Microsoft Teams Audio Not Working – 8 Proven Fixes (2026)

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Microsoft Teams audio not working is a frustrating issue that disrupts meetings, calls, and presentations. When Microsoft Teams audio not working occurs, you may experience no sound from your speakers, your microphone not picking up your voice, or one-way audio where you can hear others but they cannot hear you. According to Microsoft support documentation, these issues are most commonly caused by incorrect device selection, muted settings, or permission blocks[reference:0][reference:1]. This guide covers every possible cause and provides clear steps to resolve Microsoft Teams audio not working quickly.

For more productivity troubleshooting guides, visit our Productivity Tools Troubleshooting Hub. You can also check our guide on Edge performance issues for additional help.

For additional assistance, refer to Microsoft’s official speaker troubleshooting guide and check your device’s sound settings at Microsoft’s Windows audio fix page.

Featured Snippet: To resolve Microsoft Teams audio not working, start by checking your device settings in Teams (Settings > Devices) and ensuring the correct speaker and microphone are selected[reference:2]. If that does not work, verify your Windows sound settings, check microphone privacy permissions[reference:3], or run a test call to force Teams to rebuild the audio session[reference:4]. For persistent issues, clear the Teams cache, update audio drivers, or reinstall the app.

Why Teams Audio Fails

Several factors can cause Microsoft Teams audio not working. According to Microsoft support, the issue is most often related to incorrect device selection, muted settings, or permission blocks[reference:5]. Understanding the root cause helps you apply the right fix.

Here are the most common reasons why Microsoft Teams audio not working happens:

  • Wrong Device Selected: Teams may be routing audio to a disconnected headset, external monitor, or Bluetooth device instead of your active speaker or microphone[reference:6].
  • Muted Microphone or Speakers: You may be muted in Teams or have a hardware mute switch enabled on your headset or laptop[reference:7].
  • Microphone Privacy Permissions: Windows or macOS may be blocking Teams from accessing your microphone[reference:8].
  • Corrupted Teams Cache: Temporary files can interfere with audio device detection[reference:9].
  • Outdated or Corrupted Audio Drivers: Driver issues can prevent sound input and output[reference:10].
  • Audio Enhancements: Windows audio enhancements can sometimes block incoming audio[reference:11].

💡 Quick Tip: Start by checking your device settings in Teams—this resolves Microsoft Teams audio not working for many users[reference:12].

Method 1: Check Device Settings in Teams

The most common cause of Microsoft Teams audio not working is having the wrong speaker or microphone selected. Teams may be routing sound to a device that is disconnected or inactive[reference:13]. According to Microsoft Q&A support, this issue is resolved by simply selecting the correct speaker or refreshing the audio device connection[reference:14].

  1. Open Microsoft Teams and click your profile picture in the top right corner.
  2. Select Settings > Devices.
  3. Under Audio settings, ensure the correct Speaker and Microphone are selected from the dropdown menus[reference:15][reference:16].
  4. If you are in a meeting, click the arrow next to the Mic icon and select More actions > Audio settings to adjust devices without leaving the call[reference:17].
  5. Try switching to another available option and then switching back to refresh the audio routing[reference:18].

✅ Expected Result: After selecting the correct device, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves and sound works normally.

⚠️ Important Warning: If you are using a USB hub or docking station, try connecting your audio device directly to the computer[reference:19].

Method 2: Verify Windows/Mac Sound Settings

If Teams is set to the correct device but Microsoft Teams audio not working persists, your operating system may be routing audio to the wrong output. According to Microsoft support, confirming the default output device in Windows is essential[reference:20].

  1. Windows: Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and select Sound settings[reference:21].
  2. Under Output, ensure the correct device is selected as the default[reference:22].
  3. Under Input, select the correct microphone in “Choose a device for speaking or recording”[reference:23].
  4. Check the Volume mixer by right-clicking the speaker icon and selecting Open Volume mixer. Ensure the slider for Microsoft Teams is turned up and not muted[reference:24][reference:25].
  5. Mac: Go to System Settings > Sound and verify the correct input and output devices are selected.
  6. Test audio outside Teams (play a video or system sound). If you also cannot hear anything outside Teams, the issue is at the device or operating system level[reference:26].

✅ Expected Result: After adjusting system sound settings, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

Method 3: Check Microphone Privacy Permissions

Windows 11 has strict privacy controls that may be blocking Teams from accessing your microphone, causing Microsoft Teams audio not working for input[reference:27]. According to Microsoft support, ensuring microphone access is enabled is a critical step[reference:28].

  1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone (Windows 11)[reference:29].
  2. Ensure Microphone access is turned On[reference:30].
  3. Ensure Let apps access your microphone is turned On[reference:31].
  4. Ensure Let desktop apps access your microphone is turned On[reference:32].
  5. Find Microsoft Teams (work or school) in the app list and ensure it is enabled[reference:33].
  6. If all options are already enabled, turn them Off and then On again to force a refresh[reference:34].

