Standalone Installation for Microsoft Teams App

The Brightidea for Microsoft Teams app can be accessed via search in the app catalog within Teams, or online from Microsoft AppSource. We recommend installing the app from either of these locations if possible, to ensure your installation always stays current.

The latest app package is provided here for standalone or custom installation. Download the package and find installation options below: http://brightidea.com/wp-content/uploads/com.brightidea.teams.zip

Please be aware that installation is highly dependent on each user and their organization's policies & permissions. Review the options below to see which are available to you and whether you will need assistance from your Microsoft IT administrator.

Table of Contents 

There are three recommended ways of installing the app:

• Submit to App Catalog (Available in Your Internal App Store)
• Upload a Custom App (Individual Installation)
• IT Installation and Deployment 

Submit to App Catalog (Available in Your Internal App Store)

If available, this option allows you to submit the app to your IT admin(s) for approval, directly from Teams. Once approved, the app will be available to install for everyone in your org.

This option is best if you want to make the app available to a lot of users.

 

Submitting to App Catalog 

Complete this once per organization:

1. In Teams, click on the "Apps" tab
2. Scroll to the bottom of the left column and click "Submit to app catalog"
3. From the main column, select "Submit an app"
4. Browse to the zip file you downloaded above
5. The app will be submitted to your organization's IT admin(s) for approval
6. Once approved, all users in the org will see the app available in the "Built for..." section of the "Apps" tabs (see below)

Note: you may want to direct your admin to the Teams admin center for app approval and management. They should also be automatically notified of your request.

Installing from App Catalog

Once the app is approved, users must complete these steps:

1. Click the "Apps" tab and locate the Brightidea app in the "Built for..." section
2. Click on the app card, review the details, then click "Add" to install in your Teams instance

 

Now, see how to use the app: Brightidea for Microsoft Teams

 

Upload a Custom App (Individual Installation)

If available, this option allows users to individually install a custom app. This is also referred to as "sideloading" the app.

This option is best if you want to test in a local environment to "kick the tires" on the app—or if you are going to be using it as an admin to submit ideas on behalf of others. 

1. In Teams, click on the "Apps" tab
2. Scroll to the bottom of the left column and click "Upload a custom app"
3. Browse to the zip file you downloaded above
4. App details will be shown -- review, then click "Add" to install in your Teams instance

Now, see how to use the app: Brightidea for Microsoft Teams

 

IT Installation and Deployment

The app can alternatively be made available and/or deployed from the Teams Admin Center by a Microsoft IT admin.

This option requires access to your organization's Microsoft admin area, but is the most reliable and robust way to make the app available across the org. 

1. From "Microsoft Teams admin center" navigate to "Teams apps" > "Manage Apps"
2. Select "+ Upload"
3. Review prompts and select the app package file
4. The app should now be listed in the admin center (use search field to locate it by "Brightidea" if needed)
5. Click into the app to make sure it is published & allowed, or for other management operations

App Management and Deployment

For more information on app management and deployment (install on behalf of users), please refer to Microsoft documentation. The Brightidea app does not have any specific installation limitations, but it does require a Brightidea account to use. 

Individual Installation

After adding the app in the admin center: 

1. Users will now see the app in Teams, in the "Build for..." section of the "Apps" tab
2. Users can install the app by selecting the app and clicking "Add"