End vs Leave a Microsoft Teams Meeting
When your MS Teams meeting is over, what's the best way to wrap it up? There are two options for the meeting organizer and co-organizers: 1) End meeting and 2) Leave
End meeting allows the meeting organizer or co-organizer to disconnect everyone at the same time:
- Select the drop-down arrow on the Leave option.
- Choose End meeting.
- Click End on the confirmation.
Leave functions as a hang up button, it disconnects only the individual using it from the meeting.
Need more detail?
Delve into the in-depth walkthrough below, complete with images and various notes for every step.
In-Depth Walkthrough
As the organizer or co-organizer of a meeting, you'll be immediately disconnected if you click Leave - there is no confirmation offered giving you a chance to change your mind with this option. However, you also have a drop-down arrow on your Leave button that expands your selections to either Leave or End meeting.
When you select End meeting, MS Teams displays a confirmation box where you choose End or can cancel the choice. When you confirm your End selection, the purple end button disconnects everyone right away. This action also triggers post-meeting processes such as the meeting recording, transcript, notes, agenda, or follow-up tasks.
People you invite, the participants, only see the Leave hang up option. The red leave button hangs up a call or meeting when you’re done talking, allowing any participant to individually end their connection whenever they choose.
Teams End vs Leave FAQ
If I leave my own meeting, does it kick everyone out?
No. As the organizer or co-organizer, you can leave the meeting while everyone else continues to participate. If you do not want participants to continue the meeting without you, you must select End meeting to disconnect everyone.
How long does a meeting continue running if the organizer doesn’t select End meeting?
If an organizer chooses to leave a meeting with at least one participant remaining connected, the meeting continues for up to 30 hours or until the last participant leaves.
Do external guests have access to meeting recap information?
No, only internal users who are officially invited to the meeting have access to post-meeting recap information.
Where can I learn more about post-meeting recap features?
Learn more about meeting recap features in Microsoft Teams from Microsoft Support.
