Why is Teams not ringing on my Mac?
Missing a Teams call because your Mac didn't ring is more than annoying — it looks unprofessional. Call ringing uses a different audio path than chat notifications, so it has its own set of potential failure points. This is part of our Teams notification sounds on Mac guide series.
Check your audio output device
This is the most overlooked cause of silent calls. If your Mac's audio output is set to a disconnected device — like Bluetooth headphones you've put away or an external monitor you've unplugged — the ringtone plays to hardware that can't produce sound.
- Open System Settings → Sound → Output.
- Select your Mac's built-in speakers or the device you're actually using.
- Make sure the output volume is turned up.
Check Teams audio device settings
Teams has its own audio device selection that can differ from your system settings.
- Open Teams → Settings → Devices (or Audio devices).
- Check the Speaker setting. If it's set to a specific device, make sure that device is connected and working.
- If available, check the Secondary ringer setting. This lets Teams ring on an additional device (useful if you switch between speakers and headphones).
Check Focus mode
Focus mode can silence incoming call alerts. This is especially problematic if you have a scheduled Focus mode that activates during work hours — exactly when you need calls to ring.
- Open Control Center from the menu bar.
- Turn off any active Focus mode, or add Teams to the allowed apps list in System Settings → Focus.
Check macOS notification permissions
Go to System Settings → Notifications → Microsoft Teams. Ensure "Allow Notifications" is on and the notification style is Banners or Alerts. Even though calls use a separate ringing mechanism, the notification permission affects whether Teams can alert you.
Test with a real call
After adjusting settings, ask a colleague to call you on Teams. The "Test notification" feature only tests chat notifications, not incoming call ringing. A real call is the only way to confirm the fix.
Never miss an important call with Chirpy
Chirpy can assign a distinctive, loud sound to Teams call notifications so they cut through even in noisy environments. Set a different tone for calls versus chat messages, and you'll always know when someone is trying to reach you live.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if your Bluetooth headphones are connected and selected as the audio output device in both macOS Sound settings and Teams device settings. If the headphones disconnect, the ring may route to a device you can't hear.
Teams has a "Secondary ringer" option in device settings that lets you ring on an additional audio device. This is useful if you want calls to ring on your Mac speakers even when headphones are connected.