App Extensibility & Store

Extending Teams beyond chat

Extensibility options

Teams extensibility options

Feature	What It Is	User Experience	Example
Tab	Web page embedded in a channel or chat	Click the tab → see content without leaving Teams	Planner board, SharePoint list, Power BI report, custom dashboard
Bot	Conversational agent that responds to messages	Chat with the bot in 1:1 or in a channel	T-Bot (Teams help), Polly (polls), custom FAQ bot
Messaging extension (search)	Search external data from the compose box	Type a query → see results → insert into message	Search Jira tickets, find documents, look up contacts
Messaging extension (action)	Take action on a message	Right-click message → create task, forward to system	Create Planner task from message, report message to compliance
Meeting extension	App that enhances meetings	Side panel, shared stage, or pre/post meeting tab	Polls during meetings, collaborative whiteboard, meeting notes
Workflow	Power Automate automation triggered by Teams events	Runs in the background automatically	Post in channel → create Planner task, approval flow in chat

Choosing the right extensibility option

Scenario	Recommended Option	Why
Show a live dashboard in a channel	Tab	Always visible, one click away
Answer FAQ automatically	Bot	Conversational, handles repetitive questions
Search CRM contacts from chat	Messaging extension (search)	Quick lookup without leaving the conversation
Create a task from a message	Messaging extension (action)	Right-click → act on the message directly
Run polls during meetings	Meeting extension	In-meeting experience for all participants
Auto-create ticket when someone posts	Workflow (Power Automate)	Background automation, no user action needed

Managing the Teams store

Store customization

Teams admin center → Teams apps → Customize store

You can customize what users see in the Teams app store:

• Company logo — brand the store with your organisation’s logo
• Custom background colour — match your brand colours
• Custom text colour — ensure readability
• Featured apps — highlight recommended apps at the top of the store

Purchasing apps

Some Teams apps have paid tiers. Purchasing is managed through the Teams admin center:

1. Teams apps → Manage apps → find the app
2. View pricing tiers and features
3. Purchase licences
4. Licences are managed through the Microsoft 365 admin center (billing)

Exam tip: App purchases in Teams go through your organisation’s Microsoft 365 billing. Admins control who can purchase — you can disable store purchases for users and require admin approval.

Custom apps

Uploading custom apps (sideloading)

Custom apps developed by your organisation can be uploaded to Teams:

Method 1: Upload via Teams admin center

1. Teams apps → Manage apps → Upload new app
2. Upload the app package (.zip file containing the app manifest)
3. The app appears in the store for users (based on permission policies)

Method 2: User sideloading

• If enabled in the app setup policy, users can upload custom apps directly
• Teams client → Apps → Manage your apps → Upload a custom app
• Sideloaded apps are only available to the user or team that uploaded them

Method 3: Publish through the org app catalog

• Upload to the org app catalog for organisation-wide distribution
• Requires Teams Administrator or Global Administrator role

Scenario: Kofi manages custom apps at Harbour University

Harbour University’s Computer Science department built a custom “Lab Booking” app for students to reserve computer lab time. Kofi needs to make it available to all students.

Kofi’s approach:

1. Reviews the app — checks the app manifest, permissions, and data access
2. Uploads to org catalog — Teams admin center → Manage apps → Upload
3. Permission policy — adds “Lab Booking” to the allowed custom apps list for students
4. Setup policy — pins “Lab Booking” to the student app bar for easy discovery
5. Disables user sideloading — students can’t upload their own random apps

Result: Every student sees “Lab Booking” pinned to their Teams app bar. No other custom apps can be uploaded by students.

🎬 Video walkthrough

🎬 Video coming soon

App Extensibility & Store — MS-700 Module 18

App Extensibility & Store — MS-700 Module 18

~8 min

Flashcards

Question

What's the difference between a tab and a messaging extension?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

A tab is a web page pinned inside a channel/chat — always visible, one click away. A messaging extension works from the compose box — search for content or take action on a message without leaving the conversation.

Click to flip back

Question

How do you make a custom app available to all users in your organisation?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

Upload the app package to the org app catalog via Teams admin center → Manage apps → Upload. Then add it to the relevant app permission policy (so users can install it) and optionally pin it via an app setup policy.

Click to flip back

Question

What Teams extensibility option runs automatically in the background?

Click or press Enter to reveal answer

Answer

Workflows (Power Automate). They're triggered by Teams events (message posted, form submitted, etc.) and run without user action. Example: 'When someone posts in #urgent, create a Planner task and notify the manager.'

Click to flip back

Knowledge Check

Knowledge Check

Harbour University wants a live Power BI dashboard showing campus security incidents visible at all times in the security team's General channel. Which extensibility option should Kofi use?

AA bot that responds with dashboard data when askedBA tab pinned to the General channel with the Power BI reportCA messaging extension that searches incident dataDA workflow that posts dashboard screenshots hourly

Check Answer

Knowledge Check

A faculty member at Harbour University wants to upload a custom quiz app they built. Kofi has disabled user sideloading in the app setup policy. What happens?

AThe faculty member can upload the app because they're an owner of their teamBThe upload is blocked — sideloading is disabled by the setup policyCThe app uploads but is only visible to the faculty memberDThe app uploads but requires admin approval before it works

Check Answer

---

You’ve completed Domain 2! 🎉 All 5 modules covering teams, channels, chats, and apps.

Next up: Meeting Types & Settings — Domain 3 begins with the different meeting types in Teams and how to configure meeting settings including Copilot.