Troubleshooting Audio Issues in Microsoft Teams on Windows 11

If your headset is connected but not working in Microsoft Teams, the issue might be easily fixed by adjusting and checking settings. Most Teams audio problems can be resolved by reconnecting your headset, confirming Bluetooth pairing, or clearing the Teams cache. We’ll walk you through some common troubleshooting steps for Windows 11 to help get your audio working again.

1. Troubleshooting Audio Issues in Teams

If your headset is not detected:

• Close Teams completely, unplug or disconnect your headset, then reconnect the headset, and then reopen Teams.
• If working remotely, ensure your VPN or remote session passes through audio devices. For detailed steps on how to configure this, see Microsoft’s guide on configuring audio and video redirection in Remote Desktop.

Note: You might need to consult your IT department about this.

• Restart your computer if Teams still does not recognize your headset.

For Microphone Distortion:

• Plugging into external USB sources such as hubs can sometimes cause microphone distortion or reduced performance. For best results, connect your headset directly to the computer.
• On Windows, you can verify your headset is set as the default device in “Control Panel” > “Sound.” For step-by-step instructions for setting up your headset, check out this blog: How to Setup a USB Headset with Windows 11 — Cyber Acoustics.

For Bluetooth devices:

• Make sure your headset is paired and connected before launching Teams.
• If your audio is distorted or delayed, try connecting your headset via USB instead of Bluetooth to rule out wireless interference.

2. If All Else Fails, Clear Teams Cache

If Teams behaves oddly (audio devices not saving, settings reverting, etc.), clearing the cache can sometimes help.

Windows 11 (New Teams default)

1. Close Microsoft Teams completely (right-click the Teams icon in the taskbar and choose “Quit”).
   
2. Press Windows (⊞) + R, and paste: "%localappdata%\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe"

Copy

%localappdata%\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe

3. Open the folders “LocalCache,” “LocalState,” and “TempState,” and delete everything inside.
4. Restart Teams and sign back in.

Windows 10 or Classic Teams (still usable on Win 11)

1. Close Microsoft Teams completely.
2. Press Windows (⊞) + R, paste: "%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams"

Copy

%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams

3. Delete all files and folders inside.
4. Restart Teams and sign back in.

If you continue to have issues, see our related guides for additional setup help: