- Step one: is it Teams, or everyone?
- The fixes, in the order to try them
- Sign out and back in the right way
- Clear the Teams cache on Windows
- Clear the Teams cache on a Mac
- Use the web version as a test
- If it's chat messages that won't load
- Camera and microphone not working in Teams
- Work and school accounts
- Stay calm before important calls
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
If Microsoft Teams isn't working, check your internet first, then sign out of Teams and back in. If that fails, quit Teams, clear its cache folder and reopen it, or try the web version at teams.microsoft.com. Microsoft also suggests checking its MSFT365Status account on X for known outages.
Teams has a habit of breaking at the worst moment: stuck on 'reconnecting', chats that won't load, a blank window just before a client call. Microsoft's own troubleshooting steps fix most of it, in a sensible order. Here's that order, the cache fix that solves the stubborn cases, and how to tell whether it's you or Microsoft.
Step one: is it Teams, or everyone?
Microsoft points people to its official Microsoft 365 status account on X, MSFT365Status, for service incidents and known issues. If colleagues in other locations are having the same trouble at the same time, or the account mentions Teams, it's a Microsoft problem and the best fix is patience, or switching the meeting to another tool.
The fixes, in the order to try them
| Try | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Check your internet | Open any website in a browser. If that's slow, Teams will be too |
| Sign out and back in | Refreshes your connection to your account |
| Clear the Teams cache | Removes stored data that can get corrupted |
| Try Teams on the web | Shows whether the problem is the app or your account |
| Turn your VPN off and on | VPNs often interfere with connections |
| Restart your Wi-Fi router | Clears network glitches |
| Uninstall and reinstall Teams | The last resort for a broken app |
Sign out and back in the right way
Select your profile picture at the top right of Teams and choose Sign out. Once Teams closes, open it again and sign in with your email and password. Signing out on one device doesn't sign you out everywhere, so your phone app can carry on while you fix your laptop. If you use more than one Microsoft account, check you're signing back in with the right one, as a personal account won't show your work chats.
Clear the Teams cache on Windows
- Right-click the Teams icon in your taskbar and choose Quit, so Teams fully closes.
- Open File Explorer and paste %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams into the address bar.
- Delete everything inside that folder.
- Open Teams again and sign in.
Clear the Teams cache on a Mac
- Quit Teams completely.
- Delete the folder ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams.
- Open Teams again and sign in.
Don't worry about losing your work. Microsoft says clearing the cache doesn't remove Teams or your account. It removes locally stored bits: cached web data, icons, thumbnails, local message history, display images and add-ons, which Teams downloads again. Your chats and files live in the cloud, so they come back after you sign in.
Use the web version as a test
Go to teams.microsoft.com in your browser and sign in. If Teams works there, your account is fine and the problem is the app on your computer, so clear the cache or reinstall. If the web version fails too, it's more likely your connection, your account or a Microsoft outage. Microsoft also suggests switching off ad blockers if you're using Teams in a browser, as they can stop parts of it loading.
If it's chat messages that won't load
Microsoft has a separate troubleshooting guide for chats that won't load. In practice, the same sequence usually sorts it: quit and reopen Teams, check your connection, try the web version, then sign out and back in. If only one chat is affected while others load, give it a few minutes; if everything's stuck, work through the list above.
Camera and microphone not working in Teams
Device problems are a different kind of 'not working'. If people can't see or hear you, check that Teams and your browser have permission to use your camera and microphone in your computer's privacy settings. On the web, the browser's site permissions control this too.
Work and school accounts
If Teams belongs to your employer or school, some problems are out of your hands, such as sign-in policies or blocked features. After the basic fixes, contact your IT team with the error message and the time it happened. A screenshot of the error saves a lot of back-and-forth, and so does saying which fixes you have already tried.
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Stay calm before important calls
- Open Teams ten minutes early, so there's time to fix things.
- Keep the Teams app on your phone as a backup.
- Bookmark teams.microsoft.com so the web version is one click away.
- Keep apps updated, because many glitches are fixed in updates.
If you're seeing similar problems in other apps, my guides on Messenger not loading and YouTube Studio not working follow the same check-the-service, then-the-app approach. And if you run regular sessions on Teams, my webinar resources help you plan for hiccups.
My verdict
Check the internet, sign out and in, then clear the cache: that trio fixes most Teams problems. Use the web version to work out whether it's the app or something bigger, and check MSFT365Status before spending an hour on a problem Microsoft is already fixing.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Microsoft Teams not working?
Common causes are your internet connection, a corrupted cache, a VPN or ad blocker, or a Microsoft service problem. Microsoft's fixes start with checking your connection and signing out and back in.
How do I clear the Teams cache?
On Windows, quit Teams and delete the contents of %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams. On a Mac, quit Teams and delete ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams. Then reopen Teams.
Will clearing the Teams cache delete my chats?
No. Microsoft says it doesn't remove Teams, and it removes locally stored data such as cached files, thumbnails and local message history, which reloads after you sign in.
Is Microsoft Teams down?
Microsoft suggests checking its official Microsoft 365 status account on X, MSFT365Status, for service incidents.
What if the Teams app won't work but the website does?
Then the problem is the app on your device. Clear the cache, and if that fails, uninstall and reinstall Teams.
