When Teams audio fails on Windows 11, first determine whether the problem is limited to Teams. If YouTube, Windows sounds, or another calling app also has no audio, start with Windows settings and drivers. If other apps work normally, focus on Teams’ device selection and app data.
Work through these fixes in order. After each one, test a call before moving to the next.
1. Select the correct microphone and speaker in Teams
Teams can select a different device from the one you expect. For example, Windows may recognize your USB headset while Teams continues using the laptop microphone and built-in speakers. An HDMI monitor can also become the selected speaker even when it has no speakers.
Change devices before a meeting
- Open Microsoft Teams.
- Select Settings and more (…) beside your profile picture.
- Go to Settings > Devices.
- Under Audio settings, choose the intended device in both the Speaker and Microphone menus.
- Select Make a test call and follow the instructions from Test Call Bot.
The test call records a short sample and plays it back. Microsoft says the recording is deleted immediately. This feature is available in the desktop app, not Teams for the web, and is currently available only in English.
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Change devices during a meeting
- Select the arrow beside Mic in the meeting controls.
- Select More actions (…) followed by Audio settings.
- Choose the correct Speaker and Microphone.
If a wired headset is missing, disconnect it and plug it in again. For Bluetooth equipment, check that it is charged and is not connected to a phone or another computer. Also check the headset’s physical mute button and boom position: many headsets mute the microphone when the boom is raised.
If Teams does not offer a device that Windows can see, quit Teams completely and reopen it after reconnecting the device.
2. Fix Windows 11 output, volume, and microphone permissions
Windows can route sound to the wrong output, mute Teams independently of the main volume, or prevent the desktop app from accessing the microphone.
Choose the Windows output device
- Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Output, select the speakers or headphones you want to use.
This selection also makes the device the default output. Pay particular attention to USB and HDMI devices. If an external monitor is selected but has no built-in speakers, Teams may appear to be silent even though Windows volume is turned up.
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Check the volume mixer
- Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar.
- Select Open Volume mixer.
- Check that the selected output device is not muted.
- Check the Microsoft Teams app volume and make sure it is not muted or set very low.
Windows keeps separate controls for overall volume and individual applications, so Teams can be muted while system audio remains on.
Enable a disabled audio device
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Advanced, select More sound settings.
- Open Playback for speakers or headphones, or Recording for microphones.
- Select the device, then choose Properties.
- Set Device usage to Use this device (enable).
Allow Teams to use the microphone
- Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Turn on Microphone access.
- Turn on Let apps access your microphone.
- If shown, turn on Microsoft Teams (work or school).
- Turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone.
- Close your applications and restart Windows.
If these switches were already enabled, turn them off, turn them on again, and restart the computer. The Microsoft Teams (work or school) switch is the app-specific entry for that client, while Let desktop apps access your microphone is also needed by desktop applications.
3. Repair Windows audio, its driver, or an update-related failure
If audio is missing in Teams and other applications, the fault is probably in Windows rather than Teams. Common causes include a stopped audio service, an incompatible driver, or an audio problem introduced by a recent Windows update.
Restart Windows audio services
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. - Right-click Windows Audio, then select Restart.
- Right-click Windows Audio Endpoint Builder, then select Restart.
- Test Teams again.
If the problem persists, Microsoft’s audio troubleshooting guidance also identifies Remote Procedure Call (RPC) as a service to check when repairing Windows audio.
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Update the audio driver
- Open Start, search for Device Manager, and open it.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click the audio device.
- Select Update driver and follow the prompts.
- Restart Windows.
If audio stopped immediately after a Windows update, try returning to the previous driver:
- In Device Manager, right-click the audio device and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
- Select Roll Back Driver, if available.
- Restart the computer.
The rollback button appears only when Windows has a previous driver available.
Install pending Windows updates
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install available updates.
- Restart Windows.
Partially installed or incompatible audio drivers and services that fail to start can cause sound to disappear after an update.
Turn off audio enhancements
For distorted or silent output, open Start > Settings > System > Sound, select the output device, and set Audio enhancements to Off under Advanced settings.
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4. Reset or clear the New Teams app data
If sound works in other applications but Teams still cannot use the microphone or speaker, Teams’ local data may be damaged. Windows 11 normally uses New Microsoft Teams, which has a different cache location from Classic Teams.
Reset New Teams
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Microsoft Teams.
- Find New Microsoft Teams.
- Select More options (…) followed by Advanced options.
- Under Reset, select Reset.
- Start Teams and test a call.
Resetting removes Teams app data and personalization settings. It is more extensive than simply quitting and reopening Teams.
Clear the New Teams cache manually
- Quit Teams by right-clicking its taskbar icon and selecting Quit.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Paste this path:
%userprofile%appdatalocalPackagesMSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalCacheMicrosoftMSTeams- Select OK.
- Delete everything inside that folder.
- Open Teams again and test the microphone and speaker.
The first launch can take longer while Teams rebuilds its cache.
Do not confuse the cache paths. The commonly suggested %appdata%MicrosoftTeams path is for Classic Teams. It is not the correct cache-clearing location for New Teams on Windows 11. Use the New Teams reset option or the MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe path above.
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Additional checks before reinstalling Teams
- Update Teams: Select Settings and more (…) > Update and restart Teams when that option is available.
- Check the version: Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > About Teams and look under Version.
- Check Remote Desktop: In Remote Desktop Connection, open Local Resources > Remote audio > Settings…. Set playback to Play on this computer and recording to Record from this computer. Remote Desktop can otherwise redirect audio away from the computer running Teams.
FAQ
Why can I hear other applications but not Microsoft Teams?
Teams may be using a different speaker, muted in the Windows volume mixer, blocked from microphone access, or affected by damaged local app data. Check Teams under Settings > Devices first, then check Windows volume and privacy settings.
Why is my microphone unavailable in Teams on Windows 11?
Check the headset’s physical mute control, then go to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and enable Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone, and Let desktop apps access your microphone. Also select the correct microphone in Teams under Settings > Devices.
Does clearing the old Teams cache fix New Teams?
Not usually. The %appdata%MicrosoftTeams folder belongs to Classic Teams. New Teams uses its packaged app data, so reset New Microsoft Teams under Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Advanced options, or clear its documented LocalCache folder.
Why does Teams play sound through my monitor?
Windows or Teams may have selected the monitor’s HDMI or DisplayPort audio device. In Windows, open Settings > System > Sound and choose your headphones or speakers under Output. Then select the same device in Teams under Settings > Devices.
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Why is Make a test call missing in Teams?
The Make a test call feature is available in the Teams desktop app but is currently unavailable in Teams for the web.
The Bottom Line
Start by choosing the right speaker and microphone in Teams, then verify Windows output, volume, device status, and microphone permissions. If audio is broken across Windows, restart the audio services and repair the driver or update. If only Teams is affected, reset or clear the New Teams app data using the current New Teams path—not the outdated Classic Teams cache folder.
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