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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11AirPods can work with Microsoft Teams on Windows and Mac, but Teams must use them for both audio directions: Speaker and Microphone. Selecting AirPods only in your computer’s Bluetooth or sound settings may not be enough.
Start with Teams’ device selection, then check your operating system, Bluetooth connection, permissions, and app. To isolate the problem, first check whether the AirPods work outside Teams.
1. Select AirPods in Teams
In the Teams desktop app, open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices. Under Audio settings, select your AirPods in both dropdowns:
- Speaker: your AirPods
- Microphone: your AirPods microphone
Select Make a test call. Teams plays a recording through the selected speaker and checks the selected microphone. This test is available in the Teams desktop app for Windows and Mac, but not Teams for the web.
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If you are already in a meeting, select the arrow beside Mic in the meeting controls, choose More actions (…) > Audio settings, and select the AirPods for both Speaker and Microphone.
If the AirPods do not appear, charge them, disconnect them from nearby devices, and reconnect them to the computer.
2. Set AirPods as Windows’ input and output
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Sound. Select the AirPods under Output, then select the AirPods microphone under Input. Check that neither the system volume nor the input volume is muted.
If Windows says the AirPods are connected but there is no sound, check the Bluetooth device’s format:
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- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
- Select the AirPods.
- Open Advanced sound properties.
- Under Output settings, try 2 channels, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality).
The advanced sound option appears only while the Bluetooth device is connected.
On Windows 10, use Start > Settings > System > Sound > Choose your output device. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for it.
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3. Check whether another device has the AirPods
AirPods may reconnect to an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or another nearby computer. Before pairing them with the Teams computer, disconnect them from those devices or temporarily turn off Bluetooth on them.
Check the charge in the case and both earbuds. Microsoft recommends checking the charge of a Bluetooth audio device when it does not appear or will not reconnect.
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AirPods use different pairing controls depending on the model.
AirPods 1, 2, 3, AirPods Pro 1, or AirPods Pro 2
- Put both earbuds in the charging case and open the lid.
- Hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 5 seconds, until the status light flashes white.
- In Windows, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth.
- Select the AirPods.
AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3
- Put both earbuds in the case and open the lid.
- Double-tap the front of the case until the status light flashes white.
- In Windows, go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth.
- Select the AirPods.
Apple supports AirPods as a Bluetooth headset on non-Apple devices for listening and speaking. Siri is not available when they are paired with a non-Apple device.
5. Remove and pair the AirPods again
Use this if Windows lists the AirPods but Teams cannot use them, or if the connection repeatedly fails:
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Find the AirPods and select More options (…) > Remove device.
- Select Add device > Bluetooth.
- Put the AirPods into pairing mode and select them again.
- Return to System > Sound and choose them for output and input.
Reconnect both earbuds, not just one. Incomplete earbud pairing can result in one-sided audio.
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6. Turn on microphone permissions
Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Turn on Microphone access.
- Turn on Let apps access your microphone.
- Turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone.
Teams may not appear as a separate app because the desktop version is a desktop application. The last setting controls access for desktop apps such as Teams.
If these permissions are already enabled, turn them off and on again. Close other applications that may be using the microphone, restart the computer, and try the Teams test call again.
macOS Ventura or later
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Turn on access for Microsoft Teams.
- Quit Teams completely and reopen it.
7. Restart Bluetooth and the computer
A temporary Bluetooth service problem can leave the AirPods listed as connected while audio remains unavailable.
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Turn Bluetooth off.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Turn Bluetooth on again.
- Reconnect the AirPods.
- Restart the computer if the problem remains.
8. Reset the AirPods
Resetting removes the existing Bluetooth relationship and can fix persistent pairing, microphone, or one-earbud problems. Pair the AirPods with Windows again after the reset.
AirPods 1, 2, 3, AirPods Pro 1, or AirPods Pro 2
- Put the AirPods in their case.
- Close the lid and wait 30 seconds.
- Open the lid.
- Hold the setup button for about 15 seconds.
- Release it when the light flashes amber, then white.
AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3
- Put the AirPods in the case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
- Open the lid.
- Double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on.
- When the light flashes white, double-tap again.
