With the increasing acceptance of remote work, Microsoft Teams is now a necessary communication software within many professional settings. Of course, it keeps changing but unfortunately, even this improvement has a downside that many will agree on, the removal of the timestamp and sender information upon copying any chat messages. In this regard, we provide thorough solutions for effectively overcoming this limitation in Microsoft Teams chat copying by including the timestamp.
How to Copy Microsoft Teams Chat with Timestamp
The app no longer allows the inclusion of dates on the chat messages which has rendered context clearly in past professional interactions. However, many impressions can be made on how to restore this capability and where necessary remedial communication tool can be used to complete the whole chat history. In the below, we will strategize several ways on how to tackle the above issue.
Method 1: The web version permits you to copy chats without the loss of timestamps.
Utilising the web application on Microsoft Teams is often the easiest remedy. Using this technique enables copying of chats along with the time and account names.
- Launch Microsoft Teams through your selected web browser (Chrome or Edge).
- Go to the chat with the messages you desire to retrieve.
- Grab the text you wish to copy by using your mouse to drag it and pressing to select it.
- Click the highlighted text and then pick “Copy.”.
- Add the copied information to your target place (Word or email). You will find both the message and the timestamp included in the text you paste.
Using the web version bypasses the limitations of the desktop app, as it retains the metadata typically lost in the process.
Method 2: Utilising shortcuts for precise copying works excellent across both Windows and macOS.
You can utilise keyboard shortcuts to reliably retrieve chat messages and their timestamps from Microsoft Teams. This approach is available on Windows and macOS.
- Enter Microsoft Teams and select the conversation.
- While pressing the left mouse button hold it down and drag your cursor over the messages you aim to copy.
- While holding the mouse button, press the following keyboard shortcuts:
- For Windows: Press Ctrl + C.
- For Mac: Press Command + C.
- Stop holding the mouse button after the copy is made.
- Hit Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac) to merge the copied information.
- This strategy holds the message and the sending data in multiple instances.
This technique captures not only the message but also the timestamp and sender information in most cases.
Method 3: Eliminating certain cache folders solves the issue for now.
If users facing ongoing problems with copying timestamps remove specific cache folders they might find a transient fix. Estamps, deleting certain cache folders may temporarily resolve the problem.
- Close Microsoft Teams.
- Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the following path:
%localappdata%\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\ - Delete the folder named MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Restart Microsoft Teams.
Note that this is a temporary fix, as the folder will be regenerated by the application, and the issue might recur.
Method 4: Using Third-Party Tools
If the native workarounds don’t suffice, third-party tools can help capture Teams messages with timestamps. Several screen capture and automation tools allow users to record chat conversations in their entirety, including timestamps and sender details.
- Snagit: A popular screen capture tool that can be used to create image-based records of Teams chats with timestamps.
- Microsoft Power Automate: Automate the process of copying chats and ensure that all relevant details, including timestamps, are saved to a document.
To use Power Automate:
- Set up a new flow to monitor incoming Teams messages.
- Configure the flow to log each message, including the timestamp, to a separate file (e.g., Excel or SharePoint).
- Run the automation, ensuring the system captures all required information.
Conclusion
Indeed, looking to copy chat messages containing the timestamps as well as the messages themselves in Microsoft Teams cannot be as easy as before, however, there are steps to take to bring harmony with these indicators. Whether the web version, shortcuts, cache methods, or miscellaneous add-ons are employed, these alternatives seek to ensure that the full captured chat history is preserved and recording is not hampered in the process. Each of the methods has its pros and cons so trying more than one method is advisable to know which one works well for you.