✅ Expected Result: After enabling microphone permissions, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

Method 4: Use the “Make a Test Call” Feature

Teams’ built-in test call feature forces the app to rebuild the audio session, which frequently resolves interruption behavior[reference:35]. According to Microsoft Q&A, this is one of the most effective ways to verify audio input and output[reference:36].

  1. Open Teams and go to Settings > Devices.
  2. Under Audio settings, select Make a test call[reference:37].
  3. Follow the Test Call Bot instructions to record a message and play it back[reference:38].
  4. If the playback is silent, change the Speaker device until the test call audio can be heard[reference:39].
  5. The test call forces Teams to rebuild the audio session, which often resolves Microsoft Teams audio not working[reference:40].

✅ Expected Result: After the test call, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves and audio works in meetings.

Method 5: Disable Audio Enhancements

Windows audio enhancements can sometimes reduce or block incoming audio, causing Microsoft Teams audio not working[reference:41]. Disabling them can restore sound[reference:42].

  1. Go to Settings > System > Sound.
  2. Under Output, select your active output device.
  3. Select Device properties.
  4. Under Audio enhancements, set it to Off[reference:43].
  5. For the microphone, go to Input, select your microphone, and set Audio enhancements to Off as well[reference:44].
  6. Restart Teams and test.

✅ Expected Result: After disabling audio enhancements, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

Method 6: Clear Teams Cache

Corrupted cache files can interfere with audio device detection, causing Microsoft Teams audio not working[reference:45]. Clearing the cache is a proven fix[reference:46].

  1. Close Teams completely: Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray and select Quit[reference:47].
  2. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  3. Type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams and press Enter[reference:48].
  4. Delete all files in this folder.
  5. Reopen Teams and test your audio.

✅ Expected Result: After clearing the cache, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

⚠️ Important Warning: Deleting cache files will not delete your messages or settings. It only removes temporary files.[reference:49]

Method 7: Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause Microsoft Teams audio not working[reference:50]. Updating or reinstalling them often resolves the issue[reference:51].

  1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager[reference:52].
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers[reference:53].
  3. Right-click your audio device and select Update driver[reference:54].
  4. If no update is found, right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device, then restart your computer so Windows reinstalls the driver automatically[reference:55].
  5. Check for Optional Updates under Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates[reference:56].
  6. Visit your computer manufacturer’s support site to download the latest audio driver if Windows does not find it[reference:57].

✅ Expected Result: After updating or reinstalling audio drivers, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

Method 8: Reinstall Microsoft Teams

If Microsoft Teams audio not working persists after all other methods, a clean reinstall can fix corrupted app files. According to a Microsoft Q&A post, uninstalling and reinstalling Teams fixed the issue for a user who transferred data to a new computer[reference:58].

  1. Uninstall Teams: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Teams, and select Uninstall.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Download the latest version from Microsoft’s official Teams download page.
  4. Install Teams and log in.
  5. Test your audio with a test call.

✅ Expected Result: After reinstalling, Microsoft Teams audio not working resolves.

Conclusion: Resolving This Audio Issue

When Microsoft Teams audio not working occurs, start by checking your device settings in Teams and verifying your system sound settings. Most cases of Microsoft Teams audio not working resolve quickly by selecting the correct speaker and microphone, checking privacy permissions, or running a test call[reference:59]. If Microsoft Teams audio not working persists, try disabling audio enhancements, clearing the Teams cache, updating audio drivers, or reinstalling the app. The issue is often temporary and can be resolved with the right troubleshooting steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes Microsoft Teams audio not working?

Microsoft Teams audio not working is typically caused by incorrect device selection, muted settings, microphone privacy permissions, corrupted cache, outdated audio drivers, or audio enhancements[reference:60].

How do I fix Teams audio not working on Windows 11?

To fix Microsoft Teams audio not working on Windows 11, check Teams device settings (Settings > Devices), verify Windows sound settings, enable microphone privacy permissions (Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone), and run a test call[reference:61].

How do I fix Teams microphone not working?

To fix the microphone in Teams, check that you are not muted, select the correct microphone in Teams device settings, enable microphone permissions in Windows Privacy settings, and run a test call[reference:62][reference:63].

Why can I hear people in Teams but they can’t hear me?

This one-way audio issue is usually caused by a muted microphone, the wrong mic selected, or microphone privacy permissions blocking Teams. Check your mute state, select the correct mic in Teams device settings, and enable microphone access in Windows Privacy settings[reference:64].

Why can I hear Teams but the other person can’t hear me?

This occurs when your microphone is not being detected or is muted. Check your Teams mute state, verify the correct microphone is selected in Teams device settings, and confirm Windows microphone privacy permissions allow Teams to use the mic[reference:65].

Does clearing cache fix Teams audio issues?

Yes. Clearing the Teams cache is a proven fix for Microsoft Teams audio not working, as corrupted temporary files can interfere with audio device detection[reference:66].

How do I run a test call in Microsoft Teams?

Go to Settings > Devices, and under Audio settings, select Make a test call. Follow the Test Call Bot instructions to record a message and play it back. This forces Teams to rebuild the audio session[reference:67].

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