---
title: "How to use Spud in chats, groups and channels in Microsoft Teams"
last_updated: "2026-07-16T11:21:02.687Z"
category: "AI Agent How-tos"
canonical_url: "https://maybeclients.com/h/mash-help-centre/how-to-use-spud-in-chats-groups-and-channels-in-microsoft-teams"
help_centre: "MaSH! Help Centre"
---

# How to use Spud in chats, groups and channels in Microsoft Teams

This guide explains how to use Spud in Microsoft Teams across one-to-one chats, group chats, and channels within Teams, including how to add Spud to the right place so it’s available when you need it.

Spud can be used in three main spaces in Microsoft Teams: a direct chat just you and the agents, a channel inside a team, or a group chat with other people. The main differences are: 1. How you add the Spud app to the channel or group, and 2. When you must tag @spud so the agents know you are speaking to them.

- Decide where you want to use your AI Agents:
  - One-to-one chat you and the agent
  - A channel inside a team within a Team
  - A group chat you plus other people in a chat

- Use your AI Agents in a one-to-one chat:
  - In Microsoft Teams, go to Chat.
  - Open your direct chat with the Spud app.
  - Send messages as normal. In a one-to-one chat, you typically do not need to tag @spud each time, because you are only talking to Spud here.

- Add the Spud app to a channel so your AI Agents can be used in that channel :
  - In Microsoft Teams, select the + icon in the left-hand navigation this is for Apps .
  - Go to Manage your apps.
  - Find the Spud app. It will appear under built for your organisation
  - Select the Spud app, then choose where to add it:
    - You’ll be shown the first few channels, or
    - Select View more to choose a different channel.
  - Select the channel you want to add Spud to.
  - Select Go to be taken to the channel, where you can now use @spud to interact with your AI Agents.
  - Note: Microsoft Teams only allows you to add an app to one channel at a time, so repeat these steps for each channel you need.

- Use Spud in team channels and understand team vs channel access :
  - If you add the Spud app to a team, it can access all channels within that team.
  - If you create a new team, you’ll need to add the Spud app to that team too.
  - If you create a channel outside the team where the Spud app was added, you’ll need to add the Spud app to that channel for it to work there.

- Create a group chat so multiple people can use Spud together :
  - In Microsoft Teams, go to Chat.
  - Select New message.
  - Give your group chat a name.
  - Add your colleagues, team members, or clients. They must have a Microsoft Teams account to be added.
- Add Spud to a group chat:
  - Open the group chat you’ve already created.
  - Type @spud and send a message to the group chat.
  - In the group chat, you’ll see a notification saying <your name> added Spud here.
  - Now you and anyone in that group can interact with your AI Agents by starting the conversation with @spud.
Important things to note:

- Tag the agent in shared conversations channels and group chats :
  - In channels and group chats, always tag @spud before your message so it knows you’re speaking to it, the same way you would tag a colleague.
- Check task destinations channels/groups are available before you try to run tasks:
  - You can only run tasks to groups and channels that already have the Spud app in them.
  - If the channel/group you want does not appear in a task drop-down list, it usually means the Spud app has not been added there yet.
  - Go back into Microsoft Teams and add the Spud app to the specific channel or group chat, then try again.
- Make sure everyone can interact with the agents in channels and group chats:
  - Anyone who wants to interact with the AI Agents in that channel or group chat must have integrated their Microsoft Teams account with their Spud account here.
  - If someone has not integrated their account, they may be able to see messages in Teams but will not be able to properly interact with the AI Agents.
Troubleshooting

| Issue | Possible Cause | Suggested Solution |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spud does not respond in a channel or group chat | The message wasn’t directed to the agent | Start your message with @spud so the agent knows you’re talking to it |
| You cannot use Spud in a specific channel | Spud hasn’t been added to that channel, or it’s outside the team where the agent was added | Add the Spud app to the channel using the + Apps →Manage your apps→Spud→ choose the channel, use View more if needed |
| You need Spud in multiple channels | Teams only lets you add the app to one channel at a time | Repeat the channel-add steps for each channel you want to enable |
| The channel or group you want is missing when you try to run a task | The Spud app hasn’t been added to that channel/group yet | Go into Teams and add the Spud app to the specific channel or group chat, then try again |
| You can’t add someone to a group chat | They don’t have a Microsoft Teams account | Ask them to join with a Teams account, then add them to the group |
| You created a new team and the agent isn’t available in its channels | The agent isn’t automatically added to new teams | Add the agent to the new team, or add the app to the required channels |