read more…] about Improved Dark Mode in Outlook for Windows

Using Exchange Cmdlets in Azure Cloud Shell

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The Exchange Team has announced the general availability of the Exchange Online PowerShell Module in Azure Cloud Shell.

Azure Cloud Shell is a web-based version of PowerShell that can be launched from within any web browser by navigating to shell.azure.com, or, clicking the PowerShell icon in the Azure portal (portal.azure.com).

In this article, we will explore how to initially configure Azure Cloud Shell, cover the basics of the interface, connect to Exchange Online, and perform some basic Cloud Shell tasks, such as managing files and running some Exchange cmdlets.

Let’s get started!

Running the Azure Cloud Shell for the first time

To get started with Azure Cloud Shell you can either navigate to shell.azure.com or, click the PowerShell icon in the Azure Portal. The icon is at the top of the screen, to the right of the search box (pictured in the screenshot below)

Access Azure Cloud Shell

The first time you open Cloud Shell you will be asked if you want to connect to PowerShell or Bash. Click PowerShell.

Cloud Shell PowerShell or Bash

You will then be prompted to create storage for use with Cloud Shell. You will be given a drop down of all your available Azure subscriptions. Pick an Azure subscription with active credit and click Create Storage.

[Read more…] about Using Exchange Cmdlets in Azure Cloud Shell

Save Time with FindTime

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UPDATED 5/24/23

One of the great plugins for Outlook is FindTime. FindTime makes scheduling meetings easy by allowing organizers to poll attendees for their preferred date and time to meet. But FindTime is more than just a simple polling app, it integrates fully into your calendar. FindTime recommends meeting times, can place tentative placeholders on your calendar for each proposed time, and can automatically schedule the meeting if a consensus is met. Gone are the days of emails flying back and forth to find a time that works for everyone.

Note: If you have the April 2023 build of M365 Apps FindTime is now integrated as the “Scheduling Poll” feature. Older versions of Office can still leverage FindTime as an independent app.

Installing FindTime

To install FindTime, navigate to findtime.microsoft.com (alternatively, you can install FindTime from the Office 365 App Store – to do this, log into Office 365 and select Add-Ins). 

From the website, click Install For Free (Requires Office 365).

Installing FindTime for Outlook

Select whether to receive FindTime announcements, updates, and information. Click I’m Ready.

Installing FindTime for Outlook
[Read more…] about Save Time with FindTime

The F12 easter-egg in Hybrid Configuration Wizard

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One of the best-kept secrets in the hybrid configuration wizard (“HCW”)
 is the F12 easter-egg. Jeff Kizner demonstrated this feature during his Ignite session back in September.

Tip: For a break down of Jeff’s session, with notes and timers, I highly recommend checking out 15 Ignite sessions every Exchange admin should see.

If you press F12 this enables a new section called Diagnostic Tools. This section provides shortcuts to the following tools or folders.

Hybrid Configuration Wizard F12 Diagnostic Tools HCW
  • Open Exchange Management Shell opens a remote PowerShell session to your on-premises Exchange servers.
  • Open Exchange Online PowerShell opens a PowerShell connection to Exchange Online. This supports MFA-enabled admin accounts.
  • Open Log File opens the active HCW log file in Notepad. The logs are stored in the profile of the user running the HCW. For example, C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Exchange Hybrid Configuration
  • Create Support Package will combine your HCW log files into a single ZIP file which can easily be sent to Microsoft support. This link actually opens a second screen where you can specify to ZIP logs from the last 24 hours, or, between a certain date range. You then have the option to copy the file to the clipboard so it can be easily attached to an email.
  • Open Logging Folder opens the folder location of the HCW logs. 
    The HCW logs are stored in the profile of the user running the HCW. For example, C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Exchange Hybrid Configuration
  • Open Process Folder opens a Command Prompt to the HCW process directory.

Pressing F12 a second time will hide these tools.

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What do you think about this easter-egg? Have you run into any cool easter-eggs in other Microsoft products? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter

Enabling Dark Mode in Microsoft Teams

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I have always been a big fan of dark mode for any application as I spend more hours than I care to admit at my computer, so eye strain is always a concern.

Dark mode lets us protect our eyeballs from the harsh glare of a white screen, and it may just conserve a little more battery life on our mobile devices.

Microsoft Teams has such a mode.

Enabling dark mode

To enable dark mode, log onto Microsoft Teams and select your profile picture in the top right of the window. From the context menu click Settings.

Enabling Dark Mode in Microsoft Teams 1
[Read more…] about Enabling Dark Mode in Microsoft Teams
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