Echo and distprted sound during Teams meetings (Windows 11)

Hello @Friederike, 

Good day, and thank you for posting your question on the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

Based on your description, you are experiencing echo and distorted or crackling sound in Microsoft Teams on Windows 11. The audio becomes normal again when you mute your microphone. This behavior is likely linked to feedback from the audio device or audio driver issues after upgrading to Windows 11.  

Please let me know if I misunderstood any part of the issue or if there are additional details you would like to share. 

To help us identify the cause more accurately, could you provide a bit more information about your setup: 

• What audio device are you using during the call? For example, built‑in laptop mic and speakers, USB microphone, wired headset or Bluetooth headset. If you switch between these microphone types, does the issue persist? 
• Have you updated or changed your audio drivers recently? 
• Does the echo or distortion happen only in Teams, or does it also occur in other apps such as  Windows Voice Recorder? 
• Are you signed in to the same Teams meeting on another device in the same room? Multiple active microphones nearby easily cause echo.  
• In Teams settings under Devices, which microphone and speaker are currently selected? Also, is Noise Suppression enabled? Turning it on can help reduce echo. 

• Does this issue occur in every meeting and call, or only in specific ones? 
• In Windows sound settings, is “Listen to this device” enabled for your microphone, or do you have any audio enhancements turned on? Both of these can cause echo or distortion.  
• Are you using external speakers positioned close to your microphone? This can create a feedback loop.  

This additional context will help us understand your environment and the steps already taken so we can tailor the guidance to resolve the issue effectively.

In the meantime, you can try a few basic checks: 

1. Lower the speaker volume and microphone sensitivity. 

Lowering the output volume helps reduce echo because less sound is fed back into the microphone.   

• Click the volume icon on your taskbar. 
• Drag the slider down to reduce speaker loudness.  

• Restart Teams and your device and test the behavior. 

2. Clear Teams Cache  

On Windows:   

• Navigate to your Taskbar and look for the Microsoft Teams icon. Right-click the icon and choose Quit. This will force the Teams app to quit.   
• Next, copy and paste the following location into File Explorer: %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and delete the contents of the entire folder.   
• Restart Microsoft Teams by opening the application and logging back in.    

Note: Deleting the cache won't remove Microsoft Teams from your device, but will remove the web client cache, icons, thumbnails, local message history, your Teams display images, and any other Teams add-ons.  

3. Update your audio drivers through Device Manager.  

Updating audio drivers can help resolve echo, distortion, and compatibility issues on Windows 11.   

• Right‑click the Start button > Select Device Manager. 
• Expand the section called Audio inputs and outputs or any section related to microphone. 
• Right‑click your audio device (for example: Realtek, Intel Smart Sound Technology, Conexant, or your headset) > Update driver

• Choose Search automatically for drivers and let Windows check for updates. 

• Restart your computer after the update completes. 

For your reference:  Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows - Microsoft Support  

Please also let me know the result after you try all the steps above.

I apologize if I could not jump straight to a solution. I want to avoid suggesting anything that might be inaccurate or unhelpful. Once we have the details above, we’ll be able to assist you more effectively and guide you toward the right resolution.  

Looking forward to your response so we can get this sorted out for you together. 

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The echo and distorted sound you're experiencing during Teams meetings on Windows 11 could be related to several factors. Here are some potential solutions to help mitigate these issues:

1. Use Headphones: The quickest solution to reduce echo is to use headphones. This prevents the microphone from picking up sound from the speakers, which is often the cause of echo.
2. Adjust Audio Settings: Check the volume levels of your speakers and the sensitivity of your microphone. Lowering the speaker volume can help reduce echo. Additionally, ensure that any audio enhancements in the audio driver settings are disabled, as these can sometimes cause audio quality issues.
3. Check for Hardware Issues: If you're using a USB microphone or speaker, ensure that they are Teams-certified and functioning correctly. Poor audio quality can arise from hardware issues, including echo sent to remote participants or low audio quality.
4. Update Drivers: Ensure that your audio drivers are up to date. If you're using Intel Smart Sound Technology, check for the latest driver versions as older versions may cause compatibility issues with Windows 11.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, consider reaching out to your IT support for further assistance.

References:

• Known issues with Teams Rooms on Windows
• Echo Issue in Azure Communication Services