If you’ve made it this far, you probably need to deal with a very specific situation: you’re on a Microsoft Teams call and you want to hand it off to someone else without turning the process into a mini corporate meltdown. The good news is that Teams lets you do this on both desktop and mobile, and it also offers a more complete option that lets you check with the recipient first—especially useful when you don’t want to fire a call into the void like we’re stuck in an endless beta.
The call transfer feature in Microsoft Teams is designed to redirect an active call to another user—or even to a phone number, depending on the case. There’s also a “consult first” mode, ideal when you need to confirm whether the other person can take the call. And if all you need is a few seconds to verify something, putting the call on hold is part of the same toolkit.
How to transfer a call in Teams from PC and mobile
In the desktop app, everything starts from the active call window. From there, open the More actions menu (the three-dot icon) and choose Transfer. Then, Teams lets you type the name of the person you want to send the call to. If they’re in your Teams environment, just select them when they appear in the results; if they’re not, you can also use a phone number.
Before completing the transfer, the system may offer a few helpful details. One of the most practical is the option to have the call return to you if nobody answers—a sensible safety net when you don’t want to lose the caller along the way. In some cases, additional destinations tied to that user may also appear, such as their work number, voicemail, or other numbers linked to the account.
On mobile, the logic is similar, just more straightforward. During the call, tap More actions, go to Transfer, and choose Transfer now. Then you simply search for the recipient and select them. It’s not complicated, but it’s worth double-checking the name before confirming—the goal here is to fix things quickly, not kick off an internal-support-worthy subplot.
The option to check before transferring
There are situations where transferring without warning isn’t the best idea. That’s what Consult then transfer is for, available in Teams and especially useful when you need to confirm whether the other person is available—or whether they’re actually the right person to handle the call. On desktop, you can also access it from More actions during the call, by selecting Consult then transfer.
Next, search for the person you want to consult with. Teams lets you do this by typing their name, and once you find them, you can choose whether to call them or send a chat message. During this step, the original call is placed on hold. Once you’ve confirmed they can take it, just press Transfer to complete the handoff.
That said, this feature comes with an important limitation: the consultation can only be done with the same person you’re going to transfer the call to. It won’t let you speak to one colleague and then forward the call to a third party. Also, according to the information provided, this option isn’t available in the web version of Teams—so it’s best to use the desktop app if you need that more controlled workflow.
On mobile, the flow changes slightly, but the concept is the same. Under Transfer, you’ll see the Consult then transfer alternative. You can then search for the contact and decide whether to consult via a call or chat. Once that check is done, the transfer button completes the process.
Teams Phone and how to put a call on hold
If you use Microsoft Teams Phone, Microsoft’s cloud telephony system for businesses, you can also transfer calls from its own menu. In the middle of a voice or video call, just choose Transfer and pick between Transfer now or Consult first. The approach is very similar to the main app, but it’s more tightly integrated into a business telephony environment.
One useful detail is the secure transfer option. If you enable it before choosing a recipient, the call will return to you if the other person doesn’t answer, rather than getting lost along the way. In customer support or reception scenarios, this small tweak makes a real difference and prevents more than one awkward drop. After that, you just search for the contact—either manually or from suggestions, favorites, or speed dial—and select them to start the transfer or the consultation.
On desk phones certified for Microsoft Teams, the behavior also varies depending on how you press the transfer button: a short press transfers directly, while a long press starts the consultation first. It’s one of those details you don’t notice until it saves a tricky call.
And if you don’t need to transfer anything and simply want to pause the conversation while you check some information, Teams lets you put the call on hold from More actions and Hold. The call, along with screen sharing, is temporarily suspended, and participants receive a notification. When you’re done, just press Resume. Sometimes that’s all it takes: a few seconds, the right piece of information, and zero digital drama.
