How To Fix Microsoft Teams Not Working

Microsoft Teams has become the most popular work communication tool surpassing even Skype and Slack. But it can’t help you out if it’s not working. If you’re having trouble with Microsoft Teams, don’t worry, the problem is usually easy to fix. This article will help you troubleshoot Microsoft Teams not working.

Microsoft Teams Servers Are Down

The first thing to check is whether the Microsoft Teams server is the cause of your problem. With millions of people using the tool every day, the platform can glitch just like any other. Microsoft also is known to schedule server downtime intentionally for maintenance.

Go online to this “Down Detector” site to get a Microsoft Teams status report. Verify that Microsoft believes the tool to be up and running. If everything looks good on their end, then you can proceed to check things on your system. But if their servers are down, you’ll just have to kick back and wait for Microsoft to clear up the issue.

Restart Microsoft Teams

Sometimes the easiest fix is the one that does the trick. Glitches within the platform have been known to cause Teams not to load completely. Restart the Microsoft Teams app to see if this clears up the issue. Even if you don’t think the program is open, it could be running in the background. To check and restart, follow these instructions.

On a Windows PC:

1. Open the Task Manager on your computer. You can right-click on the bottom bar or press Ctrl+Alt+Del to view it.
   
2. Look for Microsoft Teams in the Task Manager or activity monitor. If you find it running there, end the task.
   
3. Restart Teams after that force quit to see if it’s running just fine.
   

On a Mac:

1. Click on the Apple icon and select “Force Quit.” Alternatively, you can click Cmd+Option+Esc.
2. Find Microsoft Teams and select it to force quit.
3. Reopen Teams to see if it runs smoothly after a restart.

Reboot Your Computer

If restarting the app doesn’t clear up your trouble, you can try a computer reboot. It never hurts to give your operating system a fresh start.

Still having trouble? Read on to continue troubleshooting.

Internet Connection Down

One reason Microsoft Teams might not be working or updating correctly is it isn’t connected to the internet. This can be a bit tricky to determine if you’re experiencing signal disruption but aren’t aware of it. Check your connection by opening a browser window to see if you can access the web or by resetting your router.

Device Specific Issue

Before you continue troubleshooting, open Microsoft Teams on another device. Does it work just fine there? If you’re able to use Teams on another device, this might give you a clue about where the hiccup lies. If you can open Teams on a different laptop or tablet, your original device may need to be inspected. If you can’t, then you know it’s a system-wide issue.

Clear the Microsoft Teams Cache

If you’ve used Teams for a while, the cache data can overwhelm your computer system. The cache can also become corrupted if it’s been there for some time. If Microsoft Teams isn’t launching at all, this could be the cause. Follow these steps to clear the cache of old Teams data.

On Windows through Settings:

1. Right-click the Start button and click “App and Features.”
   
2. Scroll to find Microsoft Teams in the list. Click “Advanced Options.”
   
3. Click “Reset” under the “Reset” menu.
   

On Windows through the File Explorer:

1. Right-click on Start and select “Run” to open the run dialogue box.
   
2. Type this in the run box: “%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams”.
   
3. Click “OK.”
   
4. In the window that opens, select all files and folders and delete them.
   

On a Mac:

1. Open Finder. Under the “Go” menu, select “Go to Folder…”
2. Enter this in the folder path: “~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams”.
3. Inside this “Team” folder, select all files and folders, and drag them into the trash.

From the Teams App on an Android Device:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app.
   
2. Tap the profile icon, then tap “Settings.”
   
3. Tap “Data and storage,” then “Clear app data.”
   
4. Tap “Storage & cache,” then tap “Clear cache.”
   

On an Android Device:

1. Open the Settings app on your device and tap “Apps.”
   
2. Tap “Teams.”
   
3. Select “Force Stop” and “OK.”
   
4. Tap “Storage & cache,” then tap “Clear cache.”
   

On an Apple Mobile Device:

1. Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap “Teams.”
   
2. Toggle the “Clear app data” switch to “On.”
   
3. Restart Microsoft Teams.

Reinstall the Microsoft Teams App

When restarting and repairing aren’t enough, the app may have become corrupted or non-functional. Uninstall the app using your system’s built-in function. Then download the app all over again and install a brand-new copy.

Specific Error Codes

Not all Teams errors are the same, but there are a few specific errors that crop up often. One of these might be the same trouble you’re having. Check the list below to see if these specific errors apply to your situation:

0xCAA20004 – Request Not Approved

This error means that you don’t have authorization to join the server. Teams won’t work until you’re approved by an owner.

0xCAA82EE2 – Request Timed Out

This means that the connection took too long and is usually due to a firewall blocking a login. It can also be caused by over-sensitive antivirus protection. Check these two issues to resolve the error.

0xCAA20003 – Authorization Problem

This sounds sinister, but it really is an easy fix. If your computer is displaying the wrong date or time, it creates an authorization problem within the system. Check the date and time on your computer, and also check that they match the date and time of others on the network.

0xCAA82EE7 – Server Name Not Resolved

Usually, this error is displayed with your internet service is disrupted. Check to see if your internet connection is stable and if your device is connected to it.

Get Microsoft Teams Running Again

No app runs perfectly all the time. Occasionally, you may have trouble with Microsoft Teams operating smoothly. Thankfully, the problem is usually easy to find and fix. You shouldn’t have to spend too much time locked out of your favorite communication tool.

Did you use our troubleshooting list to fix a Microsoft Teams error? Tell us about it in the comments below.