No audio or microphone in Teams meetings, then removes all audio input/output from PC

Reproducible Teams audio bug – Windows loses speaker output after switching off a Jabra headset

On a brand-new Dell computer, the following happens:

The built-in speakers work perfectly.

I pair my brand-new Jabra headset.

Microsoft Teams works correctly with the Jabra headset.

I switch off the Jabra headset.

I expect Windows to switch back to the built-in speakers. Instead, Windows literally reports: "No audio output device is installed."

I open Device Manager, where the audio driver is still visible.

I uninstall the speaker device and let Windows scan for hardware changes.

And voilà, the speakers work again. YouTube plays audio without any problems.

I repeated this entire procedure twice, with exactly the same results. The issue is reproducible.

This is not simply a matter of selecting the wrong audio output device. Windows actually reports that no audio output device is installed, even though the driver is visible in Device Manager.

This strongly suggests a problem with audio device state management in Teams or an underlying Windows audio component.

For ordinary users, this behaviour is completely unacceptable. They should not have to uninstall audio devices and force Windows to rediscover hardware just because they switched off a headset.

It is 2026. Basic audio device switching should work reliably.

I also find it unacceptable that users experiencing such a straightforward, reproducible problem are confronted with pages of generic troubleshooting instructions instead of a proper investigation into the underlying issue.

Can Microsoft please acknowledge this issue, investigate the audio device switching logic, and provide a permanent fix?

Sorry for the rant, but this really should not be happening in 2026.

Dear @anon,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A. 

Thanks for the detailed description, I understand how disruptive it is when audio suddenly disappears during Teams meetings, especially on a new laptop. Based on what you’ve described (Teams losing audio after a Test Call, Windows showing “No audio device installed,” and the issue reappearing when Spotify is opened), this usually points to a driver or audio‑service conflict rather than a problem inside Teams itself.

To help you narrow it down, here are a few practical checks you can do directly on your device:

1/ Restart Windows audio services when the issue happens

This confirms whether Windows is losing the audio driver.

Press Win + R and type: services.msc

Find and restart these two services:

Windows Audio

Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

If audio returns immediately, the issue is a driver crash, not Teams.

2/ Check if Exclusive Mode is enabled (common conflict with Spotify)

Spotify often locks the sound device if Exclusive Mode is active.

Right-click on the Speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound Settings.

Scroll down and click on More Sound Settings under the Advanced section.

In the Playback tab, right-click on your active audio device and select Properties.

Navigate to the Advanced tab.

Uncheck both boxes under the Exclusive Mode section.

Click Apply and then OK.

Repeat the same steps for your input device if needed.

3/ Update the laptop’s audio & Bluetooth drivers (critical for new devices)

For new laptops, OEM audio packages (Realtek / Intel SmartSound / Bluetooth LE) often fix instability:

Open Device Manager (Press Win+X and select Device Manager) > Expand Bluetooth to view the list of Bluetooth devices and adapters.

Right-click your Bluetooth adapter, and then select Update driver.

Select Search automatically for drivers.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

Restart your PC after the update completes.

4/ Turn off audio “enhancements”

Enhancement filters from Windows, Spotify, or OEM tools sometimes cause device resets.

Go to Sound settings

Open your output device > Enhancements

Turn off any processing like Spatial Audio, Bass Boost, or custom manufacturer effects.

5/ Test Teams with a non‑Bluetooth device

This helps determine if the issue is with Bluetooth LE switching.

Plug in a simple USB headset or wired earphones.

Do a Teams Test Call.

If audio works consistently, the root cause is likely Bluetooth codec switching triggered by Teams + Spotify. If you can share the exact audio device model (Bluetooth or wired), I can help pinpoint the cause more precisely.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.  

I hope this information helps point you in the right direction. If you run into any issues while trying the steps, or if something still doesn’t feel quite right, please don’t hesitate to reach out again. I’ll do my best to support you however I can.  

Looking forward to hearing back from you with any updates or additional details. 

Warm regards, 

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