How to Mute in Microsoft Teams

Muting keeps meetings clean and notifications quiet. Most confusion comes from mixing up mic mute (your audio) with chat/channel mute (notifications). The fixes below cover both, plus how organizers can mute others.

Before you start

• You need the Teams desktop app or web app for full controls; mobile has similar options.
• In meetings, only organizers and presenters can mute others.
• Shortcut highlights: Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+M (Mac) toggles mute; Ctrl+Space is push-to-talk when you’re muted.

1) Mute or unmute your microphone (desktop/web)

1. Join a meeting or call.
2. On the meeting toolbar, select Microphone to toggle Mute / Unmute.
3. Use the shortcut to switch quickly: Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+M (Mac).

Pro tip: Already muted? Hold Ctrl+Space to speak temporarily, then release to go back to muted.

2) Join a meeting with your mic muted

1. Select Join on the meeting.
2. On the pre-join screen, set Microphone to Off.
3. Select Join now.

Note: This prevents background noise while you settle in.

3) Mute participants as an organizer/presenter (desktop/web)

1. In the meeting, open People.
2. Next to a participant, select More options (•••) → Mute.
3. To mute many at once, choose Mute all (if shown).

Pro tip: To stop interruptions, open Meeting options and turn off attendees’ ability to unmute (wording may appear as Allow mic for attendees or Allow attendees to unmute).

4) Mute yourself on mobile (iPhone/Android)

1. Join the meeting.
2. Tap the Microphone on the call controls to toggle Mute / Unmute.
3. Use the pre-join screen to start muted when needed.

5) Mute a chat (turn off notifications)

Desktop/web

1. Right-click the chat in Chat.
2. Select Mute.
3. To re-enable, right-click → Unmute.

Mobile

1. In Chat, press and hold the chat.
2. Tap Mute → confirm.

Why use it: You’ll still receive messages, but without alerts.

6) Mute a channel (turn off notifications)

Desktop/web

1. Go to the channel.
2. Select More options (•••) → Channel notifications.
3. Choose Off or customize mentions only.

Mobile

1. Open the channel → More options (•••).
2. Tap Channel notifications → set to Off or customize.

7) Silence notifications while you present

• Set your status to Do not disturb from your profile menu to suppress most notifications.
• Consider turning on Windows Focus or your device’s Do Not Disturb before screen sharing.