5 Best Fixes for Microsoft Teams Microphone Not Working on Mac

There are a few things that the best video calling apps have in common, and one of the most popular is the microphone issue. From Zoom to Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams and other names you can think of. The causes of these problems vary depending on the device and operating system. We have a detailed guide on how to troubleshoot Team microphone issues on Windows 10 computers. In this guide, we focus on MacBooks and iMacs.

If Microsoft Teams doesn’t find a microphone, start troubleshooting the problem by restarting your Mac. For external devices (headphones, for example), make sure it is properly plugged into your Mac. Likewise, make sure that the device is not damaged or defective. You can try using the headset or microphone with another computer and check if it works. Finally, confirm that you haven’t been muted, perhaps by the meeting host, or that you accidentally muted yourself. If the Microsoft Teams microphone is still not working after these preliminary checks, continue with the solutions below.

1. Change microphone

If you have multiple audio devices (wireless headphones, speakers, etc.) with built-in microphones connected to your Mac, you may need to manually choose the default device you want to use during a meeting.

Step 1: In the meeting window, tap the three-dot menu icon in the app menu bar.

2nd step: Then select Device Settings.

Step 3: Tap the Microphone drop-down button and select the device Microsoft Teams should use as the default microphone.

2. Force quit Microsoft Teams

When an app, or parts of it, is not functioning properly, force quitting the app can help correct errors that cause it to malfunction. If you find that attendees can’t hear you during the Microsoft Teams meeting, first force quit and relaunch the app.

Step 1: With the Microsoft Teams app window open, hold down the Shift button and tap the Apple logo in the menu bar.

2nd step: Then press “Force quit microphone teams”.

This will immediately shut down Microsoft Teams. You can also close the application using this keyboard shortcut: Option + Shift + Command + Esc.

3. Modify team multimedia permissions

If the issue persists after force quitting and restarting the app, go to app settings and verify that Microsoft Teams has media access. Multimedia access refers to allowing teams to access your Mac’s speakers, microphone, and camera. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Teams and tap the avatar or profile picture in the top right corner.

2nd step: Then select Settings.

Step 3: In the Settings menu, go to the Permissions section.

Step 4: Make sure the “Media (camera, microphone, speakers)” option is enabled. You can also turn it on and off.

Try making a test call and see if Microsoft Teams now works with your Mac’s microphone.

4. Change Mac privacy settings

On macOS, enabling the permissions required for Microsoft Teams to function properly follows a two-way design. First, there’s the in-app authorization (as explained in method # 2 above). Then there’s the privacy permission you need to grant the app in your Mac’s system preferences.

When you launch Microsoft Teams for the first time after installation, you’ll be prompted to grant the app access to the camera and microphone. If you haven’t received this prompt or have denied permission, follow the steps below to grant Microsoft Teams access to your Mac’s microphone.

Step 1: Launch System Preferences and select “Security & Privacy”.

2nd step: Go to Microphone section and tap the lock icon to change your device’s microphone permission.

Step 3: Authenticate the “Security & Privacy” preferences menu using your device’s password or Touch ID.

Step 4: Check Microsoft Teams.

If the app is open or active in the background, you will be prompted to close it to make changes. Tap Exit Now to continue.

Launch Microsoft Teams again and check if the microphone now works with the app.

5. Reinstall the teams

Some Mac users complain that they cannot find Teams in the microphone section of the Privacy menu. If this also describes your situation, the ideal here would be to remove Microsoft Teams from your Mac and reinstall it. Launch Finder and go to the Applications folder. Then, right click on Microsoft Teams and select “Move to Trash”.

Speak and be heard

Microphone issues (which are mostly caused by bugs) are common with Microsoft Teams. If your Mac’s built-in microphone works with other apps but not with Microsoft Teams despite being granted the necessary permissions, the app is most likely buggy. If so, there really is no workaround but to wait until Microsoft’s bug is fixed. And if the built-in microphone also doesn’t work with other apps, try resetting your Mac’s PRAM. Or visit a nearby Apple repair center to have your Mac’s microphone checked.