Is Microsoft Teams down... or is it you?

If you can't connect to Microsoft Teams, the entire service may be down, or there may simply be a problem with your computer, the Microsoft Teams software, or your Microsoft Teams account. It can be challenging to pinpoint the problem, but there are usually some basic steps and signs that can be spotted.

The instructions in this article apply broadly to any device capable of running Microsoft Teams.

If you think Microsoft Teams is not available to everyone, try these steps to confirm:

  1. Check the Microsoft 365 service status page.

    This is the overall health and service status for all Microsoft 365, but it often provides insight into the stability of Microsoft Teams.

  2. Search #microsoftteamsdown and #teamsdown in X (formerly Twitter). Check the tweet timestamps to determine if others are experiencing issues with Microsoft Teams or if this is a global issue.

    While you're using X, you can also check the Microsoft Team's X page for any updates to the service.

    If you can't open X either, the problem is most likely on your end or with your ISP.

  3. Use another third-party "status checker" website such as DownDetector or Is The Service Down.

    If no one else is reporting problems with Microsoft Teams, the problem may be with you.

If you can't connect to Microsoft Teams and it seems to be working for everyone else, there are a few methods you can try to fix it.

  1. Make sure you are properly logged into Microsoft Teams via the website or app.

  2. If you can't access Microsoft Teams from the app, try using the website or vice versa. Check if it works on your smartphone or tablet, not your PC or Mac.

  3. If you use Microsoft Teams through a web browser, clear your browser's cache and clear your browser's cookies.

  4. Scan your computer for malware.

  5. Restart your computer.

  6. This is unlikely, but there may be a problem with your DNS server. This is advanced technology, but if you want to try switching DNS servers, there are many free and public options available.

  7. Try using Microsoft Teams with a web proxy or VPN.

    If none of these solutions work, you may be dealing with an internet problem. Please contact your ISP for further assistance.

Generally speaking, Microsoft Teams tends to just throw up error messages about not being able to log in. You can usually circumvent these error messages by reentering your login details or resetting your password.

If Microsoft Teams provides a message about downtime due to maintenance, all you can do is wait.

Alternatively, if the error message suggests contacting your IT team, such as if you are trying to access a Teams channel at work, you should contact your IT department and have them work with you to resolve the issue.