Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

If Microsoft Teams closes and launches again, first open Teams on the web. If the web app works, the problem is more likely in the desktop client, its local data, or a device dependency than in your account alone. Then fully quit the desktop app and work through the fixes below, starting with the least disruptive. A message such as “Trying to reconnect” is different: it can point to a network, account, or service issue rather than an app crash.

First, find out whether the problem is the desktop app

Use Teams in a browser, ask whether coworkers are affected, and—if practical—try a different network such as a phone hotspot. Microsoft recommends trying the web version and checking connectivity and service incidents when Teams cannot reconnect (Microsoft troubleshooting guidance).

What you observe What it suggests
Web Teams works, but the desktop app crashes A desktop app, cache, installation, dependency, or security-software issue is more likely.
Web and desktop fail for one user Check that user’s sign-in, permissions, account, network, and organization policy.
Several users cannot use web or desktop Teams A service incident or organization-wide network or policy issue is possible. Ask a Microsoft 365 administrator to check Service health.
Teams works on a phone but not the computer A desktop-specific issue is more likely.
Teams fails only when joining meetings Check camera, microphone, audio, graphics, WebView2, and other meeting-related components.

A working browser session helps narrow the problem, but it does not prove Microsoft’s services are healthy for every feature or user. For a browser failure, try another browser, temporarily turn off extensions such as ad blockers, confirm you are using the invited account, and test another network. Microsoft’s reconnection guidance also recommends checking service status and trying Teams for the web.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Try fixes that do not delete local Teams data

Quit Teams completely

Closing the window may leave Teams running. Quit it before reopening or clearing its cache.

  1. Windows: Right-click the Teams icon in the notification area and select Quit. If it keeps reopening, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and end remaining Microsoft Teams processes, if present.
  2. macOS: Select Teams and press Command-Q, or right-click its Dock icon and choose Quit. If it will not close, press Option-Command-Escape and force-quit Teams.
  3. Open Teams once and see whether it stays open.

Microsoft’s Teams sync guidance covers restarting the app; its cache instructions say to quit Teams before clearing files.

Restart and update

Restart the computer, then update Teams if it stays open long enough: select Settings and more (…) > Settings > About Teams, then choose Check for updates or Update now if shown. Labels and update controls vary by build and organization policy. Record the Teams version and when the issue began if you can.

If Teams will not stay open, update Windows under Settings > Windows Update or macOS under System Settings > General > Software Update. An update is worth trying, but it is not guaranteed to fix a crash; if the problem started immediately after an update, other users on the same build may be affected too.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
AI VoiceWriter – Smart Dictation & AI Writing Assistant for Windows & Mac | USB Dongle & Mobile App for Voice Input, Proofreading, Rewriting & Multilingual Support
  • 🎙️ Hands-Free Voice Typing for Windows & Mac – Powered by iOS & Android dictation technology, AI VoiceWriter allows fast, accurate speech-to-text directly on your desktop. Simply speak, and your words appear in real time. Compatible with Windows 10 & above, macOS 13 & above.
  • ✍️ AI Writing Assistant for Effortless Editing – Boost productivity with AI proofreading, rephrasing, and formatting. Perfect for emails, reports, creative writing, and professional content.
  • 💻 Works Seamlessly in Any Desktop App – Type with your voice in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Teams, emails, and more. Just place your cursor in any text field and start speaking!
  • 📱 Mobile App for Enhanced Voice Input – The AI VoiceWriter mobile app enhances voice recognition by using your phone’s microphone as an input device for clearer, more accurate dictation—while typing on your desktop. Supports iOS 15 & above, Android 9.0 & above.
  • 🌎 Multilingual Voice Typing & AI Assistance – Supports 33 languages for dictation, plus AI-powered features in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Italian and, Swedish.

Test the connection and connected devices

Temporarily disconnect a VPN or switch networks to see whether the behavior changes. Do not leave antivirus or other security protections disabled. If this is a work or school device, ask IT to check whether security software is blocking Teams or a required component.

Repair or reset Teams on Windows

On supported Windows installations, try Repair before Reset. The buttons may not appear on every Windows version or Teams installation.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Find Microsoft Teams, select its … menu, then choose Advanced options.
  3. Select Repair, if available. Reopen Teams and test it.
  4. If Repair does not help, return to the same screen and select Reset.
  5. Open Teams and sign in again if asked.

Repair is the less disruptive attempt. Microsoft documents that Reset deletes Teams app data and personalization settings; you may need to sign in again. This refers to local app data, not a claim that cloud chats or files are deleted. See Microsoft’s cache and reset instructions.

