Teams use a wide variety of different functions within your PC or computer, from the mics, camera to the storage drive and RAM. Therefore it is essential that all those components are working before you decide to have a meeting. The last thing you want is to have your microphone or camera not working in a crucial meeting so the first thing you should do is read through our blog on how to make a test call, as this will make the process of testing those various components a lot easier. Follow through for more information on how to make a test call in Microsoft Teams.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make a test call in Microsoft Teams:
- Firstly open Teams. (Desktop only).
- From there, click on click on “Settings & More”. (three dots).
- Now, click on “Settings”.
- From there, click on “Devices”.
- Under “Automatically adjust mic sensitivity,” click on “Make a test call”.
- Finally, unmute your microphone and listen through.
Please note the following
- For the time being, the test call feature is only accessible in English. Additional languages will be added in the near future.
- Following the call, Teams will remove your test recording. Microsoft will not keep or utilize this information.
- For the time being, the test call capability is only accessible in the Teams desktop version for Windows and Mac.
- This feature is not accessible in the Teams desktop app for Windows and Mac for Government High Cloud and Department of Defense tenants.
A chatbot called “Teams Echo” will proceed to deliver a message from here you can test your speakers, mics, and camera as it mimics an actual call.
It can be difficult to choose the appropriate headset, microphone, and camera for Teams calls. Dedicated gear, rather than the microphone and speakers native in workstations, usually produces better results. Using a dedicated camera is a more difficult decision because today’s workstation cameras are of decent quality.
In-depth step by step guide – How to make a test call in Microsoft Teams
While the process above pretty much outlines all the necessary bits of information such as the steps and when and where you can use Teams, it helps to go through the in-depth process as this will help you better understand the process behind making a test call. Follow through for more information on how to make a test call in Teams.
Step by step breakdown with screenshots
- Firstly, open Teams. (Desktop only).
- From there, click on “Settings & More”.(three dots).
- Now, click on “Settings”.
- From there, click on “Devices”.
- Under “Automatically adjust mic sensitivity,” click on “Make a test call”.
To make a test call with the desktop client (the option isn’t available in the browser client), go to Settings, then Devices, then click your avatar (photo) in the top bar. Make sure the appropriate audio devices for the test are selected, then click Make a test call.
- Finally, unmute your microphone and listen through.
The test call is made to a bot by the team. Bots, unlike humans, are always ready to take a call, even from obnoxious people. The bot responds and asks you to record some words, which it then plays back to you to see whether the quality is satisfactory. Currently, only English-language calls are supported. You view some test results at the end of the call.
If there are issues such as the camera isn’t working or the mic is displaying signs or crackling or breaking, you will have some time to make those changes to ensure you are given all greens. Make sure you look through and pick thor each issue and fix them you proceed.
The test call ensures that you can connect to Teams to make a call in the same way that you would a meeting. It puts the chosen audio devices to the test and displays what you see on the camera (and demonstrates why you should turn background blur on). Test Call offers nothing to improve your voice or appearance, but it is a very handy feature otherwise.
Once the test is completed you will be able to proceed ahead and make the necessary changes to ensure that your Teams call feature is in good working order. Choosing the right headset, microphone, and camera for Teams calls can be tough. Dedicated equipment, rather than the microphone and speakers that come standard with workstations, frequently yields superior results. Because today’s workstation cameras are of decent quality, using a dedicated camera is a more challenging decision.
How to fix each issue when making a test call in Teams
Camera
If you have an issue with the camera, you can switch to a third-party source such as a webcam. If your meeting requires the use of a camera it is essential there are no upcoming risks therefore investing in an external webcam will allow you to have your meeting without any camera-related issues.
Microphone
Having Mic related issues, same with the camera if it’s urgent it may be worth investing in an external module to help you pass the urgent calls, Mics often face issues related to breaks in audio, unclear audio, especially over long distance calls or audio related issues that could be prevalent with unsupported codec. In this case, ensure you read the instructions and product details to ensure the Mic is supported with your devices to prevent issues down the line.
Network
The beauty of a test call is you can test your networks as well, checking whether your signal strength is good enough for the Teams chat or not, if not then you can either adjust your location towards the router in your location or invest in a third party dongle which allows you to improve the signal strength.
Speakers
As well as your audio output you also need to consider the audio input, therefore making sure your speakers are intact will help vastly in ensuring you can hear the people from the other end. You can again invest in a speaker system to help you get the correct audio, if the issue is persistent within the codec it might be worthwhile checking the codec on the description to ensure it matches with the one you require.
Conclusion
That’s it for this Blog thank you for taking time out to read our content, please feel free to email our team about how it went if you followed the steps or if you need more help with the questions we answered in this Blog.