Do you organize large meetings or present material in them? To avoid random noise and visual distractions, you can disable attendee mics and cameras. Then, when you want someone to speak or be seen, you can let them turn their mic or camera back on.
Note: Currently attendees who call in to a meeting using the phone number provided in the meeting details won't be prevented from turning on their mic and camera.
For info on which meeting participants are classified as "attendees," see Roles in a Teams meeting.
Prevent mic and camera use
Before the meeting
After scheduling the meeting and sending out the invite, the meeting organizer can disable the mics and cameras so that attendees can't use them during the meeting. All attendees (but not presenters) will join the meeting with mic and camera off.
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Go to Calendar and double-click the meeting.
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Select More options
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Select Audio & video
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Turn off the Allow mic for attendees or Allow camera for attendees toggles.
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Select Save.
During the meeting
The organizer and presenters can disable the mic or camera of all the attendees, or of individuals, at any time during the meeting.
Note: Currently this option isn't available to organizers and presenters who join the meeting from Teams room devices.
To disable all attendee mics or cameras
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In the meeting controls, select More actions
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Select Audio & video
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Turn off the Allow mic for attendees or Allow camera for attendees toggles.
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Select Save.
Attendee mics and cameras will appear dimmed.
If later you want to enable everyone's mic or camera, select More options
Mute an attendee
To mute a specific attendee, without turning off mics:
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Select People
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In the Participants pane, hover over the person you want to mute.
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Select More options
To mute all participants without disabling their mics, select Mute all.
Tip: Attendees can signal that they want to speak by raising their hands.
Prevent mic and camera use
Before the meeting
After scheduling the meeting and sending out the invite, the meeting organizer can disable the mics and cameras so that attendees can't use them during the meeting. All attendees (but not presenters) will join the meeting with mic and camera off.
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In the Teams calendar, open the meeting event and select Meeting options.
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Turn off the Allow mic for attendees? or Allow camera for attendees? toggle and select Save.
During the meeting
The organizer and presenters can disable the mic or camera of all the attendees, or of individuals, at any time during the meeting.
To disable all attendee mics or cameras
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Go to the participant list, select Manage audio and video, and then turn off the Allow attendees to unmute or Allow attendees to share video toggle.
Attendee mics and cameras will appear dimmed.
Tip: If you just want to mute participants without disabling their mics, go to the participant list and select Mute all next to In the meeting.
To disable an individual's mic or camera
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Select and hold the person's name, either on the main screen or in the participant list, and then select Disable mic or Disable camera.
Tip: Attendees can signal that they want to speak by raising their hand.
Allow someone to unmute or share their video
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Select and hold the person's name, either on the main screen or in the participant list, and then select Allow mic or Allow camera.
That person can now use their mic or camera.
