How to Fix Microsoft Teams Audio and Video Lag in Calls

What Causes This?

Microsoft Teams audio and video lag usually happens when your PC is under too much strain, your internet connection is unstable, or Teams is using the wrong audio/video device settings. Background apps, outdated drivers, hardware acceleration issues, and overloaded startup programs can all reduce call quality. In some cases, Windows privacy or sound settings also interfere with your microphone, speakers, or webcam.

Common Symptoms

• Voices cut in and out or sound robotic during Teams calls
• Video freezes, stutters, or appears out of sync with audio
• Delays when speaking or hearing other people
• Webcam image looks choppy even with a good internet connection
• Teams uses the wrong microphone, speaker, or camera device

How to Fix It Manually

1. Close apps that are using too many system resources

   1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
   2. In the Processes tab, click CPU, Memory, and Network to sort by usage.
   3. Close heavy apps you do not need during calls, such as browsers with many tabs, game launchers, cloud sync tools, or video editors.
   4. Leave Teams open, then test another call.

2. Check that Teams is using the correct devices

   1. Open Microsoft Teams.
   2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner, then select Settings.
   3. Open Devices.
   4. Make sure the correct Speaker, Microphone, and Camera are selected.
   5. Use the Make a test call option if available to confirm everything works properly.

3. Disable hardware acceleration in Teams

   1. In Teams, go to Settings.
   2. Open General.
   3. Turn off Disable GPU hardware acceleration if the option is phrased that way, or enable the setting that disables hardware acceleration.
   4. Fully quit Teams by right-clicking the Teams icon in the system tray and choosing Quit.
   5. Reopen Teams and test call quality again.
   6. If you are using the newer Teams version and do not see this option, continue with the next steps since system-level fixes still help.

4. Make sure Windows is not limiting your devices

   1. Press Windows+I to open Settings.
   2. Go to System > Sound.
   3. Under Input, select your microphone and check the Input volume is high enough.
   4. Under Output, select your speakers or headset and confirm the correct device is active.
   5. Then go to Privacy & security > Microphone and Camera.
   6. Make sure access is turned On and that Microsoft Teams is allowed to use both.

5. Update your audio, video, and network drivers

   1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
   2. Expand Audio inputs and outputs, Sound, video and game controllers, Cameras, and Network adapters.
   3. Right-click each main device and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
   4. Restart your PC after updates finish.
   5. If Windows finds nothing, check your PC or headset manufacturer’s support page for newer drivers.

6. Reduce network and startup interference

   1. Restart your router if calls lag across multiple apps, not just Teams.
   2. If possible, switch from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection.
   3. Open Task Manager > Startup apps and disable non-essential apps that launch with Windows.
   4. Restart your PC and test Teams before reopening other programs.

7. Clear Teams app issues with a clean restart

   1. Quit Teams completely.
   2. Restart Windows.
   3. Open Teams again and sign back in if needed.
   4. If lag started after an update, check Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Teams, and use available Advanced options like Repair or Reset if shown.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can automatically detect common causes of Teams lag, including heavy background processes, startup bloat, device misconfiguration, and other system slowdowns that hurt call performance. Instead of checking each Windows setting manually, you can use Kudu to clean up and optimize your PC for smoother audio and video calls.

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