Getting started & onboarding in Sparks
Last updated: July 2026
After sign-in, Sparks helps you get started with a checklist, welcome dialog, optional product tour, and hints in empty areas.
“Getting started” checklist
The sidebar (or panel) shows Getting started with progress (e.g. “2 of 5 done”):
| Step (examples) | Goal |
|---|---|
| Send your first message | Start chat or a new conversation |
| Try a meeting or calendar | Open calendar or start a call from chat |
| Connect Microsoft 365 | Optional — Teams/calendar/contacts |
| Connect your calendar | Provider account in Settings |
| Invite a team member | Account area → Team (administrators) |
| Secure this device | Complete encryption / key backup |
Some steps are marked optional. You can Hide checklist; completed steps disappear automatically.
Welcome & intent question
On first visit a Welcome to Sparks dialog may appear with a short overview. Optionally “What do you want to do first?” (chat, meetings/calendar, Microsoft 365, set up team) — Sparks navigates to the matching area.
App tour (coachmarks)
From Getting started → Start app tour (or after the welcome dialog), a tour walks through the shell:
- Sidebar navigation
- New message / search
- Profile menu
- Optional module tours: Calendar, Calls, Planner, Activity
Use Next, Back, Skip tour, or Done.
Empty-area hints
When Calendar, Calls, Planner, Chat, or Activity is still empty, Sparks shows context hints (e.g. “Schedule a meeting”, “Add task”) — often with Quick tour for that module.
Reset onboarding
Settings → General → Getting started (section Show tips again):
- Reset onboarding — resets checklist, welcome banner, intent question, app tour, and empty-state hints for your account on this device
- Start app tour / Calendar tour, Calls tour, … — restart individual module tours
Useful after updates, for training, or to replay the introduction.