How to Show or Hide App Names (Labels) in Microsoft Teams

App names in Microsoft Teams are the text labels that sit below app icons in the left sidebar. Hiding these labels shrinks the sidebar and clears up messy space on your screen.

This layout option works in Microsoft Teams version 1.7.0 and newer. Turning off app names hides the text for apps you rarely use so your most important tools stay front and center.

Step 1Go to Teams Settings

Open Microsoft Teams settings by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner of the window and picking Settings from the menu that pops up. This main settings menu controls how your Teams app looks and works, and you need to go here first before you can hide teams app names or change any other display options.

Your profile picture appears in the top-right corner of the window. Clicking the profile picture opens a menu with account options. This menu allows users to manage their Teams settings.

A menu will pop up. Find and click on Settings. This will open a new area with all the options to change how Teams looks and works.

Step 2Find Appearance Settings

Find the appearance options in Microsoft Teams by clicking Appearance on the left side of the Settings ⚙️ window. These display controls let you manage how apps look inside Teams and are necessary to reach the switch that helps you hide teams app names from the sidebar.

Microsoft Teams appearance settings control the application's look. Users access the appearance settings by clicking "Appearance" on the left side of the Teams window. This section lets you personalize your visual experience with about 10 different customization options.

Step 3Show or Hide App Names

Hide teams app names by turning off the app name switch next to icons in the Teams sidebar under your Appearance settings. Turning this switch off removes text labels so the sidebar looks less cluttered, while turning it back on shows the names again whenever you need them for easier reading.

Here's how to control if you see app names:

• In the Appearance settings, look for a switch. It might say Show app names or App labels.
• Click the switch to turn it on (to see names) or off (to hide names). If the switch is colored, it's usually on. If it's gray, it's off.

Why would you do this?

• Hide app names: If you have many apps in your sidebar, hiding the names can make it look more compact. You will just use the icons to know which app is which. Many people get used to this.
• Show app names: If you are new to Teams, or if you switch between many apps often, seeing the names can help you quickly find the app you need. It can stop confusion and help you pick apps faster.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/teams/notifications-settings/change-settings-in-microsoft-teams

Summary

You can change whether app names or labels show up next to icons in your Microsoft Teams sidebar by going to Settings, then Appearance, and using the toggle switch.