How to fix Microsoft Teams meeting audio echo or feedback for participants

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Microsoft Teams meeting audio echo or feedback for participants. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Echo and audio feedback in Microsoft Teams meetings occur when sound from a participant's speakers is picked up by their microphone and sent back to other attendees. This creates a distracting loop where voices repeat or whistle. The issue is almost always related to the affected participant's local audio setup rather than a problem with the meeting itself, which means the person experiencing the echo is typically the one who needs to make changes.

Quick Fix Steps

Ask the participant hearing the echo to try these in order:

1. Mute their microphone when not speaking (Ctrl+Shift+M on Windows, ⌘+Shift+M on Mac).
2. Switch from speakers to headphones or a headset.
3. Move the microphone further away from the speakers.
4. Lower the speaker volume to below 50%.
5. Check for duplicate devices in their audio settings.

If the echo stops when they mute, the issue is confirmed to be on their end.

Detailed Instructions

Identify Which Participant Is Causing the Echo

Before troubleshooting, confirm who is generating the feedback. The person hearing the echo is rarely the cause. Ask the affected participant to mute themselves one at a time and wait a few seconds. When the echo disappears, the last person who muted is the source. Direct them to the steps below.

Switch to a Headset or Headphones

The single most effective fix is using a headset, headphones, or earbuds with a built-in microphone. This physically separates the audio output from the microphone input, eliminating the loop entirely. Even basic earbuds with a microphone will resolve the issue in most cases.

Adjust Audio Settings in Microsoft Teams

1. Click the three dots (...) next to your profile picture and select Settings.
2. Choose Devices from the left menu.
3. Under Audio devices, confirm the correct Speaker and Microphone are selected.
4. Open the Make a test call option below the device list to verify your audio is working correctly.

Reduce Speaker Volume

Lowering the speaker volume reduces the amount of sound that can leak back into the microphone. Set the volume to around 40–50% and ask other participants whether the echo has improved. If you struggle to hear at this level, a headset is the better solution.

Adjust Noise Suppression

Teams normally applies noise suppression automatically, but it can occasionally misbehave and contribute to echo or audio artefacts. To test whether this is the cause:

1. Open Settings then Devices.
2. Scroll to Noise suppression.
3. Change the setting from Auto to High or Low to test different levels.
4. Join the meeting and test whether the echo persists.

Check for Duplicate or Conflicting Audio Devices

If the participant has multiple audio devices connected, such as external speakers, a monitor with built-in speakers, and a headset, Teams may pick up audio from more than one source. This can create feedback loops.

1. Disconnect or disable any audio devices not in use.
2. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Sound settings. Review the output and input devices.
3. On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) then Sound and check both the Output and Input tabs.
4. Set the preferred speaker and microphone as the default device.

Check the Microphone Placement

Built-in laptop microphones and standalone microphones placed close to speakers will always pick up some audio. Ensure the microphone is positioned at least 30 centimetres away from any speaker, and ideally facing away from the speaker output.

Disable Operating System Audio Enhancements

Some operating system audio enhancements can interfere with Teams' built-in audio processing and cause echo. To check:

1. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Sound settings.
2. Click on the active audio device and select Device properties, then Additional device properties.
3. On the Advanced tab, uncheck Enable audio enhancements if available.
4. Click Apply and restart Teams.

Troubleshooting

Test Outside the Meeting

Ask the affected participant to use the Make a test call feature in Teams Settings then Devices. This plays back their microphone input so they can hear whether their own audio is looping. If they hear their own voice repeating, the problem is definitely local.

Check for Bluetooth Audio Issues

Bluetooth headsets occasionally cause echo or choppy audio due to bandwidth limitations. If the participant is using Bluetooth:

• Re-pair the device by forgetting it in your operating system settings and reconnecting.
• Keep the device within one metre of the computer.
• Charge the headset, as low battery can degrade audio quality.
• Try a wired headset as an alternative.

Update the Teams Application

Outdated versions of Teams can contain audio processing bugs. To update:

1. Click the three dots (...) next to your profile picture.
2. Select Check for updates.
3. Teams will download and install any available updates. Restart the application when prompted.

Clear the Teams Cache

If the issue persists, clearing the Teams cache can resolve corrupted local settings.

1. Quit Microsoft Teams completely, including from the system tray on Windows or the menu bar on Mac.
2. On Windows, press Win+R and enter %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams. Delete the contents of the following folders: Cache, blob_storage, databases, GPUCache, IndexedDB, Local Storage, and tmp.
3. On Mac, open Finder and navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams. Delete the same folders listed above.
4. Restart Teams and sign back in.

Test With a Different Network or Device

If echo continues after exhausting the steps above, ask the participant to join the meeting from a different device, such as a mobile phone using the Teams mobile app. If the echo disappears on the alternate device, the original device has a hardware or driver issue that may require updating audio drivers or contacting the manufacturer.

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If echo issues continue after working through these steps, please open a ticket through our support portal and include the name of the affected participant, the time of the meeting, and a description of what you have already tried.

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