Custom apps play a significant role in Microsoft Teams, enabling organizations to extend and customize their Teams experience. As an admin studying for the MS-700 exam, knowing how to publish these apps directly into the Teams Admin Center will be integral.
Step 1: Package your App for Publishing
First, you’ll need to ensure your app is properly packaged for uploading. Custom applications are packaged in ZIP files that contain four necessary components:
- The app’s manifest file (JSON)
- The app’s color icon
- The app’s outline icon
- Any additional necessary resources specified in the app’s manifest.
Step 2: Publish your Custom App
Once your app is packaged correctly, follow these steps to publish it:
- Open the Microsoft Teams Admin Center
- Go to Teams apps –> Manage apps
- Click on ‘Upload a custom app’
- Select the app ZIP package
- Once the app package is validated, select Add.
Step 3: Configuring your Custom App
After publishing, your users will have the custom app in their catalog for installation. But should you wish to restrict or push the app to specific users or teams, you’ll need to configure app permissions or setup policies.
- App Permissions: From the ‘Teams apps’ section of the Teams Admin Center, you can create permissions to control what apps are available to the organization, a specific users, or group of users.
- Setup Policies: Setup policies define what apps are proactively installed for users when they first sign into Teams.
{
"name": "HR policy",
"description": "Policy for HR team",
"isBuiltIn": false,
"disabled": false,
"hiddenWhenDisabled": false,
"createdDateTime": "2022-01-20T10:01:37Z",
"updatedDateTime": "2022-01-20T12:34:09Z",
"pinnedApps": [
{
"teamsAppId": "b1c5353a-7aca-41b3-a9b3-de2823d50b77"
}
],
"isFirstRun": false,
"assignOnFirstRunDisabledReason": "unavailable"
}
In the above JSON example, a setup policy for the ‘HR policy’ is created which pins an app (designated by ‘teamsAppId’) for the HR team.
As an aspiring Microsoft Teams administrator preparing for the MS-700 exam, understanding how to publish and configure custom apps in Teams will play a crucial part in your everyday tasks. Familiarizing yourself with the practices shared, will make navigating this portion of the exam a lot smoother.
Practice Test
True/False: A custom app can be developed internally or provided by a third-party developer for Microsoft Teams.
Answer: True
Explanation: Custom apps can be internally developed to cater to the specific needs of an organization or could be third-party apps which can be configured in Microsoft Teams.
Which of the following steps are required to publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams?
- a) Uploading the app package to Microsoft Teams.
- b) Creating an app catalogue.
- c) Configuring the app.
- d) Submitting the app to Microsoft for review.
Answer: a), b), c)
Explanation: To publish a custom app to Teams, the app package needs to be uploaded, an app catalogue needs to be created, and the app needs to be configured. Submitting the app to Microsoft for review is not a requirement for publishing.
True/False: You can only publish a custom Teams app to your entire organization.
Answer: False
Explanation: You can publish a custom app either to everyone in your organization or to specific teams.
What is the name of the store from where you can install third-party apps to your Microsoft Teams?
- a) Microsoft Store
- b) Microsoft Teams Store
- c) Windows Store
- d) Office Store
Answer: b) Microsoft Teams Store
Explanation: While there are many stores for various Microsoft products, the Microsoft Teams Store specifically hosts apps that can be integrated with Teams.
Who can manage permissions for custom Teams apps?
- a) Team Owners
- b) Team Members
- c) Both A & B
- d) None of the above
Answer: a) Team Owners
Explanation: Team Owners can manage permissions for custom Teams apps. Though, team members may be able to use the apps.
True/False: Once you publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams, you cannot unpublish it.
Answer: False
Explanation: Custom apps published in Microsoft Teams can be unpublished or removed at any time.
Which of the following can you not do with a custom app in Microsoft Teams?
- a) Edit the app
- b) Delete the app
- c) Sell the app
- d) Upgrade the app
Answer: c) Sell the app
Explanation: Custom apps can be edited, deleted and upgraded, but they cannot be sold directly through Microsoft Teams.
True/False: You can update an already published custom app in Microsoft Teams.
Answer: True
Explanation: If updates have been made on a custom app, you can update the published version in Microsoft Teams.
What is the prerequisite for publishing a custom app to Microsoft Teams?
- a) Owning a Microsoft 365 license
- b) Being a Team owner
- c) Being in Teams Admin role
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: To publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams, one must have a Microsoft 365 license, must be a Team owner and must hold Teams Admin role.
True/False: Microsoft Teams supports automatic updating for all custom published apps.
Answer: False
Explanation: Not all custom apps support automatic updating. This depends on how the app was designed.
Interview Questions
What are the steps to publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams?
The key steps are: 1. Navigate to the Microsoft Teams admin center. 2. Select Teams apps > Manage apps. 3. Click Upload. 4. Browse and select your app package file, and then select Open. 5. Review the app details and select Save.
What actions can be taken on an app in the Manage apps page?
The manage apps page in Teams admin center allows the admin to view details, allow, block, upload or delete an app.
How can you allow or block specific custom apps in Microsoft Teams?
Inside the Microsoft Teams admin center, go to Teams apps > Permission policies. Click on the policy name, turn on or off apps under the “Third-party apps” or “Custom apps” section by directly toggling the settings.
What is an app setup policy in Microsoft Teams?
An app setup policy in Teams is a series of steps that help the admin to configure what apps are installed by default for users.
How to add a custom app to app setup policy?
Navigate to the Teams admin center, then go to Teams apps > Setup policies. Select the name of the policy you want to add the app to, add the app under the “Install apps” section, click on “Add”, then select the app and click on “Add”.
What do you need to do to distribute a custom app internally within your organization?
For internal distribution, first, the app has to be uploaded to the Teams App Catalog. The app package needs to be submitted and reviewed. Once approved, it will be available for users within your organization.
What permission is required to publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams?
The requisite permission to publish a custom app to Microsoft Teams is SharePoint Admin role or Global Admin role.
How can you enable custom apps in Teams?
In Teams admin center, navigate to Teams apps > Manage apps. Then, you can enable, allow, or block the custom apps.
Which Microsoft Teams feature allows developers to build custom apps?
The Teams platform (Developer and RSC permissions) allows developers to build custom apps.
What is Teams App Catalog?
Teams App Catalog as a place to host apps where users can view, install, and rate the apps.
Can you update an existing custom app in Microsoft Teams after it has been published?
Yes, an existing custom app in Teams can be updated after it has been published by uploading the updated app package in the Teams Admin Center.
Can you block third-party apps in Microsoft Teams?
Yes, you can block third-party apps in Microsoft Teams by going to the Teams Admin Center and navigating to Teams apps > Permission policies.
What is app certification in Teams?
App certification in Teams is a program that ensures that an app meets Microsoft’s quality standards and works as expected.
How to manage app permissions and settings in Teams?
App permissions and settings in Teams can be managed by selecting Teams apps > Permission policies from Teams admin center.
Can a custom app be deleted from Microsoft Teams?
Yes, a custom app can be deleted from Microsoft Teams by navigating to Teams apps > Manage apps in the Teams admin center, then selecting the app and clicking Delete.
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