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Microsoft Teams stores most of its app-level controls behind your profile menu. From there, you can change notifications, appearance, privacy, devices, calling behavior, captions, and other preferences. Meeting-only options, such as the microphone, speaker, and noise suppression, are available from the meeting controls as well.
This guide covers the current Teams desktop menus for work, school, and Teams Free, plus the important differences when you use Teams in a browser.
Open Teams settings
In the Teams desktop app:
- Open Microsoft Teams.
- Select Settings and more (…) beside your profile picture.
- Select Settings.
- Choose a category from the left side of the Settings window.
The exact categories can vary by Teams edition, account type, administrator policy, and platform. If a setting is missing, it may not be supported in Teams for the web, Teams Free, mobile Teams, or your organization’s configuration.
Change your microphone and speaker
To select the devices Teams uses for calls and meetings, open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices. Under Audio settings, choose the required devices from the following menus:
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| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Where you hear meeting and call audio. |
| Microphone | Which microphone sends your voice to other participants. |
| Secondary ringer | An additional device that rings for incoming calls. The default is None. |
These choices apply to future calls and meetings. They do not necessarily change the audio source of a meeting that is already in progress.
Teams Free may also show a Primary audio device option. That option is separate from the individual Speaker and Microphone selections.
Manage connected Teams devices
Manage devices is not the same as choosing a speaker or microphone. It is used for connecting or disconnecting Bluetooth-enabled Teams devices, such as certified headsets, displays, and desk phones. Use the Speaker and Microphone menus when you simply want to change the active audio devices.
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Change audio during a meeting
You do not have to leave a meeting to switch your headset, speakers, or microphone.
- In the meeting window, select the arrow beside Mic.
- Select More actions (…) > Audio settings.
- Select the active Speaker and Microphone.
- Close the Audio settings panel and return to the meeting.
In some Teams versions, you can open the same panel directly through More actions (…) > Audio settings.
Choose audio before joining a meeting
The pre-join screen lets you decide how you will hear and send audio. Select the audio-source control before selecting Join now. Depending on the meeting and account, you may see these options:
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| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Computer audio | Uses the computer’s selected speaker and microphone. |
| Phone audio | Uses your phone’s speaker and microphone. Teams may call the number you enter, or you can use Dial in manually. |
| Room audio | Uses the selected meeting-room audio system. |
| Don’t use audio | Joins without connecting meeting audio. |
If you joined with phone or room audio and need to switch to the computer, select Unmute in the meeting controls and follow the prompt to use computer audio.
Test your microphone and speakers
The built-in test call is the quickest way to check whether Teams can send and receive audio.
- Select Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices.
- Under Audio settings, select Make a test call.
- Follow the instructions from the Test Call Bot.
- Record a short message when prompted.
- Listen to the playback and review the test summary.
Microsoft says the test recording is deleted immediately after the test call and is not retained or used by Microsoft. The test call is not available in Teams for the web, so use the desktop app if you need this check. Microsoft’s documentation also describes language and platform availability differently in places; the reliable limitation is that browser Teams does not provide the test-call feature.
Adjust microphone behavior
In Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices, look for Automatically adjust mic sensitivity. When enabled, Teams adjusts the microphone level automatically. Turn it off if you need to control the input level yourself and your device or operating system provides a suitable manual control.
If you use a certified Teams headset, Sync device buttons can synchronize the device with Teams so its controls can be used during a meeting. The Teams button itself continues to work.
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Noise suppression reduces unwanted sounds such as keyboard clicks, fans, and nearby conversations.
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Before a call or meeting, go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices and find Noise suppression. During a meeting, open More actions (…) > Audio settings and change the same setting there.
Microsoft says noise suppression is on by default and that the selected setting carries over to the next call or meeting. For normal speech, leaving it enabled is usually appropriate. If you are using a high-fidelity microphone in a quiet studio and want Teams to preserve more of the original sound, turn it off.
Enable spatial audio
Spatial audio can make voices appear to come from different positions in a stereo sound field. To enable it before a meeting, open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices > Audio settings. Under Speaker, select a compatible device and turn on Spatial audio.
During a meeting, open More actions (…) > Audio settings, verify the compatible speaker, and switch Spatial audio on or off.
