For businesses across the UAE, video conferencing has become the backbone of daily operations — from client meetings to internal team coordination. Microsoft Teams and Zoom are the two most widely used platforms, and when audio or video fails during an important call, it can be embarrassing, disruptive, and costly. Whether you are presenting to a client in Saudi Arabia or coordinating with a partner in JAFZA, audio and vi deo quality is non-negotiable.
The good news is that most audio and video issues in Teams and Zoom are caused by software settings, device permissions, or hardware conflicts — all of which can be resolved quickly with the right troubleshooting steps. This guide covers the most common issues and how to fix them for UAE business users.
Check your default audio device: The most common cause of "no sound" or "others can't hear me" issues is the wrong audio device being selected. In Microsoft Teams, go to Settings > Devices and check that the correct microphone and speaker are selected. In Zoom, go to Settings > Audio and select the correct microphone and speaker. If you recently connected a headset, USB speaker, or external monitor with built-in speakers, Windows may have switched the default device without you noticing.
Check app permissions: Windows 10 and Windows 11 require you to explicitly grant microphone access to applications. Go to Windows Settings > Privacy > Microphone and ensure "Allow apps to access your microphone" is On, and that Microsoft Teams and your browser (for Zoom) are enabled in the list. The same applies to camera permissions under Privacy > Camera.
Update audio drivers: Outdated or corrupted audio drivers are a common cause of microphone and speaker problems. Right-click the Start menu, open Device Manager, expand Sound, Video and Game Controllers, right-click your audio device, and select Update Driver. Alternatively, visit your laptop manufacturer's website to download the latest audio drivers.
Test your microphone: In Teams, go to Settings > Devices and click the "Make a test call" button to check your microphone and speakers. In Zoom, use the "Test Mic" and "Test Speaker" options in audio settings before joining a meeting.
Camera not showing in meetings: First, ensure no other application is using the camera (e.g., another video call, Windows Camera app). Close all other applications that might access the camera. Then check camera permissions as described above. In Teams, go to Settings > Devices and confirm your camera appears and shows a preview.
Blurry or choppy video: Poor video quality is usually caused by insufficient bandwidth. Close background applications and browser tabs that are consuming bandwidth. If you are on a VPN, consider using split tunneling to reduce load. In Teams, you can reduce video quality by going to Settings > Devices and reducing the camera resolution. Also ensure you have sufficient lighting — Microsoft's AI background blur features require more processing power in poor lighting conditions.
Black screen during screen sharing: This is a common issue in Teams on Windows when hardware acceleration conflicts with the screen sharing feature. Go to Teams Settings > General and disable "Disable GPU hardware acceleration" (you need to restart Teams). This typically resolves black screen sharing issues.
If calls consistently drop or lag during peak hours, this may be related to your ISP's network performance. Both Etisalat (e&) and du business internet plans offer quality-of-service (QoS) features that can prioritise video conferencing traffic. Contact your ISP or your managed IT provider to configure QoS settings on your router.
If your business struggles with audio or video conferencing quality in UAE, our team at Al Aida IT Technology LLC provides expert managed IT support, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and IT Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the wider GCC region.
We respond within 1 business hour. Request a free IT consultation today — no obligation.