Troubleshoot audio and video in Skype for Business

If other participants can't hear anything from your side, the problem is either with your microphone or with their playback device (speakers or headphones).

1. Check your settings in Skype for Business.
   Skype for Business automatically mutes people joining a scheduled conference. This is done to reduce the noise from parties that aren't active presenters.

   To unmute yourself, choose the microphone icon with the diagonal line in the call window.

   

2. Check your microphone.
   If you’re using your computer’s built-in microphone, make sure it isn't muted. If you’re using an external microphone, check that its plugged in. If it’s a wireless microphone, make sure the batteries are charged. Also check for physical mute buttons on the headset/headset cord.

3. Make sure that the correct device is selected.
   Watch this short video for detailed instructions about checking your audio and video settings. Or, follow the steps below.

   1. On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Audio Device Settings.

   2. If you want to use different devices for audio input and output, then choose Custom Device. This opens separate drop-down lists for Speaker and Microphone. In the Microphone drop-down list, choose the mic you want to use. If you only use your computer’s built-in microphone, you’ll see just one option.

      Speak into the microphone. If the microphone can hear you, the blue speech activity indicator bar will move up and down (the farther right it reaches the better the signal level is). If you have more than one microphone and you’re not sure which name relates to which microphone, talk into each microphone in turn and check the blue speech activity indicator for movement.

4. Make a test call.

   On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Check Call Quality.

   Note: This feature isn't available yet for Skype for Business Online users.

   

   • If you can hear your recorded message played back, then your microphone is working fine. The problem might be with another participant’s connection or playback device. Suggest the participant review this guide to solve speaker or headset issues.

   • If you can’t hear your recorded message, continue through these steps to check your Windows audio settings.

5. Check your Windows settings.
   Adjust the signal strength (boost) of the microphone in Windows by right-clicking the loudspeaker icon at the bottom-right of the screen and using the slider control.

   

   Choose Recording devices. Right-click the device Skype for Business uses and choose Properties. Then, on the Levels tab, use the slider control to adjust the volume.

   If these steps haven’t helped resolve the issue, you might have a problem with your Windows audio settings. Microsoft has a tool to automatically diagnose and fix audio problems.

If the audio quality is poor—meaning that the other participant can hear you but your voice echoes, sounds muffled, or drops in and out—the following tips can help.

• Check your connection.
  If there are gaps or delays in the audio or if a participant starts sounding like a robot, it might be your or another participant's Internet connection causing the problem. See solve your connection issues in this guide.

• Make sure that the correct device is selected.
  On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window and choose a device from Select Primary Device.

• Check your Audio Device Settings.
  On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Audio Device Settings. Adjust the volume control under selected Microphone and check that, when speaking normally, at least one-third of the sound detected fills the box.

  If the level indicator can't reach it, then try to increase the signal strength of the microphone in Windows by right-clicking the loudspeaker icon at the bottom-right of the screen.

  

  Select Recording devices. Right-click the device Skype for Business uses and choose Properties. On the Levels tab, use the slider control to increase (boost) the strength of microphone's signal if that setting is available.

• Improve the speech to noise ratio.
  The best way to improve audio quality is by increasing the contrast between the sound of your voice and all other sounds around you. There are lots of ways to do this.

  • In case of speakerphone or webcam move closer to the microphone. Being too far away from your microphone makes it hard for the mic to pick up your voice clearly. If you’re using the built-in microphone on your computer, make sure you know where it is and make sure nothing is blocking it. For tablet devices, make sure your hand or a finger is not blocking the microphone entrance when you hold the device.

  • Reduce background noise. Quiet spaces are best for audio quality because there is less ambient noise for your voice to compete with. Built-in microphones tend to pick up sound from all around.

  • Reduce the volume of the playback. If the volume of your speakers is too loud, or if the speakers are too close to your microphone, either condition can cause interference or echo. Turn down the volume on your speakers and, if possible, move them farther away from the microphone.

  • Use a headset. Almost all the issues described can be improved or solved by using a USB headset. All USB headsets work with Skype for Business, but the best experience is guaranteed by using a Skype for Business Certified headset listed in the catalog.

    If the headset is new and you’re having problems with audio, try plugging it into a different USB port. Also check for hardware level microphone mute. On some headsets, for example, rotating the microphone boom up toward the ceiling equals “mute.” Consult the headset quick start guide or user guide for information about the proper operation of the headset.

If you can’t hear anything from the other participants, the problem is either with one of their microphones, or with your playback device.

• Make sure the correct device is selected.
  Watch this short video for the detailed instructions about how to check your audio and video settings, or follow the steps below.

1. On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Audio Device Settings.

2. If you want to use different devices for audio input and output, choose Custom Device. This selection opens separate drop-down menus for Speaker and Microphone.

3. In the Speakers drop-down list, choose t the playback device you want to use. If you only have your computer’s built-in speakers, you’ll see one option in the drop-down list. If you’re using headphones or external speakers, make sure you choose the correct option.

4. Choose the play icon to test your speakers.

   

• Make a test call.

  Note: This feature is not yet available for Skype for Business Online users.

  • On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, choose Check Call Quality.

    

    If you can hear the voice on the test call, then your audio is working fine. The problem might be with a participant's connection or microphone. If you can, ask the participant whom you can’t hear to review this guide to solve microphone issues.

    If you can’t hear the voice on the test call, continue with these steps to check your audio settings in Skype for Business.

• Check your Windows settings.
  Make sure the speaker volume isn’t muted and is high enough for you to hear it.

  • Choose the loudspeaker icon at the bottom-right of the screen to adjust the volume.

    

    The volume slider control is for the system default playback device. If you have multiple playback devices, Skype for Business might be using a different one. To change the volume for other devices, right-click the loudspeaker icon and choose Playback devices. Right-click the device Skype for Business uses and choose Properties. Then on the Levels tab, use the slider control to adjust the volume.

    If these steps haven’t helped, you might have a problem with your Windows audio settings. Microsoft has a tool to automatically diagnose and fix audio problems.

If the audio quality is poor—meaning that you can hear the other participant but their voice sounds muffled, or echoes, or drops in and out—the following tips can help.

• Check your playback device.
  If the other participant sounds quiet, you might need to turn up your speaker volume.

  • Choose the loudspeaker icon at the bottom-right of the screen to adjust the volume.

    

    The volume slider control is for the system default playback device. If you have multiple playback devices, Skype for Business might be using a different one. To change the volume for other devices, right-click the loudspeaker icon (shown above) and choose Playback devices. Right-click the device Skype uses, choose Properties, and then on the Levels tab, use the slider control to adjust the volume.

• Check in-client volume control.

  • On the lower-left side of the Skype for Business main window, click Audio Device Settings. Move the Speaker slider control and choose the play icon to test your speakers.

    

    Alternatively, during a call it is accessible from the call window by choosing the Call Controls button.

    

• Check your connection.
  If there are gaps or delays in the audio, it might be your Internet connection (or the other participant’s) causing the problem. See solve your connection issues in this guide.

• Improve the sound at the other end.

  • If you hear background noise in a conference call. choose the Participants button, and then look at the microphone icon for each participant.

    

    The icons indicate activity and if the background noise matches with a non-presenter then you should ask that participant to mute their microphone. If you're a presenter, you can mute the participant yourself.

    Ask the other participant to follow the tips in this guide to solve microphone issues. There are many ways to improve the speech-to-noise ratio, which will make it easier for you to more clearly hear the participant.