Teams problems usually fall into two groups: the app will not open or keeps freezing, or the app opens but meetings have audio, video, or connection problems. Start with the group that matches what you see.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Microsoft Teams work or school accounts on Windows, Mac, and the Teams web app. Some settings may be controlled by your organization.
Fix Teams that will not open or keeps loading
Start with the app and service checks before changing meeting devices.
- Check Microsoft 365 service health to see whether Teams has an active outage.
- Fully quit Teams from the system tray on Windows or the Dock/force-quit menu on Mac, then reopen it.
- Clear the Teams cache after quitting the app. On new Teams for Windows, check the MSTeams cache under the local app data Packages folder. On Mac, remove the Teams group container cache folder.
- Restart the computer if the cache clear does not help.
- Try teams.microsoft.com in a browser to see whether the issue is only the desktop app.
- Check for Teams updates from the profile menu.
Teams rebuilds its cache after reopening. A cache clear often fixes loading loops, blank screens, and strange app behavior.
Fix audio, video, or dropped calls
Use this when Teams opens but meetings do not work correctly.
- Check Windows or macOS microphone and camera privacy permissions.
- In Teams, open Settings > Devices and choose the correct speaker, microphone, and camera.
- Use Make a test call if available.
- Close other apps or browser tabs that may already be using the webcam or microphone.
- Test a stronger network connection, such as moving closer to Wi-Fi, using wired Ethernet, or trying a hotspot.
More control
Use the current Teams app
Classic Teams was retired in 2025. If an old shortcut does not work, open or reinstall the current Microsoft Teams app.
Limit background buildup
If Teams slows down after long uptimes, turn off auto-start or the option that keeps Teams running after the window closes.
Respect managed-device limits
On work or school computers, camera permissions, installation, and policies may be locked by IT. Ask your help desk if the controls are unavailable.
Reinstall as a last app fix
If the desktop client still fails, uninstall Teams and install a fresh copy from Microsoft. This can clear deeper app corruption that cache cleanup misses.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Get help with Teams (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Clear the Teams cache (2025)
- Microsoft 365 Status – Service health dashboard (2026)