- When the light flashes faster, double-tap a third time.
- Wait for the light to flash amber, then white.
AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 use the front-of-case double-tap reset sequence. Older models use the setup button on the back.
9. Update the Bluetooth driver and Windows
An outdated Bluetooth adapter driver can cause unreliable audio profiles or microphone failures.
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- Select Start and search for Device Manager.
- Expand Bluetooth.
- Right-click the Bluetooth adapter. Its name may include radio.
- Select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Restart the PC if Windows asks you to.
Also install available updates in Start > Settings > Windows Update. If the computer uses a manufacturer-specific Bluetooth driver, check the computer maker’s support page as well.
10. Repair or reset Microsoft Teams
If AirPods work in Windows sound settings and another application but fail in Teams, repair the Teams installation:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Microsoft Teams.
- Select More options (…) > Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- Reopen Teams and test the AirPods.
- If Repair does not help, return to the same screen and select Reset.
Repair attempts to fix the app without reinstalling it. Reset is more extensive and may remove the app’s local data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.11. Clear the correct Teams cache
Do not automatically delete %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams. That is the commonly cited path for Classic Teams, not New Teams.
New Teams on Windows
- Quit Teams completely. Right-click the Teams icon on the taskbar and select Quit.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter %userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams.
- Select OK.
- Delete the files and folders inside that directory, not the parent folder itself.
- Start Teams and select the AirPods again under Settings > Devices.
New Teams on macOS
Quit Teams, open Terminal, and run these commands:
rm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2
Teams will rebuild its local files when it starts again.
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Classic Teams
Classic Teams uses this Windows cache location: %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams.
12. Test Teams in a browser
Open Teams for the web in a supported browser and test a call after allowing the browser to use your microphone.
| Result | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| AirPods fail in Windows or macOS and Teams | Pairing, charge, Bluetooth driver, permissions, or AirPods hardware |
| AirPods work elsewhere but fail in desktop Teams | Teams device selection, app permissions, cache, or installation |
| AirPods work in desktop Teams but not in the browser | Browser microphone permission or browser-specific device selection |
| Only one earbud plays sound | Incomplete pairing, low battery, firmware changes, or Bluetooth audio compatibility |
The browser version does not currently provide Teams’ Make a test call feature. Use a real test meeting or the computer’s sound settings instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
- AirPods cannot work with Teams on Windows: incorrect. They work as Bluetooth headphones and a microphone on non-Apple devices.
- Selecting AirPods only as output is enough: incorrect. Select them separately as Teams’ Speaker and Microphone.
- Deleting the old Teams cache path fixes New Teams: usually incorrect. New Teams uses the %userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams path shown above.
- Every AirPods model resets identically: incorrect. AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 use front-case taps instead of the rear setup button.
FAQ
Why do my AirPods connect to Windows but not work in Teams?
Teams may be using a different speaker or microphone. Open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices and select the AirPods separately under Speaker and Microphone. Then run Make a test call in the desktop app.
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Why can I hear Teams but nobody can hear me?
The AirPods microphone may not be selected or Windows may be blocking microphone access. Check Teams’ Microphone dropdown, then enable Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone, and Let desktop apps access your microphone under Windows 11’s Privacy & security > Microphone settings.
Can AirPods work with Microsoft Teams on a Windows PC?
Yes. Apple supports AirPods as a Bluetooth headset on non-Apple devices for listening and speaking. Siri is not available on those devices.
Why is only one AirPod playing audio in Teams?
The earbuds may not have paired completely, one may be low on battery, or the Bluetooth connection may have a compatibility problem. Remove the AirPods from Windows, reset or pair them again, and reconnect both earbuds.
Which Teams cache folder should I delete?
For New Teams on Windows, use %userprofile%\appdata\local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams. The older %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams path is for Classic Teams.
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First select the AirPods in Teams for both Speaker and Microphone. If that does not work, confirm Windows or macOS can use the AirPods, check microphone permissions, remove and re-pair the device, and then repair or clear the Teams desktop app. Testing Teams on the web helps identify whether the fault is in Bluetooth or in the desktop client.
Quick Recap
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