There are several restrictions:
- You need USB-wired stereo headphones or speakers, or compatible built-in stereo speakers.
- Spatial audio does not support one-on-one calls or meetings with more than 100 attendees.
- With live interpretation, the original and translated audio are heard at the same volume.
- With music mode enabled, high-fidelity audio is unavailable.
Turn spatial audio off and rejoin if interpreted speech is difficult to understand or you need full-band music audio.
Fix a missing microphone or speaker
If a device does not appear in Teams’ Speaker or Microphone list, work through these checks in order:
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- Effortless Controls for Better Productivity: The easy-to-use inline controls on this wired headset provide convenient access to volume, mute, call and Microsoft Teams features
- Call and Mute Status Indicators: LED lights on the computer headset controller provide a convenient visual cue for call and mute status
- USB Plug-and-Play: Connect to a PC or Mac via USB-A cable with no additional software required; reliable wired connection ensures uninterrupted use, eliminating concerns about low batteries
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- Charge the Bluetooth headset or speaker.
- Disconnect it from any phone, tablet, or other computer.
- Reconnect it to the computer running Teams.
- For a wired device, unplug it and connect it again, preferably to a different USB port.
- Close and reopen the device list in Teams.
A Bluetooth speaker can be fully charged and still be unavailable because it remains connected to another device.
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Check sound in Windows
When Teams cannot use a speaker, verify that Windows can see it:
- Open Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- Under Choose where to play sound, select the speaker.
- If it is not listed, select Add device and pair it.
- Check that the volume control is not muted.
For a disabled microphone, open Advanced > More sound settings. On the Recording tab, right-click the microphone and select Enable.
Check Remote Desktop audio
If you run Teams inside a Windows Remote Desktop session, the session must redirect audio:
- Open Remote Desktop Connection.
- Select the Local Resources tab.
- Under Remote audio, select Settings….
- Set Remote audio playback to Play on this computer.
- Set Remote audio recording to Record from this computer.
- Select OK, then reconnect to the remote session.
Check browser permissions
Teams for the web depends on both the browser and the operating system allowing access to the microphone and speakers. If browser Teams cannot hear you:
- Allow microphone access when the browser asks for it.
- Check the browser’s site permissions for the Teams website.
- Confirm the correct microphone is selected in the computer’s sound settings.
- Reload Teams after changing a permission.
Browser Teams does not support the desktop app’s test-call feature. If you need that diagnostic, install or open the Teams desktop app.
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Why a Teams setting may be unavailable
Teams does not expose exactly the same controls in every edition. Teams Free, work or school Teams, the desktop app, browser Teams, mobile Teams, Teams Rooms, and Azure Virtual Desktop have different feature sets. In addition, meeting-organizer or IT-admin policies can remove or restrict some audio options.
There is no command-line command for changing these settings. Use the Teams menus, the operating system’s sound controls, or your organization’s device-management tools where applicable.
FAQ
Where are the settings in Microsoft Teams?
In the desktop app, select Settings and more (…) beside your profile picture, then select Settings. Choose a category such as General, Notifications, Privacy, or Devices.
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Go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Devices. Under Audio settings, select the microphone you want from the Microphone dropdown.
How do I change speakers while I am in a Teams meeting?
Select the arrow beside Mic, then choose More actions (…) > Audio settings. Select your preferred speaker under Speaker.
Can I test Teams audio in a browser?
No. Microsoft’s current support information says the Teams test-call feature is unavailable in Teams for the web. Use the Teams desktop app and select Settings > Devices > Make a test call.
Why is my Bluetooth headset not listed in Teams?
Make sure it is charged, disconnect it from other phones or computers, and reconnect it to the computer running Teams. For a wired device, unplug it and connect it again.
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Does Teams remember noise-suppression settings?
Yes. Microsoft says the selected noise-suppression setting carries over to the next call or meeting.
The Bottom Line
For most Teams changes, start at Settings and more (…) > Settings. Use Devices for microphones, speakers, secondary ringers, noise suppression, and device testing; use Audio settings inside a meeting for immediate changes. If a device is missing, check its connection and Windows or browser permissions before troubleshooting Teams itself.
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