one of our team members having issues with teams her laptop speakers and mic getting mute during meetings when not using the headset.

Hussain, Zakir 30 Reputation points
2026-08-27T11:20:26.3333333+00:00

one of our team members having issues with teams her laptop speakers and mic getting mute during meetings when not using the headset.

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams for business | Meetings and calls | Audio and video
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  1. Killian N 3,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-27T11:57:50.2666667+00:00

    Hi,

    Since the microphone and speakers become muted only when the headset is not being used, Teams or Windows may be selecting the disconnected headset instead of the laptop’s built-in audio devices.

    The AI-generated response provides several troubleshooting steps. I recommend trying those steps first, particularly selecting the built-in microphone and speakers in both Teams and Windows, running a Teams test call, and checking whether Teams changes the selected devices after the meeting starts.

    In addition, the affected user can try the following:

    1/ Test Teams on the web

    • Open https://teams.microsoft.com in browser and join a meeting without the headset. If the laptop microphone and speakers work correctly there, the behavior is more likely related to the Teams desktop application.

    2/ Disable audio enhancements temporarily

    • Go to Windows Settings > System > Sound, select the built-in speaker and microphone, and turn off any available audio enhancements.User's image

    3/ Repair Teams

    • Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Teams > Advanced options

    User's imageUser's image

    • Scroll down and under Reset, select Repair

    User's image

    • If the behavior continues, select Reset, reopen Teams, and sign in again.

    4/ Test outside Teams

    • Test the built-in microphone and speakers in Windows Sound Recorder or another calling application. This will help determine whether the behavior is limited to Teams or related to the laptop’s audio driver.

    If the behavior continues, share the test results for both Teams on the web and the desktop app. I’ll review them and provide further guidance.

    Have a wonderful day!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-27T11:20:42.8166667+00:00

    This usually points to Teams switching or muting the built-in audio device when the headset is not in use. Use this end-to-end check:

    1. In Teams, verify the active devices:
      • Settings and more > Settings > Devices
      • Under Audio > Audio settings:
        • Select the laptop speakers in Speaker
        • Select the laptop microphone in Microphone
        • Turn on Automatically adjust mic sensitivity
      • Select Make a test call and confirm playback and mic capture work.
    2. During the meeting, check whether Teams switched devices:
      • In the meeting window, select the dropdown arrow next to Mic
      • Select More actions > Audio settings
      • Confirm the built-in Speaker and Microphone are selected and not muted
      • Audio changes made during the meeting take effect immediately.
    3. Check for mute at both levels:
      • In Teams meeting controls, make sure Mic is not muted
      • Check whether the laptop or external mic has a physical mute control enabled
      • If the speaker is muted before the meeting, select Unmute when Teams shows that notification
    4. Check Windows sound settings for the laptop devices:
      • Start > Settings > System > Sound
      • Under output, select the laptop speaker and make sure volume is not muted
      • Under input, select the laptop microphone and make sure volume is not muted
      • If the microphone does not appear, use Add device if applicable
      • If still not working, go to Advanced > More sound settings > Recording, right-click the mic, and select Enable
    5. If the user connects through Remote Desktop, verify redirection:
      • Open Remote Desktop Connection
      • Local Resources tab > Remote audio > Settings
      • Set Remote audio playback to Play on this computer
      • Set Remote audio recording to Record from this computer
    6. If the issue happens only without the headset:
      • Disconnect the headset fully and reselect the laptop speaker/mic in Teams
      • If using Bluetooth audio at any point, make sure it is charged and not still connected to another device
      • Reconnect wired devices if they still appear in Teams after unplugging
    7. Basic maintenance:
      • Update Teams to the latest version
      • Install the latest Windows update

    If the built-in speaker and mic work in Make a test call but become muted only in meetings, recheck the in-meeting Audio settings immediately after joining, because Teams may be switching back to another device.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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