Enable/Disable Notification Sounds in Microsoft Teams

Notification sounds in Microsoft Teams play an audio cue when a new message, call, or activity alert arrives. If you work away from the Teams window, the sound is often the only sign that someone needs you. In a quiet office or a long meeting, the same sound can become a nuisance. Either way, the setting is one checkbox in the app, and you can change it at any time.

Turn on or off “Play sounds with notifications” in Teams

The setting lives under Settings › Notifications and activity, in the General section, as Play sounds with notifications. It is saved to your Teams account, so it applies to the Teams app on that device and to your regular use of Teams. You do not need admin rights, and you do not need to restart Teams.

Follow these steps to turn the sound on or off.

1. Open Teams from the Start menu ⊞, the Taskbar 🖥️, or the Taskbar overflow (the up-arrow area next to the system tray 🔔). Teams may open in a small window first.

If the app opens in a mini window, click the expansion button on the menu bar to switch to the full window. You need the full window to reach Settings.

You can also launch the app from the Taskbar or the Taskbar overflow. Use whichever is quickest for you. The result is the same.

When Teams first launches, you may see the mini window. This is normal.

2. Click the expansion button on the menu bar of the mini window. The full Teams window should open, with the navigation bar and your profile picture in view.

3. In the full Teams window, click the Settings and more ( …) button next to your profile picture.
4. Select Settings from the menu. The Settings page opens, with a list of tabs on the left.

The layout of the Teams window has changed between versions of the app. If your menu looks a little different, look for the three-dot button beside your profile picture. Settings is always reached from there.

5. Select the Notifications and activity tab on the left side of the Settings page. The notification options appear on the right.
6. Under General, find Play sounds with notifications.
7. Check the box to enable sounds when notifications arrive.

To disable the sound, uncheck the same box. The change takes effect straight away, with no Save button. To undo it, return to the same page and tick the box again.

If you have the box checked and still hear nothing, check these:

• Your Teams status. If it is set to Do not disturb, most alerts are held back.
• The Windows Do not disturb or Focus settings, which can silence notifications from every app.
• Your PC volume and the output device selected in Windows. Teams alert sounds follow the same audio device you have set for the system.

That completes the process.

Managing notification sounds takes a few clicks in the app settings. Here is a quick summary.

• You turn the "Play sounds with notifications" feature on or off from the Settings menu in the Microsoft Teams app.
• With the feature on, you receive audible alerts for new messages or events even when Teams is running in the background.
• To enable it, go to the Notifications and activity tab in Settings and check the box next to "Play sounds with notifications." To disable it, uncheck the box.
• If the sound still does not play after you enable it, check your Teams status, the Windows Do not disturb setting, and your audio output device.