Audio cutting out on calls is most often caused by the network (packet loss or Wi-Fi drop-outs), a USB or Bluetooth device briefly disconnecting, noise suppression or echo cancellation clipping speech, or people sitting too far from the mic. Work out first whether it's your audio breaking up for others or theirs breaking up for you, then test the network, the connection and the device in that order.
First: whose audio is cutting out?
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Everyone sounds choppy to you, and video freezes too | Your network |
| Only one remote person cuts out | Their network or device |
| Others say you cut out | Your network, mic, USB/Bluetooth, or noise suppression |
| Words drop when two people talk at once | Echo cancellation or half-duplex audio |
| Quiet speakers drop out but loud ones are fine | Distance from mic, or aggressive noise suppression |
| Device disappears and reappears in settings | USB or Bluetooth connection |
Step by step
-
Check the network.
- Switch to wired Ethernet if possible.
- Run the platform's call-health or statistics view (Teams call health, Zoom statistics) and look at packet loss and jitter.
- Pause big uploads, backups and cloud sync during calls.
- See latency and jitter in calls and QoS for video conferencing.
-
Check the audio device connection.
- Plug USB devices directly into the computer, not an unpowered hub.
- Use a different USB port and cable.
- For long runs, use a proper active cable such as the Logitech Strong USB, not chained extensions. See how to extend USB 30 feet or more.
- Turn off USB power saving on Windows (Device Manager > USB Root Hub > Power Management).
-
Check Bluetooth.
- Stay within range and away from Wi-Fi routers and microwaves.
- Use the device's USB dongle or a USB cable where available; dongles are often steadier than built-in laptop Bluetooth.
- Make sure the headset is not connected to your phone and laptop at the same time.
- Check mic distance and coverage. People more than a few feet beyond the mic's range fade and drop. Add an expansion mic such as a Logitech Rally Mic Pod. See how to place microphones in a conference room.
- Adjust noise suppression. Set it to Auto or Low in Teams or Zoom if it's cutting off soft speech. See noise suppression in meeting rooms.
- Remove duplicate audio. Only one device per room should have its mic and speaker active in the call. Extra laptops joined with audio cause echo cancellation to clip speech.
- Select the right device in the app's audio settings, and disable "automatically adjust mic volume" if levels jump.
- Update firmware, drivers and the app. Many drop-out bugs are fixed in updates.
- Restart the device and computer to clear stuck audio drivers.
- Test with a different device (a known-good speakerphone or headset) to isolate the problem.
Common causes in meeting rooms
- Overloaded room PC dropping audio frames when CPU is maxed.
- Wi-Fi-connected room systems. Wire them.
- Long, cheap USB extensions that drop the bar for a second.
- Mixed-brand mics without a DSP fighting over echo cancellation.
- Low-battery wireless mics.
For broader issues, see video conferencing problems, fix echo on a conference call and how to fix a speakerphone with low volume.
When the device is the problem
If audio still drops with a good network and a direct connection, try a known-good device. For small rooms and desks, a certified USB speakerphone like the Jabra Speak2 75 or Poly Sync 60 is an easy way to rule the room setup in or out. See best speakerphones.
Still dropping out? Tell us the devices and room setup and we'll help you track it down.
Related guides
- What Is Sample Rate and Wideband Audio in Video Calls?
- Meeting Room Audio Recording: Mics and Recorders
- Best Conference Room Audio and Sound Systems by Room Size
- Conference Room Audio Guide: Mics, Speakers and Echo
- How to Fix Choppy Video in Teams, Zoom and Meet Calls
- How to Fix Echo on a Conference Call (Teams, Zoom, iPhone)
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