> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://resources.athenaintel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Use Athena agents in Microsoft Teams
> Add the Athena app to Teams chats and channels, connect each conversation to an Athena agent, and ask it questions where your team already works.
The Athena app for Microsoft Teams puts your organization's Athena agents into
Teams chats and channels. Connect a conversation to an agent once, then
@mention Athena with a question. The agent answers in the same thread, using
the data, tools and permissions it has in Athena. Every conversation is saved
in Athena, so you can continue it there.
This page covers the Athena **bot** for Teams. To read and send Teams
messages from an Athena session instead, see
[Connect Microsoft Teams to Athena](/docs/integrations/microsoft-teams).
## Requirements
* Your company uses Athena Intelligence. New to Athena?
[Request access](https://www.athenaintel.com/demo).
* To get answers, you need an Athena account that can use the connected agent.
Athena matches you by your work email (see
[Who gets answers](#who-gets-answers)).
* To connect a chat or channel, you need to be an **owner** or **manager** of
the Athena workspace the agent belongs to.
* A Teams admin installs the app once for your organization.
## Step 1: Install the app (Teams admin, once)
Search for **Athena** in the Teams admin center under **Teams apps →
Manage apps** and allow it. If Athena isn't listed for your organization,
download the app package from any collab agent in Athena (**Microsoft
Teams → Download Teams app**) and upload it under **Teams apps →
Manage apps → Upload new app**.
Check that your app permission policies let the people who will use Athena
install it. Optionally pin it with an app setup policy.
## Step 2: Add Athena to a conversation
* **Channel**: open the team, select **+** or **Apps → Add to a team**, pick
Athena and choose the channel.
* **Group chat**: open the chat, select **Apps** (or **+**) and add Athena.
* **Personal chat**: open **Apps**, find Athena and select **Add**.
Athena posts a welcome card that explains what it does and has a
**Connect to Athena** button.
## Step 3: Connect the conversation to an agent
An owner or manager of an Athena workspace selects **Connect to Athena**.
The link works for 7 days. Type `help` in the conversation at any time to
get a fresh one.
Sign in to Athena, pick the agent that should answer in this conversation
and confirm. You only see agents in workspaces where you are an owner or
manager.
Athena posts a confirmation naming the agent. In a channel or group chat,
@mention Athena with your question. In a personal chat, send the question.
Each conversation answers with one agent. To switch agents or disconnect, open
the agent in Athena, go to **Microsoft Teams**, and disconnect the
conversation; then connect it again from Teams.
## Using Athena
| Type | What happens |
| - | - |
| A question | The agent answers in the thread. Follow-ups in the same thread continue the conversation. |
| `help` | Shows how Athena is set up in this conversation, with links to get access and support. |
| `reset` | Starts a new conversation with the agent. |
| A message starting with `aside` | Athena ignores it. |
Athena shows a typing indicator while the agent works, then edits its reply
into the answer. The first answer in a thread links to the conversation in
Athena.
## Who gets answers
Athena answers only people whose Athena account can use the connected agent.
It looks up each sender's work email from Teams and matches it to an Athena
account:
* For members of your organization, the email (or sign-in name) must be on a
domain your Microsoft Entra tenant has verified.
* Guests are not matched to Athena accounts because the host organization can
edit their email and sign-in name to claim someone else's address.
Someone without a matching account gets a short note on how to request access.
Someone who is in the agent's workspace but can't use this agent gets a link to
request access to it.
## AI-generated answers
Answers are generated by AI and can be wrong. Teams labels each answer **AI
generated**. Use the thumbs up or thumbs down on an answer to tell us how it
did. A thumbs down with a comment goes to the Athena team for review.
## Data and privacy
* Athena receives only the messages that @mention it in chats and channels,
and every message in a personal chat with it.
* It sees the names of files attached to a message, not their contents.
* Messages and answers are stored in Athena as the agent's conversation,
under your organization's Athena data controls.
* See the [Athena privacy policy](https://www.athenaintel.com/privacy-policy)
and [terms of service](https://www.athenaintel.com/terms-service).
## Troubleshooting
No agent is connected yet. Ask an owner or manager of the Athena workspace
to use the **Connect to Athena** button, or type `help` for a new link.
Your Teams email didn't match an Athena account that can use this agent.
Check that you sign in to Athena with your work email, then ask the
agent's workspace owner for access.
In channels and group chats Athena only sees messages that @mention it.
Make sure the mention resolves to the Athena app.
Your Teams admin needs to install or allow the app (Step 1).
## Support
Email [support@athenaintel.com](mailto:support@athenaintel.com) with the
Teams conversation name and the time of the message.
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