💡 Note: The Microsoft Teams integration is available on our premium subscription plan.
Setting Up the Guusto App in Microsoft Teams
The Guusto + Microsoft Teams integration allows your employees to access Guusto recognition directly within Teams — no browser switching required. By installing and pinning the Guusto app through the Microsoft Teams Admin Center, you can make recognition seamless for your entire organization.
⚠️ Note: The previous webhook-based Microsoft Teams integration has been deprecated. The app installation method described in this article is the current supported integration.
This article walks Microsoft Teams Admins through the steps to allow, install, and pin the Guusto app organization-wide.
Before You Begin
Please confirm the following before getting started:
You must be a Microsoft Teams Admin to manage app permissions and setup policies.
Users must have an active Guusto account using the same email address as their Microsoft Teams account.
The integration is supported on the standard paid version of Microsoft Teams.
Changes may take up to 24 hours to fully propagate across your organization.
Step 1: Allow the Guusto App Org-Wide
If your organization restricts third-party apps, you'll need to allow Guusto before it can be installed.
Go to the Microsoft Teams Admin Center
Navigate to Teams apps → Manage apps
Search for Guusto Rewards & Recognition
Click on the app
Set Status = Allowed
If Third-Party Apps Are Restricted
If your organization uses a permission policy that blocks third-party apps, you'll need to update that policy first:
Go to Teams apps → Permission policies
Edit the Global policy (or the policy assigned to your users)
Under Third-party apps, ensure the setting is either:
Allow all apps, OR
Allow specific apps — and confirm that Guusto is included
📌 Note: If you're unsure which permission policy applies to your users, check the Users section of the Admin Center to see which policy is assigned.
Step 2: Install and Pin the App for Your Organization
This is the key step to ensure Guusto appears in Teams for your users automatically.
In the Admin Center, go to Teams apps → Setup policies
Choose one of the following:
Edit the Global (Org-wide default) policy — simplest option for full organization rollout
Create a new policy — recommended if you want a staged rollout to a pilot group first
Add Guusto to Installed Apps
Within your selected policy:
Under Installed apps, click Add apps
Search for Guusto Rewards & Recognition
Click Add
This ensures the app is automatically installed in Teams for all users assigned to this policy — they won't need to install it manually.
Pin Guusto to the Teams Sidebar
Still within the same policy:
Scroll down to Pinned apps
Click Add apps
Search for Guusto Rewards & Recognition
Click Add
Use the Move up option to adjust its position in the left sidebar
Click Save
Pinning the app places Guusto in the Teams navigation bar so employees can find it without searching.
Step 3: Assign the Policy (Custom Policies Only)
If you created a new Setup Policy (rather than editing the Global policy), you'll need to assign it to your users:
Within the policy, click Assign users
Assign it to:
Individual users
A security group
Your full organization (via bulk assignment)
For organization-wide rollout via PowerShell:
Grant-CsTeamsAppSetupPolicy -PolicyName "YourPolicyName" -Global
📌 Best Practice: If you're doing a staged rollout, consider creating a policy named something like "Core Apps," adding and pinning Guusto, assigning it to a pilot group, and expanding to the full organization after confirming everything works as expected. This gives you flexibility and an easy rollback path if needed.
Deployment Timing
Changes can take a few hours (up to 24 hours) to apply after saving.
Users may need to restart Microsoft Teams for the app to appear.
What Your Employees Will See
Once the app is installed and pinned:
Guusto will appear in the left-hand Teams sidebar for all assigned users.
Employees can access the full Guusto experience — sending recognition, claiming gifts, and viewing their wallet — directly within Teams.
Recognition can be sent without ever leaving the Teams window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do employees need a Guusto account to use the Teams app? Yes. Users must have an active Guusto account with the same email address as their Microsoft Teams account. If they don't have one, they'll be prompted to sign in when they open the app.
Can users install Guusto themselves if the admin hasn't set it up? If your organization allows third-party apps, users can search for and install Guusto from the Teams App Store on their own. However, admin-led installation ensures a consistent, organization-wide experience.
The app isn't showing up for users after 24 hours — what should I do? Check the following:
Confirm the app status is set to Allowed in Manage apps
Verify the Setup Policy is saved and assigned correctly
Ask users to fully quit and relaunch Microsoft Teams
Confirm users' email addresses in Teams match their Guusto accounts
Can I limit the app to specific teams or departments only? Yes. Create a custom Setup Policy, add and pin Guusto, then assign it to a specific security group rather than the full organization.
Where can I get help if something isn't working? Reach out to the Guusto support team at [email protected].