- The Teams limits that decide how long you can meet
- Scenario: an all-day workshop that runs long
- Scenario: a quick call from a group chat
- Scenario: a large session that needs breakout rooms
- Scenario: a meeting link sent weeks in advance
- Scenario: keeping a recording after the meeting
- Scenario: presenting a large slide deck
- What happened to Teams live events
- Frequently asked questions
A Microsoft Teams meeting or event can run for up to 30 hours. Recordings follow a separate rule: each one maxes out at 4 hours or 1.5 GB, then ends and restarts automatically. The plans Microsoft lists (Business Basic, Standard, Premium, Essentials and A1) host meetings for up to 300 people, while a video or audio call started from chat takes 20.
The Teams limits that decide how long you can meet
All of these figures are from Microsoft's limits and specifications page for Teams:
| Limit | Figure |
|---|---|
| Meeting or event length | 30 hours |
| Single recording | 4 hours or 1.5 GB, then it restarts |
| People in a meeting on the plans Microsoft lists | Up to 300 |
| People in a call started from chat | 20 |
| Meeting size for breakout rooms | Up to 1,000 attendees |
| Local download window for recordings not uploaded to Stream | 20 days |
Beyond the meeting length, the recording cap, the chat call size and how long a meeting link stays valid shape what you can do. Here's how each plays out.
Scenario: an all-day workshop that runs long
A training day running from morning to evening sits well inside the 30 hour meeting limit, so the meeting itself won't cut out. The recording is the part to plan around. At 4 hours or 1.5 GB, whichever comes first, the recording ends and automatically restarts. You'll end up with several recording files for one session rather than a single long one, which is worth telling whoever edits or shares them afterwards. There's more on the recording side in this guide to how to record a Teams meeting.
Scenario: a quick call from a group chat
Kick off a call from a chat thread and the ceiling is 20 people. A larger group belongs in a scheduled meeting instead, which those same plans open up to 300.
Scenario: a large session that needs breakout rooms
Breakout rooms can only be created in a meeting or event with up to 1,000 attendees. A conference style session above that size won't be able to split people into rooms, so keep the attendee count under it if small group work is part of the plan.
Scenario: a meeting link sent weeks in advance
For a one-time scheduled meeting, the link expires 60 days after the scheduled time. A recurring meeting with no end date expires 1 year after it was last accessed, joined or updated. So a weekly catch-up that people keep using stays alive, while one that's gone quiet for a year will need a fresh link. If you're setting one up now, here's how to schedule a Teams meeting.
Scenario: keeping a recording after the meeting
Recordings that aren't uploaded to Stream stay available for local download for 20 days. Download anything you need within those 20 days.
Scenario: presenting a large slide deck
If you're sharing PowerPoint in the meeting, the maximum file size is 2 GB.
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What happened to Teams live events
Teams live events retired on June 30, 2026. If an older guide tells you to run a big broadcast as a live event, that route isn't there any more; plan the session as a meeting or event within the limits above.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Teams meeting end on its own after an hour?
Not on the plans Microsoft lists. Meetings and events can run for up to 30 hours.
Why did my Teams recording split into two files?
Each recording stops at 4 hours or 1.5 GB and then starts a new one automatically.
How many people can join a call I start from chat?
20. Above that, set it up as a meeting, which can hold up to 300 on the plans Microsoft lists.
Can an invite I sent months ago go dead?
It can. A single session's invite lapses 60 days past its date, and an open-ended series lapses once it sits untouched for a year.
Can I still schedule a Teams live event?
No, they retired on June 30, 2026.
