Microsoft Teams puts a new device into the Windows 11 Volume Mixer with blank output device and input device.

Question

This extra App in the volume mixer causes sound to cut out during teams meetings. I have to change the sound output from Off to Windows Spatial and then back to off to get the sound to come back.

How do I remove this extra App in the volume mixer and why does it show up?

Answer 1

The extra entry in Windows 11 Volume mixer is created by Teams when spatial audio is enabled for the meeting. Teams exposes a separate audio “app”/endpoint to Windows so it can render spatial (3D) audio, which is why it appears as an additional item with its own output/input and why toggling spatial audio affects whether sound cuts out.

To stop this extra app from appearing and avoid the cut‑out behavior, turn off spatial audio in Teams meetings and use a single, standard output device:

1. Join a Teams meeting.
2. In the meeting, open More actions (three dots) > Audio settings.
3. Turn the Spatial audio toggle Off.
4. Under Speaker, select the normal output device that should be used (for example, the main speakers or headset).

With spatial audio disabled, Teams should no longer create the additional spatial endpoint in the Volume mixer, and audio should play consistently through the chosen device.

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References:

• Spatial audio in Microsoft Teams meetings
• Sound