All of my bluetooth headsets have stopped working with Teams.

Question

This had been an intermittent issue since earlier in 2024, but this week, none of my bluetooth headsets will connect to Teams anymore. The computer settings are correct and the headsets work fine on other programs on the laptop, including playing internet content. On Teams, the settings are all correct and the right headset is selected, but no sound comes through. I have changed the volume settings, checked that nothing is muted, and it still won't work. I have updated all the bluetooth drivers and checked all the settings I can think of, but no joy. It seems to be related to a Teams (or possibly more general Microsoft) update. Will Microsoft fix whatever it is they messed up?

Answer 1

If I try to jump on to different meeting my headset would stop working and somehow re-selecting the headset in new meeting with cause the audio driver to stop working, then Microsoft troubleshooter kind of fix it then it starts working again. There is some underlying bug in the new teams and Microsoft should fix it.

Answer 2

My headset only works for a couple seconds when I join a meeting. I use a desk mic to talk and my headset to listen. The only way I can get the headset to work is to activate the headset mic. I don't want to use the headset mic because the audio is poor. All was working fine until recently. Seems like there was an update to Teams which is causing this. Anyone know how to fix this?

Answer 3

Hello Leesaleesa,

I am a Microsoft user like you, providing solutions to community members; I am NOT a Microsoft employee.

It's totally understandable to be frustrated that your Bluetooth headsets stopped working with Teams Leesaleesa. Here are some steps you can try to troubleshoot the issue while we wait for a potential Microsoft fix:

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Reset Teams Bluetooth Settings: Open the Teams app. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner. Go to Settings > Devices. Under "Audio devices," click on the dropdown menu for "Microphone" and "Speaker" and choose "Don't use device." Close and restart the Teams app. Go back to Settings > Devices and re-select your Bluetooth headset for both "Microphone" and "Speaker."
2. Check Exclusive Control Settings (Windows): Right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar. Select "Open sound settings." Go to "Sound Control Panel" (on the right side under "Related Settings"). Right-click on your Bluetooth headset and select "Properties." Click on the "Advanced" tab. Uncheck the box for "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device (overrides Sound Volume permissions)." Click "Apply" and then "OK."
3. Disable Audio Enhancements (Windows): Right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar. Select "Open sound settings." Go to "Sound Control Panel" (on the right side under "Related Settings"). Right-click on your Bluetooth headset and select "Properties." Click on the "Enhancements" tab (if available). Uncheck any enabled enhancements and click "Apply" and "OK."
4. Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers: This can be a bit more technical, but outdated or corrupted drivers can cause issues. Search online for instructions on how to reinstall Bluetooth drivers for your specific laptop model and operating system.
5. Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall: In rare cases, antivirus or firewall software might interfere with Bluetooth connections. Temporarily disable these programs (with caution) and see if Teams recognizes your Bluetooth headset. Be sure to re-enable them afterward.
6. Check for Teams Updates: Although you might suspect a recent update caused the issue, a newer update might have resolved it. Open Teams and go to Settings > About Microsoft Teams. Check for updates and install any available ones.
7. Waiting for Microsoft Fix: While you try these troubleshooting steps, you can also report the issue to Microsoft. This helps them identify widespread problems and prioritize fixes in future updates. Here's how to report the issue: -Open Teams and click on "Help" (?) in the bottom left corner. -Select "Report a problem." -Briefly describe the issue you're experiencing and mention the troubleshooting steps you've already tried.

The fact that none of your Bluetooth headsets work with Teams suggests a software issue rather than a hardware problem with the headsets themselves. You can also try using the Teams web app (https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/log-in) to see if the Bluetooth headset works there. This can help isolate if the issue is specific to the desktop app.

By systematically trying these solutions Leesaleesa, you should be able to identify the cause and hopefully get your Bluetooth headsets working with Teams again. If none of these solutions work, reporting the issue to Microsoft will contribute to a potential future fix.

Hope this helps

-Stephen N.