Microsoft Teams Freezing During Calls: Troubleshooting

The short answer

When video freezes in a Teams call, the cause usually falls into one of three areas: the camera feed on your device, the network connection carrying the call, or the Teams app itself. The fix depends on which part is freezing. If only your outgoing video stops while everything else works, start with the webcam and its permissions. If other people's video freezes, or audio drops along with video, start with your network. If the whole Teams window becomes unresponsive, the problem is most likely with the app or your computer's resources, not the camera.

Supplied evidence did not include confirmed bug reports, version-specific known issues or measured bandwidth thresholds for Teams. This guide therefore gives the general order of checks and does not describe any specific Teams release.

First, identify what is actually freezing

A few seconds of observation during a call can save a lot of guesswork. Video and audio travel through separate parts of the system: the webcam captures video, the microphone captures audio, and both are sent over the same connection. Comparing how each behaves helps narrow down the cause.

What you notice | Most likely area | Where to start

Your self-view freezes, but others' video and all audio keep working | Webcam capture on your device | Camera checks

Your self-view looks fine, but others say your video is frozen | Outgoing network connection | Network checks

Other participants' video freezes or turns blurry, and audio may stutter | Incoming network connection | Network checks

Video and audio both cut out at the same moment | Network connection | Network checks

The entire Teams window stops responding | Teams app or system resources | App and computer checks

Camera checks: when your own video freezes

Three separate conditions all need to be true for your webcam to work in Teams. The operating system must detect the camera, Teams must have permission to use it, and the correct camera must be selected as the active input in Teams. A freeze can happen when any of these changes during a call, for example when a USB camera briefly disconnects or another app takes control of the camera.

• Close other apps that might use the camera, such as other video calling tools, the built-in camera app or browser tabs with video sites. On many systems, only one app can use a webcam reliably at a time.
• For a USB webcam, check the cable and try connecting it directly to the computer instead of through a hub or dock. A loose connection can make the camera disconnect and reconnect, which shows up as a freeze.
• In Teams, open Settings, then Devices, and confirm the camera you expect is selected. If you have a built-in camera and an external one, Teams may have switched to the other device.
• Check the camera permission. On Windows, go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Camera, and make sure camera access is on for the device and for Teams. On macOS, go to System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Camera, and make sure Teams is allowed.
• If you use Teams in a web browser, check the browser's site permissions for camera access. The browser grants this permission, not the operating system's Teams entry.
• Turn your camera off and back on in the call. If that doesn't help, leave and rejoin the call to restart the video feed.

If the camera also freezes in your operating system's own camera app outside of Teams, the problem is with the camera, its driver or its connection, not Teams. On Windows, updating or reinstalling the camera driver through Device Manager, or checking the camera maker's support software, is the next step.

Network checks: when others freeze or you freeze for others

Video takes far more bandwidth than audio. When a connection struggles, video is usually the first thing to stall or lose sharpness, and audio may follow if the connection gets worse. A network problem can also make your video look smooth on your screen while others see it frozen, because your self-view does not travel over the network.

• Pause other heavy internet use on your network, such as large downloads, cloud backups, game updates or video streaming.
• If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or use a wired Ethernet connection if possible.
• If you are using a VPN, check whether video works better without it, but only if your organization allows that.
• Turn off your own video for a moment to see if other participants' video and the audio stabilize. If they do, your connection is likely the limiting factor.
• If your Teams version offers an option to turn off incoming video, use it as a temporary fix to keep audio clear on a weak connection.
• Ask another participant whether they see the same freezing. If everyone sees one person freezing, the issue is probably on that person's connection.

App and computer checks: when Teams itself hangs

If the whole Teams window freezes, not just the video tile, the cause is more likely the app or your computer struggling to keep up. Video calls use a lot of processor and graphics power, especially with background effects or many video tiles.

• Turn off background blur or virtual backgrounds, which need extra processing.
• Close unneeded apps and browser tabs to free up memory and processor time.
• Restart Teams completely. Quit it from the system tray or menu bar, not just by closing the window.
• Check for Teams updates and install any pending operating system updates.
• On Windows, if the installed Teams app supports it, try Repair, then Reset, from Settings, Apps, Installed apps, then the Teams entry's advanced options. Reset clears local app data, so you may need to sign in again.
• As a comparison test, join the same call through Teams in a supported web browser. If video works smoothly there, the problem is probably with the installed app, not your camera or network.

When to involve IT or support

If you use Teams through work or school, your organization may control camera policies, network routing or VPN settings that you cannot change yourself. Contact your IT team if freezing continues after these checks, if it happens to several people on the same network, or if camera options are missing or grayed out in Teams settings. Tell them what freezes, whether audio is affected, and whether the camera works outside Teams. This will help them find the cause faster.