License & Subscription Issues

How to Use Microsoft Teams Breakout Rooms with Office 2019

Adam Davis Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to utilize Microsoft Teams breakout rooms when they currently own an Office 2019 desktop license.

Using Microsoft Teams Breakout Rooms with Office 2019

Product: Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to host or schedule Teams meetings with breakout rooms without having a full Microsoft 365 desktop subscription.
Observed behavior: Teams breakout rooms are not included with the Office 2019 perpetual license, as they require a standalone Teams license or a Microsoft 365 business plan.

Before you start

Verify your current Microsoft account subscription status to see if it includes a dedicated Microsoft Teams license, as standalone Office 2019 perpetual licenses do not.

Solution 1Recommended

Combine Office 2019 with a Microsoft 365 Business Basic Subscription

Use a Business Basic subscription to access Microsoft Teams and breakout rooms while retaining your Office 2019 license for offline desktop applications.

Microsoft Teams breakout rooms are a cloud-based service that requires a specific Teams license. Because Office 2019 is a traditional desktop license, it does not include Teams. However, you can effectively mix licenses by subscribing to a lightweight cloud plan for Teams while using your perpetual license for desktop tasks.

Acquire a Teams-enabled subscription

Subscribe to a plan like Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which includes Microsoft Teams and its advanced meeting features like breakout rooms.

Schedule your meeting in Teams

Open the Microsoft Teams application or log into the web version. Navigate to the Teams Calendar tab to schedule your meeting, which is necessary to enable breakout room functionality.

Manage breakout rooms

Once the meeting is scheduled or successfully launched, click the breakout rooms icon on the meeting toolbar to create rooms and assign participants.

Continue using Office 2019

For editing local files, ignore the web-based Office apps included in Business Basic and continue using your locally installed Office 2019 desktop applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Combine Office 2019 with a Microsoft 365 Business Basic Subscription

Desktop App Limitations in Business Basic: Microsoft 365 Business Basic only provides access to the web versions of Word and Excel. You must rely on your existing Office 2019 license to use full desktop applications.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a Free Desktop Office Suite? Try WPS Office

If you are managing your online meetings with Teams but need a reliable, lightweight desktop application for your documents without paying for an expensive Microsoft 365 desktop plan, WPS Office is an excellent free alternative.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
3. Open your Microsoft Office files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files seamlessly.

Completely free to download and use for your daily document tasks.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight architecture ensures fast performance on all devices.Familiar user interface makes migrating from Office 2019 seamless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Teams breakout rooms with just an Office 2019 license?

No. Office 2019 is a perpetual license for desktop applications only and does not include Microsoft Teams services. You need a separate subscription, such as Microsoft 365 Business Basic, to access Teams breakout rooms.

Why can't I see the breakout rooms option when I schedule from Outlook 2019?

To fully support and configure breakout rooms, the meeting invitation typically needs to be scheduled directly through the Microsoft Teams calendar rather than through the Outlook 2019 desktop client.

Does Microsoft 365 Business Basic include desktop versions of Word and Excel?

No, the Business Basic plan only includes access to the web-based versions of Office applications. If you need desktop software, you can continue using your Office 2019 installation alongside it.

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