Office Apps Crashing

How to Fix Microsoft Teams Crashing During Video Calls

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Microsoft Teams desktop application unexpectedly closes and restarts when initiating or joining a video call, even though text chats function normally.

Product: Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to use the video call or meeting feature within the Microsoft Teams desktop client.
Observed behavior: The application crashes and forces a restart specifically during video calls, while basic messaging and chat functionalities remain unaffected.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have a stable internet connection and temporarily close any other background applications (like Zoom or Skype) that might be actively using your camera or microphone.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Teams Cache and Update the Application

Clearing the cache resolves most temporary glitches and corrupted temporary files that cause Teams to crash during video calls.

Microsoft Teams stores temporary data to load faster, but if this cache becomes corrupted, it can cause the app to behave erratically during resource-intensive tasks like video calls.

Quit Microsoft Teams

Right-click the Teams icon in the Windows system tray at the bottom right of your screen and select 'Quit' to ensure the application is completely closed.

Open the cache folder

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type '%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams' and press Enter.

Delete cache files

Select all files and folders within this directory and delete them. This will not delete your account data or chat history.

Restart and update

Open Microsoft Teams again, sign in, click on your profile picture or the three-dot menu at the top right, and select 'Check for updates' to ensure you are running the latest version.

Safe Operation: Clearing the Teams cache is completely safe and will not remove any of your files, chat history, or contacts stored on the server.

Solution 2

Update Windows and Audio/Video Drivers

Outdated or corrupted camera and microphone drivers can conflict with Microsoft Teams, forcing the application to restart.

Solution 3

Verify Media Permissions and Reinstall Teams

If Teams lacks the necessary permissions to access your hardware, or if the core installation is corrupted, adjusting privacy settings or performing a clean reinstall may be required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Teams only crash during video calls and not text chats?

Video calls require significantly more system resources, including CPU, GPU, and memory, as well as direct access to camera and microphone hardware. Conflicts with outdated hardware drivers or insufficient system resources often trigger a crash that text chats avoid.

Can I use the web version of Teams if the desktop app keeps crashing?

Yes. As a temporary workaround, you can log into Microsoft Teams via your web browser, preferably Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. The web version relies on the browser's media handling and often bypasses desktop-app-specific glitches.

Will clearing the Teams cache delete my chats or files?

No, clearing the Microsoft Teams cache will not delete your messages, contacts, or shared files. These are securely stored on Microsoft's servers. You will only need to sign back into the application after the cache is cleared.

What should I do if updating drivers in Device Manager doesn't fix the camera issue?

If updating drivers via Windows Device Manager doesn't work, visit your computer manufacturer's official support website (such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo) to download and manually install the latest camera and audio drivers specific to your device model.

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