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How to Fix Teams Participants Cannot Hear Guitar or Background Audio

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

Participants in online meetings can hear the user's voice but cannot hear sounds from musical instruments, such as a guitar, or other environmental audio.

How to Fix Teams Participants Cannot Hear Guitar or Other Audio

Product: Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Playing a musical instrument or sharing background audio during a video call or online meeting.
Observed behavior: The meeting application automatically filters out the guitar or environmental audio, transmitting only the user's vocal frequencies to the participants.

Before you start

Ensure your microphone or audio interface is properly connected to your device, and verify that it does not have a physical noise-cancellation switch turned on.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Noise Suppression in Microsoft Teams

Turn off the built-in noise suppression feature in Teams, which aggressively filters out non-vocal sounds like musical instruments.

Microsoft Teams uses an AI-based noise suppression algorithm designed to eliminate background noise. While excellent for standard meetings, it mistakenly identifies musical instruments as unwanted noise. Disabling this feature allows all audio frequencies to pass through.

Access Teams Settings

Click on 'Settings and more' (the three dots icon) located next to your profile picture at the top right of the Microsoft Teams window.

Navigate to Device Settings

Select 'Settings' from the dropdown menu, then click on 'Devices' in the left-hand sidebar.

Turn Off Noise Suppression

Scroll down to the 'Noise suppression' section and change the setting to 'Off'.

Disable Noise Suppression in Microsoft Teams

High Fidelity Music Mode: For the best experience when playing instruments, consider enabling 'High fidelity music mode' in your Teams audio settings if it is available.

Solution 2

Disable Noise Cancellation in Google Meet

Turn off audio filtering in Google Meet to allow background sounds and musical instruments to be transmitted.

Solution 3

Check System and Hardware Audio Settings

Ensure your operating system or dedicated audio interface isn't applying its own noise cancellation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my microphone only pick up my voice and not my guitar?

Most modern communication apps use AI-driven noise suppression trained exclusively to isolate human speech. They treat all other audio frequencies, including those from musical instruments, as background noise and automatically mute them.

How can I improve audio quality for music in online meetings?

In addition to turning off noise suppression, check if your meeting software supports an 'Original Sound' or 'High Fidelity Music Mode' setting. Using a dedicated external microphone or audio interface will also drastically improve the transmission of musical tones.

Does my operating system have built-in noise cancellation that might block the guitar?

Yes. Windows often includes 'Audio Enhancements' in the sound control panel that can filter audio, while macOS and iOS feature a 'Voice Isolation' mode. You must disable these system-level enhancements to broadcast instrument audio clearly.

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