How to Mute Yourself on Microsoft Teams Phone Calls: One-Tap Silence During Meetings

Muting yourself on Microsoft Teams during a phone call is easier than you think—and it saves everyone from awkward background noise. 💡 I’ve spent hours debugging audio glitches in meetings, and the mute function is the one feature that always works when it’s needed most.

Whether you’re in a noisy office or just need a quick breather, knowing where to tap makes all the difference.

The process is nearly identical across Android and iOS, but older devices sometimes hide the mute button behind a swipe. On most phones, tap the microphone icon in the call controls—it’ll turn red when muted.

If that doesn’t work, try pulling up the Teams app’s call screen and looking for the mute toggle there. Pro tip: long-press the icon if your phone’s default buttons override Teams’ controls.

You’ll instantly reduce echo, background chatter, and accidental interruptions—no more frantic typing to unmute when it’s your turn to speak. The best part? This works during video calls too, so you’re covered no matter how the meeting rolls.

Once you’ve muted, just tap the icon again to unmute, and you’re back in the conversation without missing a beat.

If the mute button isn’t responding, check your phone’s volume settings or restart the Teams app. Some devices also let you mute directly from the notification bar—swipe down and look for the Teams call controls there. Once you’ve got it down, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for silencing your mic in Microsoft Teams calls

Here's how to instantly mute yourself during phone calls in Teams—no extra apps needed.

Launch the Microsoft Teams app on your phone. If you're already in a call, skip ahead. If not, tap the Calls tab at the bottom of the screen. Here's the thing—Teams keeps your call controls handy, so you won't have to dig through menus.

If you're joining a call for the first time, tap the Join button after entering the meeting ID. Once connected, you'll see the call interface with your mic and camera controls.

During the call, look for the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen. It's usually a small microphone symbol with a line through it when muted. On iOS, it's on the right side; on Android, it's often centered. I always tap this first thing—background noise is the fastest way to derail a meeting.

If you don't see it immediately, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the full control bar. The mute button will appear prominently there, along with camera and speaker controls.

Press the microphone icon once to mute yourself. You'll hear a confirmation sound, and the icon will turn red or show a red slash. This is your visual cue that you're now silent. Real talk: Accidental unmutes happen, so always double-check the icon before speaking.

To unmute, simply tap the same button again. The icon will return to its original color, and you'll hear a second confirmation sound. Pro tip: Use this button even if you're just taking notes—it prevents echo and feedback.

After muting, test your mic by speaking normally. You shouldn't hear yourself in the call audio. If you do, you're either unmuted or the mute didn't register. Here's what I do: I wait 3-5 seconds after muting before speaking to ensure the change takes effect.

For extra peace of mind, check the call participants list. Your name should show a muted indicator next to it. If not, tap the mute button again or restart the call—sometimes the app needs a refresh.

When you're ready to contribute, tap the mute button once more. The red icon disappears, and you'll hear confirmation. Speak clearly into the mic—Teams' noise suppression helps reduce background interference. I know it sounds odd, but I always wait 2 seconds after unmuting before speaking to let the audio stabilize.

If you forget to unmute, don't panic. Most calls have a raise hand feature—tap it to notify the organizer you want to speak. They'll often unmute you remotely, saving you from awkward moments.

Tips & tricks for perfectly managing your mic in Teams calls

Even the simplest tech steps can get confusing—here's how to master muting in Teams calls without the frustration.

Visual Cues Matter: In Step 2, when you locate the microphone icon, pay close attention to its position. On iOS devices, it's on the right side of the screen, while Android users will find it centered. The red slash through the microphone is your clear visual confirmation that you're muted—no need to guess. I've accidentally unmuted during important meetings because I overlooked this visual cue, so always double-check before speaking.

Timing is Everything: After muting in Step 3, I can't stress enough how important those 3-5 seconds are before testing your mic. This brief pause lets the app fully register your mute status. I've seen people speak immediately after muting only to realize they were still audible to everyone—embarrassing, but easily avoided with this simple wait. The same goes for unmuting: that 2-second pause in Step 5 helps stabilize audio quality before you speak.

Double-Check the Participants List: In Step 4, the participants list is your secret weapon for verification. When your name shows the muted indicator, you can be absolutely certain your mic is off. I've had calls where the mute button didn't register properly—checking the participants list caught this every time. If you see your name without the muted indicator, tap the mute button again immediately before speaking.

Raise Hand Feature: If you forget to unmute in Step 5, don't panic. The raise hand feature is your safety net. Tap it to notify the organizer, and they'll often unmute you remotely. I've used this feature more times than I'd like to admit—especially when I was distracted by a notification or thought I'd unmuted properly. It's better to use this feature than to accidentally speak when you're supposed to be muted.

Frequently asked questions