How to Change Microsoft Teams Settings for Notifications Audio and Video

by Skye Lin · Published 07/07/2026 · Updated 07/07/2026

Applies to
Microsoft Teams for Windows, macOS, web, iPhone, Android, work, school, and personal accounts

Last updated
6 July 2026

Problem

You want to customise Microsoft Teams, but you are not sure where to change notification, audio, camera, or meeting settings. Some users miss important alerts because notifications are off, join meetings with the wrong microphone, or have camera issues because Teams selected the wrong device.

Changing Teams settings properly helps make meetings, chats, calls, and alerts more reliable.

Solution

Open Microsoft Teams settings and review the main areas that affect daily use. Focus first on notifications, devices, audio, video, privacy, and meeting behaviour. On mobile devices, also check the notification settings in your phone’s operating system.

Step by step instructions

Open Microsoft Teams settings on desktop

Open Microsoft Teams.

Select Settings and more near your profile picture or initials.

Choose Settings.

You should now see the main Teams settings menu.

Common settings areas include:

General
Accounts
Notifications and activity
Appearance and accessibility
Devices
Privacy
Files and links
Calls

The exact options may vary depending on your Teams version and account type.

Open Microsoft Teams settings on the web

Open your browser and go to:

https://teams.microsoft.com

Select Settings and more near your profile picture or initials.

Choose Settings.

Teams web includes many useful settings, although some device options may behave differently from the desktop app.

Change notification settings

In Teams settings, open Notifications and activity.

Review how Teams alerts you for chats, mentions, meetings, calls, and channel activity.

Check settings for:

Chat messages
Mentions
Replies
Meeting starts
Calls
Sounds
Banner notifications
Email notifications
Missed activity

If you are missing alerts, make sure important notification types are enabled.

If Teams is too noisy, reduce channel notifications or turn off less important alert types.

Change channel notification settings

Channel notifications are controlled separately from general notifications.

Open the relevant team.

Find the channel you want to adjust.

Select the three dots next to the channel name.

Choose Channel notifications.

Set the channel to notify you about all activity, mentions and replies, custom activity, or nothing.

Use stronger notifications for important channels and quieter settings for low priority ones.

Change chat notification settings

If one chat is too noisy or too quiet, open that chat.

Select the three dots or chat options.

Check whether the chat is muted.

Unmute it if you want alerts again.

Mute it if you no longer want notifications from that conversation.

This is useful for large group chats that generate frequent messages.

Change audio device settings

Open Teams settings.

Select Devices.

Check the selected speaker and microphone.

Choose the correct devices from the dropdown menus.

Common choices include:

Laptop speakers
Laptop microphone
USB headset
Bluetooth headset
Webcam microphone
Docking station audio
Monitor speakers

If you use a headset, set both speaker and microphone to the same headset where possible.

Make a test call

In Devices, choose Make a test call if available.

Record a short test message.

Listen to the playback.

This helps confirm whether your speaker and microphone are working before joining a real meeting.

If the test call fails, check operating system permissions and reconnect your headset or microphone.

Change camera settings

Open Teams settings.

Select Devices.

Find the Camera section.

Choose the correct camera from the list.

Check the camera preview.

If the preview is black, check whether:

The camera is covered
Another app is using the camera
Camera permissions are blocked
The wrong camera is selected
The camera driver needs updating

Set background effects before a meeting

Join or open a meeting.

On the pre join screen, turn on your camera.

Look for Background filters, Video effects, or Effects and avatars.

Choose blur or a background image.

Preview the result before joining.

If background effects are missing, your device, Teams version, or organisation policy may not support them.

Change mobile notification settings

On iPhone or Android, Teams notifications are controlled by both the Teams app and your phone settings.

Open the Teams mobile app.

Tap your profile picture or menu.

Open Settings.

Review notification options.

Then check your phone settings.

On iPhone, open Settings, then Notifications, then Microsoft Teams.

On Android, open Settings, then Apps, then Microsoft Teams, then Notifications.

Make sure notifications are allowed at both levels.

Check Focus Do Not Disturb and quiet hours

Even if Teams notifications are enabled, your device may silence them.

Check whether your device has enabled:

Focus mode
Do Not Disturb
Quiet hours
Battery saver
Sleep mode
Work profile restrictions

Turn these off temporarily if you are testing Teams alerts.

Change file and link preferences

In Teams settings, look for Files and links if available.

This controls how some files and links open.

You may be able to choose whether Office files open in Teams, a browser, or desktop apps.

Choose the option that best matches how you work.

Review privacy settings

Open Privacy settings in Teams.

Review options such as read receipts, blocked contacts, and priority access where available.

If you do not want others to see when you have read messages, check whether read receipts can be turned off for your account.

Some privacy settings may be controlled by your organisation.

Optional methods or tools

Use https://teams.microsoft.com to change settings if the desktop app is unavailable
Use device settings on Windows, macOS, iPhone, or Android to check notification and permission controls
Use a Teams test call before important meetings
Use channel notification settings to reduce unnecessary alerts
Ask your IT administrator if settings are missing or controlled by policy

Best practices or tips

Review Teams settings after major app or operating system updates
Test audio and video before important meetings
Keep notification settings focused on chats and channels that matter
Use a headset for more reliable meeting audio
Check mobile notification permissions if Teams alerts stop appearing

Microsoft Teams settings control how you receive alerts, join meetings, use devices, and manage daily communication. Reviewing notification, audio, video, and privacy settings helps prevent common problems such as missed messages, muted microphones, or the wrong camera being selected.

For the most reliable experience, check both Teams settings and your device’s own permissions. Using https://teams.microsoft.com, the Teams desktop app, and mobile system settings together ensures Teams works properly across desktop, browser, and mobile devices.