Answers in Viva: Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What license is required to use Answers?

A license to Viva Engage Knowledge service plan is required to use Answers. This service plan will be available as part of purchasing the Viva Suite. 

Can users not assigned the Viva Engage Knowledge service plan use Answers?

Users not assigned the Viva Engage Knowledge service plan will receive notifications to questions or answers they have been mentioned in and can visit that question or answer but will not be able to navigate to the rest of the Answers experience

Will questions posted be visible to everyone in my company?

Answers will be open to anyone in your organization with the Viva Suite license. Answers posts can be routed to anyone in your organization with a Microsoft 365 license. However, those employees can only access the individual thread, not other parts of Answers.  

Is guest access permitted for Answers?

Answers doesn't support guest access. 

Can our organization use Answers without Viva Topics?

Yes, Answers works with or without Viva Topics for users with the Viva Engage Knowledge Service plan.

Employees with Viva Topics licensing have additional knowledge management experiences, such as Topics cards on hover and AI-suggested topics. In 2025, Viva Topics will be retired, but a simplified topics model will continue in Viva Engage. For details about the Viva Topics retirement, see Changes coming to Topics.

What license is required to earn Answers badges? 

As for the Answers feature, a license to Viva Engage Knowledge service plan is required to start earning Answers badges, as long as the admin has enabled them for you. This service plan will be available as part of purchasing Viva Suite. 

How can I turn my answers badges off? 

If your admin enables User Preferences, you can turn off Answers badges by navigating to your Achievements and awards page and selecting the ellipses menu located in the upper right corner to find that option. 

What happens to my badges if I turn my answers badges off? 

If you decide to turn your Answers badges off, badges you've earned are deleted and no one will be able to see them anymore. If you decide to turn badges back on again, your previously earned badges will be gone and you'll need to start earning your badges back again. Badges can be earned as long as the admin control and your user control (if available) are enabled.  

How can I earn Answers  badges ? 

First, you need to contribute in Answers by answering and asking questions. Your colleagues can then upvote your questions and answers or mark them as Best question or Best answer. 

You can earn badges through the following user inputs:

• Best Answer badge: your answer is marked as the Best Answer

• Seeker badge

  • level 1: your question receives three upvotes

  • level 2: your question receives 10 upvotes

• Scholar badge

  • level 1: your answer receives three upvotes

  • level 2: your answer receives 10 upvotes

Can other people see my badges?

Yes, badges are public to the rest of the organization. You can see the badges of your colleagues and they can see yours. If your admin has enabled User Preferences, you can choose to turn off Answers badges, which will completely delete your badges.

Learn more

Answers in Viva: Get started

Answers in Viva: Answer questions and earn badges

Answers in Viva: View and follow topics  

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