Experiencing audio issues during calls on Slack?
One of the most important aspects of having a successful remote work setup is good communication with your team. And the best way to do this is through audio and video calls.
Fortunately, Slack offers both for its users.
Slack is one of the best business messaging applications out there to do collaborative work. Aside from the built-in features, users can also add third-party tools such as Google Drive, Outlook, Google Calendar, and more.
However, Slack is not perfect, and like any platform, it may suffer from occasional downtimes and errors.
If you’re here, it’s safe to assume that you are experiencing audio issues during calls on Slack.
Based on what we know, this problem on the platform is usually due to improper device configurations. On the other hand, slow network connection, faulty servers, or corrupted files could also cause this issue on Slack.
Today, we will show you what to do to troubleshoot audio issues on Slack.
Let’s get started!
1. Check Slack Servers.
When you are troubleshooting an issue on Slack, the first thing that you should do is confirm whether the problem is on your device or Slack’s servers. You can do this by visiting Slack’s System Status page to check the status of their services.
If Slack is currently down, you don’t need to change any configuration on your device and just wait for their team to fix Slack’s servers.
However, if there’s nothing wrong with Slack’s servers, proceed to the next solution below to fix the audio issue on your device.
2. Restart Your Device.
Before tweaking your settings, try to restart your device to ensure that all of its resources are correctly loaded. This will also clear any temporary bugs or errors that may have occurred on your system during use.
For Windows users, see the steps below to restart your device:
- On your computer, click the Windows icon on your Taskbar to access the Start Menu.
- After that, open the Power Options tab.
- Finally, select the Restart option to reboot your system.
If you are using a macOS device, follow the guide below to restart it:
- First, click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of your display.
- Next, select the Restart option.
- Lastly, hit the Restart button on the dialog box to confirm.
Go back to Slack after the restart to check if the problem is solved.
3. Check Your Audio Devices.
If you experience audio issues on Slack, try to check your devices first. Make sure that your headset and microphone are plugged-in correctly on your computer and they are being detected.
After that, inspect the wires of your audio devices and ensure that they don’t have damages. You also have to confirm that your computer’s volume is turned up and your audio input and output are not muted.
Once done, try playing media on your computer to check if you hear sound output from your device.
If you’re also having audio issues on other applications, proceed to the following method below to fix the problem.
4. Check Your Permissions.
One of the most common reasons why you encounter audio issues on Slack is your permission settings. Today, most operating systems have a security feature that lets you control which applications can access your audio input and output devices.
If you can’t use the video or audio call feature on Slack, make sure it has the proper permissions to access your hardware.
For Windows users, you can manage your permissions by doing the following:
- First, press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to access Windows Settings.
- After that, click on the Privacy tab and go to the Microphone tab.
- Now, enable ‘Allow Desktop Apps to Access Your Microphone.
- Lastly, go to the Phone Calls tab and turn on ‘Allow Apps to Make Phone Calls’.
On macOS devices, here’s how you can manage your permissions:
- On your Mac, go to Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.
- Next, click on Security & Privacy and choose the Privacy tab.
- Finally, access the Microphone tab and ensure that Slack is allowed to access your microphone.
After managing your permissions, go back to Slack and see if you still encounter audio issues during calls.
5. Check Your Network Connection.
Since audio and video calls consume a lot of bandwidth, you’ll need a stable internet connection when joining calls on Slack. If you experience audio issues during calls on Slack, it may indicate that your network is running slow.
To confirm this, run a test on your browser using Fast.com to measure your network’s current upload and download speed.
If the test result confirms that your network is the problem, reboot your modem or router to refresh the connection with your internet service provider’s servers.
Once done, perform another test on your network to check if you’re now getting the correct speeds indicated on your monthly plan. If you continue experiencing internet-related problems, contact your provider and ask them to fix their service.
6. Clear Slack Cache and Data.
Slack uses temporary data generated from your device while using the app to improve its overall performance. However, this data could get corrupted during use and cause problems to Slack and your system.
If you experience audio issues on Slack, follow the guide below to clear its cache and data:
- First, access the Slack app on your macOS or Windows computer.
- Next, go to Menu and hover your cursor to the Help tab.
- After that, access the Troubleshooting tab and click on Clear Cache and Restart.
- Lastly, go back to Menu > Help > Troubleshooting and hit the Reset App Data option.
After clearing Slack’s data, log in to your account to check if the problem is solved.
7. Clear Your Browsing Data.
If you’re using a web browser to access Slack, we suggest clearing your browsing data if you experience audio issues during calls.
See the steps below to guide you on the process:
- On your browser, click on the Options button and select Settings.
- After that, go to Privacy and Security and click the Clear Browsing Data button.
- Now, include caches and cookies in the process and change the Time Range to All Time.
- Finally, hit the Clear Data button to start the process.
Once done, go back to Slack and see if you would experience audio issues during calls.
8. Update Slack.
If there’s nothing wrong with your connection, we suggest updating the Slack app to patch possible errors that may have occurred on your system while using the app.
Follow the steps below to update Slack on your computer:
- First, go to the Slack app and access the Menu.
- After that, point your mouse cursor to the Help tab.
- Lastly, tap the Check for Updates button and follow the on-screen prompts to update Slack.
After the update, try making another call to check if the problem is solved.
9. Turn Off VPN.
Another reason why you experience audio issues on Slack is VPNs. Virtual private networks are third-party apps that protect your data by masking your IP address and filtering your browsing data through their servers.
However, this process can introduce delays to your connection, and you may experience problems on applications that require a stable internet, such as Slack.
To avoid this, we suggest turning off your VPN before accessing Slack or making a call.
On the other hand, you can also try switching to a reputable provider such as PureVPN if you keep experiencing issues with your current VPN. Unlike other services, PureVPN uses high-speed servers to keep your connection fast and reliable.
10. Reinstall Slack.
If you still experience audio issues during calls on Slack, we recommend reinstalling the app on your computer. This way, you can ensure that the app is correctly installed on your device and have the latest and working copy of Slack.
On Windows, you can delete Slack by doing the following:
- First, access the Control Panel and click on Uninstall a Program.
- After that, locate the Slack app from the list.
- Lastly, right-click on Slack and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to delete Slack on your device.
If you are using a macOS computer, check out the steps below to uninstall Slack:
- Launch the Finder on your Mac.
- Next, find the Slack app from the list of applications on your system.
- Finally, drag the app to the Trash to delete it.
Once done, go to Slack’s official website to reinstall their app. Go back to your account afterward and check if the problem is solved.
11. Report the Problem to Slack.
If you still experience problems during Slack calls, we suggest letting the experts handle the situation.
Visit Slack’s Help Center and get in touch with their customer support to report the problem you’ve been experiencing on their platform. While waiting for a response, browse the other guides on their page and see if you can find possible solutions.
This ends our guide for fixing audio issues during calls on Slack. If you have questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll try to respond as soon as possible.
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