How to solve 3 common Microsoft Teams issues on Android

1. Authentication and logon issues

Some of the most common Teams problems for Android users relate to authentication and logon. For these scenarios, troubleshooting should involve checking desktop app performance, mobile connectivity and the device clock.

Try using the desktop app

When a user is unable to access Teams, they should first check whether they can access the desktop app. If they can't access the desktop app, this likely means there's a problem with their account and the issue needs to be addressed within Microsoft 365.

If the desktop app works, however, this proves that the user's credentials are correct and their account is working properly. In this case, the problem is related to the device itself.

Check the device's internet connection

If the mobile device appears to be causing the logon problems, the next step is to verify that it can access the internet. A lack of connectivity will cause Teams to fail. Additionally, make sure the device is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

To determine whether the device is able to access Teams via the cellular network, the user should temporarily disable the Wi-Fi. To do this, open Settings and tap Connections. Then, toggle the Wi-Fi switch off.

If the device is configured to use a VPN or a proxy, try temporarily disabling that as well. It's possible that the VPN or proxy is interfering with Teams authentication.

Check the device's clock

The protocols that Teams uses during the authentication process are time sensitive. As such, an incorrect clock can cause the authentication to fail. By default, Android phones are built to synchronize their clocks to that of the cellular provider, so they usually display the correct time. However, Android tablets might lack an authoritative time source. Check the device to ensure that its clock is displaying the correct time.

To find the device's time source, open Settings and click on General management or System, followed by Date and time. Make sure the Automatic date and time switch and the Automatic time zone switch are both set to the "on" position.

2. Audio and video quality issues

It can be disruptive for an Android user to experience poor sound quality, dropped sessions or an inability to use video during a call or meeting. Meeting quality issues are often bandwidth-related, but users should figure out where the problem stems from before troubleshooting accordingly.

Investigate the cause of the problem

If possible, the user should join the meeting from another device to confirm the source of the problem. This can help determine whether the issue is device-specific or if Teams itself is having issues.

The user should also try to call a few other people through Teams to make sure that the issue is really on their end. If the problem goes away on other calls, it might be related to the person that the user was initially trying to contact.

Manage network bandwidth

Typically, meeting quality issues are the result of insufficient network bandwidth. To start tackling this cause, run the Microsoft 365 network connectivity test. This tool assesses the connectivity between the device and the internet, as well as the speed at which the device is able to connect to the Microsoft network.

If the test shows that the connectivity is inadequate, the fix might be something as simple as moving the device closer to the Wi-Fi access point. After all, poor signal quality can cause Teams sound quality issues and even dropped sessions.

Users should also check if any other apps are running in the background. The problem could be that another app is consuming most of the bandwidth on the device, thereby making less bandwidth available for Teams. To do this, tap the Recent Apps button, which looks like three vertical lines. This button should be visible at the bottom of the screen, but some devices might require the user to swipe up before it appears. Next, the screen will show all of the apps that are running in the background. To close an app, swipe up on its thumbnail. To close all of the open apps at once, tap the Close All button.

3. Application crashes

Some users find that the Teams app itself is unstable and crashes frequently. It can be difficult to diagnose these random crashes, but there are a few troubleshooting steps that IT and users can try.

Teams caches data on the device, and sometimes that data can affect the app's stability.

Update the Android OS

App crashes can be a sign that software is out of date. To update an Android device, go to Settings and tap Software update. From there, make sure that the Auto download over Wi-Fi switch is set to the "on" position. It's also possible to force an update by tapping Download and install.

Clear the app cache

Teams caches data on the device, and sometimes that data can affect the app's stability. To clear the Teams cache, open Settings and select Apps. Scroll through the list of apps to locate and tap on the icon for Microsoft Teams. Next, tap Storage, followed by Clear cache. There might also be a Clear data button, which the user can tap on to remove additional Teams data.

Reinstall Teams

If none of the other troubleshooting steps have worked, the user can try deleting and reinstalling the Teams app. This ensures the app's integrity and guarantees that the latest version of the app is running on the device.

To uninstall Teams, open Settings and click on Apps. Locate and select the Microsoft Teams app, then tap Uninstall. After removing the app, download a new copy from the Google Play Store.

Brien Posey is a former 22-time Microsoft MVP and a commercial astronaut candidate. In his more than 30 years in IT, he has served as a lead network engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense and a network administrator for some of the largest insurance companies in America.