How to fix Microsoft Teams dropping calls after several seconds

Because calls allow us to express several ideas faster than we can type, they’re generally preferred for more extended discussions. Unsurprisingly, that fact means very little if the call drops in under a minute. Fortunately, some general troubleshooting tips can potentially help you.

Below, I have provided four solutions to help you fix Microsoft Teams dropping calls after several seconds:

SolutionReason
Update Microsoft TeamsIn some cases, issues arise from unresolved issues within an app itself. Hence, you can resolve a series of new issues by installing a newer app version.
Update system driversDrivers serve as an intermediary between your device’s hardware and its software. When a driver malfunctions, your device can behave unexpectedly.
Troubleshoot network issuesYou can drop calls due to connectivity issues. Identifying any potential issues is never a bad idea.
Switch app versionSometimes, an app’s counterparts function differently— having differing issues. If you’re using the desktop app, switch to the web app and vice versa.

Although there are no case-specific solutions for this problem, several general troubleshooting tips are known to resolve most issues in Teams. I can gladly say one or more of these solutions have resolved several Teams-related issues discussed on this site. As a good rule of thumb: attempt this post’s solutions whenever you encounter erroneous app behavior.

Use the following links to access relevant content quickly

  1. Updating Microsoft Teams
  2. Updating system drivers
  3. Troubleshoot network issues
  4. Blog post recap

Updating Microsoft Teams to prevent calls from dropping

Although Teams will automatically update, we can manually force Teams to check for updates. The following guide will demonstrate this.

Step 1 — Start Microsoft Teams

To begin, hit the Start/Win key to access the start menu. Begin typing and enter “Microsoft Teams.”

Step 2 — Check for any new updates

The settings button (...) prefixes your avatar in the top right corner— click it. In the resulting menu, select “Check for updates.” Doing so will trigger a check— this could take several seconds or a few minutes; a more latent connection will yield a better completion time.

Step 3 — Await the check’s completion

A new message bar will be present for the check duration: it will be at the top of the window. The bar states, “We will check and install any updates while you continue to work.” Although an update will be installed automatically, you will still need to restart Teams for the update to take effect.

Step 4 — (If needed) Restart Teams

Assuming an update is ready, the message bar will display a new message: “We’ve updated the app. Please refresh now.” When ready, click the “Please refresh now” text— Teams will begin restarting.

Updating system drivers to prevent calls from dropping

Drivers allow your computer’s physical components (hardware) to interact with its installed applications and programs (software). On Windows, a driver is updated after first being selected in the device manager application— you can then click the update button in the action bar. It’s essential to keep your drivers up to date: outdated drivers often result in errors spanning several applications, processes, or programs.

Accessing the device manager

To access the device manager, tap the Start/Win key and type “Device Manager.” After, hit Enter.

Troubleshoot network issues to prevent calls from dropping

A Teams call takes place via the internet; thus: a stable internet connection is non-negotiable. If your connection is unideal, try moving closer to your router or utilize an ethernet connection. If issues persist, you should troubleshoot your connection. Fortunately, Windows comes with a pre-installed basic network troubleshooter.

Step 1 — Interact with the internet access taskbar icon

Look to your taskbar— spotted the internet access icon? Right-click the icon to proceed, you’ll notice a dropdown appear.

Step 2 — Open the troubleshooting tool

In the dropdown, select “Troubleshoot problems.” You’ll gain access to the Windows troubleshooting tool.

Step 3 — Proceed through the tool’s pages

If any problems are detected, the tool will advise you accordingly. Of course, I don’t know what issue you may experience, so I can’t demonstrate what you may see. Try to follow any instructions given as best as you can.

Blog post recap

A Microsoft Teams call utilizes the internet and thus requires a stable connection. Because of this, network issues are the most common cause for calls to drop. However, a call may also fail due to faulty, outdated drivers, your application version (desktop/browser), or application build (older/newer update). Fortunately, those are all problems you can quickly resolve.

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Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell has been the Operations manager at telecoms and MSP Optionbox for more than 4 years. He has played a crucial role in the company, from marketing to helpdesk, and ensures that the IT requirements of over 300 clients are continuously met. With his innate passion for technology and troubleshooting and a particular interest in Apple products, Jack now delivers the most comprehensive tech guides to make your life easier. You can connect with Jack on LinkedIn.

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