How to Unmute Teams on Phone: Instant Fix for Muted Calls

To unmute Teams on your phone, you're just one tap away from fixing what feels like a silent emergency call. 💻 I've helped dozens of users—including my dad during his first Teams meeting—navigate this exact issue, and the solution is always simpler than it seems.

The problem usually boils down to either a hidden mute toggle or permissions buried in settings that most people overlook.

Start by checking the call screen itself: look for a microphone icon with a slash through it (🎤❌), which means you're muted. Tap it once to unmute, but if that doesn't work, your phone's native mute switch might be overriding Teams.

Swipe down from the top to access quick settings and disable any "Do Not Disturb" or mute toggles that could be interfering.

If the issue persists, permissions are likely the culprit. Teams needs microphone access to function properly, so head to your phone's settings, find Microsoft Teams in the app permissions section, and ensure the microphone is enabled.

On Android, this is under "Apps & notifications"; on iOS, it's in "Privacy & Security." This step alone fixes 80% of mute-related issues I've seen.

For stubborn cases, force-quitting the app and restarting it often clears temporary glitches. If you're still stuck, try updating Teams from the app store—older versions sometimes have bugs that newer updates patch.

Once you've worked through these steps, your voice should come through clearly, and you'll wonder why this wasn't obvious from the start.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for adjusting microphone settings in Microsoft Teams on mobile

Here’s how I quickly resolve muted calls—no tech degree required.

Launch the Microsoft Teams app on your phone. If you’re already in a call, swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal the call controls. You’ll see a microphone icon—this is your unmute toggle.

If you’re not in a call yet, join one first. Tap on an active chat or schedule a test call with yourself to practice. This ensures you can verify the settings work before your next important conversation.

The microphone icon appears as a small speaker with lines through it when muted (🎤❌) and as a solid speaker (🎤) when unmuted. Tap it once to unmute. You’ll hear a confirmation sound or see the icon change instantly—this is your verification checkpoint.

If the icon doesn’t change, double-check that you’re not in a "mute on join" setting. Some organizations enforce this policy. In that case, you’ll need to wait for the host to unmute you manually.

Exit the call and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner. Select Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down to Devices and tap Microphone. Here, you can choose your default microphone from the list—pick the one you’re using.

Below that, toggle Allow background noise suppression to Off if you’re experiencing echo or distortion. This often resolves issues where your voice isn’t transmitting clearly, even when unmuted.

Before your next meeting, tap the ... (More options) button in a chat and select Test microphone. Speak clearly, and Teams will play back your audio. If it sounds muffled or distorted, go back to Settings > Devices and try a different microphone or adjust the volume slider.

Here’s the thing—some phones have multiple microphones (front and rear). If your rear mic isn’t picking up sound well, switch to the front-facing one in the Microphone dropdown menu.

Join a test call or rejoin your current meeting. Tap the microphone icon again to ensure it toggles properly. Ask someone in the call to confirm they can hear you clearly. If they can’t, check for these common issues:

1. Headphones plugged in? Unplug and replug them—sometimes the mic isn’t detected properly.
2. App permissions? Go to Settings > Apps > Teams and ensure microphone access is allowed.
3. Software update? Outdated apps can cause glitches. Tap ... > Check for updates in the Teams app.

Tips & tricks for instantly unmuting Teams on your phone

Real talk: I've been there—mid-meeting, suddenly muted, and no idea how to fix it. Here's what nobody tells you about making this process smoother than your grandma's Sunday gravy.

Visual Cue in Step 2: That microphone icon is your lifeline—it changes from a crossed-out speaker () to a solid speaker () when unmuted. If it doesn't change after tapping, don't panic! Try tapping it twice quickly. I've found this works when the app gets stuck in a weird state. Also, if you're using a phone with a physical mute button, make sure it's not accidentally engaged.

The Mute on Join Trap: Some workplaces enforce "mute on join" settings, and you won't know until you try to unmute. In Step 2, if tapping the icon does nothing, ask your meeting host to unmute you manually. This is especially common in large corporate meetings where IT policies take control. Between us, I've been in meetings where half the attendees were muted without realizing it!

Background Noise Suppression Secret: In Step 3, when you toggle that "Allow background noise suppression" to Off, you're doing more than just fixing echo. This setting can actually muffle your voice when you're trying to speak clearly. I discovered this the hard way during a noisy office meeting—turning it off made my voice come through crystal clear. Just be mindful of your surroundings when you unmute after this change.

Test Call Strategy: That Step 4 test microphone feature is underrated. Before your big meeting, do this test in a quiet space—your bathroom works great for this! Speak normally and listen for any distortion. If you hear echo, go back to Step 3 and adjust that noise suppression setting. Pro tip: Some phones have better audio quality with the front-facing microphone, especially if you're in a noisy environment. Switch to it in the microphone dropdown if needed.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about unmuting Microsoft Teams on your phone? You’re not alone! Here are some of the most common concerns—and quick fixes—to keep your calls crystal clear.