What Is Microsoft Teams Exploratory [Ultimate Guide]

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Microsoft Teams offers a trial version so that more users can experience the features of MS Teams. In this offer, the users need not pay any subscription amount under Microsoft Teams Exploratory.

Follow this detailed guide to learn more about this service in detail.

Also read: How To Create A Team In Microsoft Teams?

What Is Microsoft Teams Exploratory?

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Microsoft Teams offers a special license called – the Microsoft Teams Exploratory License that allows users to experience the functions and features of MS Teams without paying the subscription fees.

That means the users in an organization having Azure Active Directory and do not own a Teams license can have Teams Exploratory Experience.

The admins can only enable or disable this feature for the organization’s members.

Here I have explained the services included in Teams exploratory and who is eligible for the service.

What Services Are Included In Microsoft Teams Exploratory?

Here are the services the admins can experience under Microsoft Teams Exploratory Services:

Microsoft Teams

Exchange Online (Plan 1)
To-Do (Plan 1)
Insights by MyAnalytics

Flow for Microsoft 365 or Office 365
Mobile Device Management for Microsoft 365 or Office 365
Microsoft Stream for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 E1 SKUs 1</1>

Microsoft Forms (Plan E1)
Microsoft Search
Microsoft StaffHub

Microsoft Planner
Office Mobile Apps for Office 365
Office Online

Power Apps for Microsoft 365 or Office 365
SharePoint Online (Plan 1)
Sway

Whiteboard (Plan 1)
Yammer Enterprise

Who Is Eligible For Microsoft Teams Exploratory License?

Microsoft Teams Exploratory feature is free, but not all users can access it.

The user who fills the following criteria can experience Microsoft Teams Exploratory License:

Does not own MS Teams license.
Own a Azure AD domain email ID.

Belongs to the tenant with a subscribed Teams license
It is not in a tenant where a license agreement policy was created.

Make sure that those users who now own or previously owned a Teams trial license or paid license, or are in a tenant that used a special COVID offer.

How To Use Microsoft Teams Exploratory Feature?

To use the Microsoft Teams Exploratory feature, the users can either visit Microsoft online.com or log in to their Teams account from their Desktop.

After signing up, the license will be assigned automatically. The tenant admin will be sent a notification through email.

The Teams Exploratory Experience cannot be initiated on behalf of end-user employees. It is meant for individual end users.

This feature is offered with an Exchange Online license, but the user cannot experience it until the admins assign it.

Admins can use Trial apps and services switch to disable the end users to use Teams Exploratory service within their organization.

In this case, the user will not be able to organize any Teams meeting.

Besides, they will miss out other functionalities and features in Teams.

What Is The Validity Of Teams Exploratory Service?

For all the new customers, considering from the initial user sign-up, Teams Exploratory is valid for 12 months.

This validity period is applicable for all the users of the same organization.

For example, if one user signs up for the subscription on April 1, 2022, the subscription will end on March 31, 2023.

If another user of the same organization signs up in December 2022, his validity will last till March 31, 2023, as they belong to the same organization.

The users will be automatically blocked after 3 months of the Exploratory trial license. So they cannot start a new Exploratory trial license after that.

After the subscription ends, the admins should convert the Exploratory users to a paid license, including Teams. This should be done before the end of the valid period.

How To Remove License For The Users Of Teams Exploratory Experience?

To stop a user from experiencing Team Exploratory service, you need administrative privileges.

Follow the steps below to remove the service plan or license from a user:

Visit Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to User > Active users.
Click on the box next to the username and locate the Product licences. Choose Edit in the row.
Turn off the toggle for the Teams Exploratory license from the Product license panel.

A user with a license that includes Teams is not eligible to enjoy the functions of the Exploratory service.

Users can sign in and use Teams when the Teams service plan is enabled.

To stop the user from experiencing the service, follow the same steps mentioned above.

How To Turn Off User Ability To Use Trial Apps And Services?

If you want to cease the user’s ability to experience Team Exploratory service, then follow the steps given below:

Visit Microsoft 365 admin center and click on the gear icon to open Settings.
Go to organization Settings > Services > User-owned apps and services.

Uncheck the box for Let users install trial apps and services as shown below.
You will see this option only if your organization is eligible for Teams Exploratory service.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

1. What does Microsoft Teams Exploratory do?

MicrosoftTeams Exploratory experience allows the users of an organization not licensed for Teams and have Azure AD to get a Teams Exploratory experience.

2. What are the limitations of Microsoft Teams Exploratory?

The free Teams plans allows only 2GB per user, and a 10 GB shared garage. For the paid users, this storage can be pushed to 1TB per the customers.

3. How do I get Microsoft Teams Exploratory License?

One can get Teams Exploratory License by logging into Teams using Azure AD account credentials.

Microsoft will assign the Teams Exploratory license automatically after signing in. The admin will be notified via email about this.