Clear the cache for the Teams version you use

New Teams and classic Teams store local data in different places. Use the path for your client, not a broad search-and-delete of folders containing “Teams.” Microsoft’s cache article, listed as updated July 13, 2025, documents the paths below; storage can change in later client builds.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

New Teams on Windows

Try the Windows Reset option above first. If it is unavailable or does not help, clear the documented cache folder:

  1. Quit Teams completely.
  2. Press Windows+R, paste the path below, and press Enter.
  3. Delete the contents of the folder that opens, then restart Teams.
%userprofile%appdatalocalPackagesMSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalCacheMicrosoftMSTeams

Classic Teams on Windows

  1. Quit Teams completely.
  2. Press Windows+R, enter the path below, and press Enter.
  3. Delete the contents of the folder that opens, then restart Teams.
%appdata%MicrosoftTeams

New Teams on macOS

Quit Teams first. In Applications > Utilities > Terminal, run these commands separately:

rm -rf ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.teams
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2

Classic Teams on macOS

Quit Teams, then run:

rm -r ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams

These macOS commands permanently delete the named directories; they do not move them to Trash. Do not broaden the commands or remove unrelated Microsoft folders. A managed Mac may restore app files or policies after cleanup, so consult IT if you are unsure which client is installed.

Microsoft says cache clearing does not uninstall Teams, but it removes locally stored client data such as cached images, thumbnails, local message history, display images, and add-ons. The first launch can take longer as Teams rebuilds cache files. The steps above follow Microsoft’s client-specific cache guidance.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

If Teams crashes during meetings

A crash tied to joining a call, turning on video, or enabling audio points toward a different set of suspects than a restart at sign-in. Isolate the equipment and ask IT to check the client’s dependencies before making broad system changes.

  • Join a meeting with the camera and microphone off. If that works, enable them one at a time.
  • Disconnect external cameras, USB headsets, docking stations, and virtual-camera software, then test again.
  • Update graphics, audio, camera, and docking-station drivers through your device maker or your organization’s approved process.
  • Try the browser client as a temporary meeting workaround.
  • Ask IT to check WebView2, media-stack failures, GPU or sandbox problems, and whether endpoint security or data-loss-prevention (DLP) software is blocking Teams.

Microsoft’s Teams client crash guidance identifies security-tool allowlisting, WebView2 process failures, GPU or sandbox problems, system faults, and media-stack failures as areas administrators may need to investigate. Do not permanently disable antivirus, change registry settings, or apply organization security exceptions yourself. Hardware-acceleration controls vary by build and are not a universal first step.

Reinstall Teams if the earlier steps fail

  1. Quit Teams.
  2. Uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows, or remove it from Applications on macOS.
  3. Restart the computer.
  4. Download Teams from Microsoft’s official download page and install the current client.
  5. Test Teams before adding optional integrations or signing into multiple accounts.

A standard uninstall may leave local cache or containers behind, while a reinstall may install the same build that triggered a product regression. If a recent update appears to be the cause, use the web client temporarily and ask IT to check whether the issue is known; avoid unofficial downgrades. On a managed device, IT may need to perform a clean-up or reinstall because policies, security software, or virtual-desktop tools can affect the result.

Quick fixes for Teams on Android or iPhone

Desktop cache folders and commands do not apply to mobile. Start with the low-risk steps, then reinstall only if needed.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Android

  1. Force stop Teams in Android settings.
  2. Update Teams in Google Play and reopen it.
  3. If it still crashes, clear the app cache in Android settings. If necessary, clear app storage or reinstall; this removes local app data and signs you out.

iPhone or iPad

  1. Force-close Teams.
  2. Update it in the App Store, then restart the device.
  3. If it still crashes, delete and reinstall Teams, then sign in again.

When to contact your IT administrator

Contact IT if Teams also fails in a browser, several coworkers are affected, the device is managed, or the steps require access you do not have. Give them details that distinguish an app crash from a sign-in, network, or meeting problem:

  • Device type, operating system version, and build.
  • Teams version, and whether it is new Teams or classic Teams, if known.
  • What happens: closes and reopens, flashes and closes, restarts at sign-in, reconnects repeatedly, or crashes only in meetings.
  • When it began, plus any error code, screenshot, or crash time.
  • Whether Teams on the web works, whether coworkers are affected, and whether another device or account works.
  • Whether a camera, microphone, dock, VPN, driver, Teams update, or security-policy change preceded the issue.

An administrator can check tenant Service health and investigate endpoint security, DLP, WebView2, drivers, and client crash information. If the issue is not organization-managed, use Microsoft’s Teams troubleshooting library or contact Microsoft Support.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.