Microsoft Teams won't open or is stuck on loading

01 · Try this first: restart Teams properly.

Closing the Teams window does not close Teams. It keeps running in the background, so a stuck copy can stop it opening again. Finish any call and send any message first. Ending Teams drops a call and loses an unsent message.

1. Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray (select the up arrow near the clock if you cannot see it) and select Quit.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select Details, then right-click each ms-teams.exe and select End task.
3. Open Teams from the Start menu.

Success looks like Teams opening to your chats. If no ms-teams.exe was running, or Teams still sticks, move on to the next fix.

02 · Repair the Teams app.

1. Open Settings, then select Apps > Installed apps.
2. Search for Microsoft Teams, select the three dots beside it, then select Advanced options.
3. Select Repair, wait for Windows to finish, then open Teams.

Repair keeps your Teams data on the PC. Teams should open to your chats.

03 · Clear the Teams cache.

A damaged cache can leave Teams on the loading screen. The cache holds temporary files only, and Teams rebuilds it on the next start.

1. Quit Teams and end ms-teams.exe, as in section 01.
2. Press Windows + R, paste %LocalAppData%\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams and select OK.
3. Press Ctrl + A, then Delete. Delete what is inside the MSTeams folder and leave the folder itself.
4. Open Teams from the Start menu.

The first start is slower while Teams rebuilds the cache. If Windows says a file is in use, Teams is still running, so end ms-teams.exe again and retry.

04 · Sign out and sign back in.

1. In Teams, select your profile picture at the top, then select Sign out.
2. Open Teams from the Start menu and sign in with your work email address.

Teams should load your chats after you sign in. If Teams never gets far enough to show your profile picture, go to the next fix.

05 · Reset the Teams app.

Reset deletes Teams’ local data on this PC, including your settings and saved sign-in. Use it after Repair has not worked.

1. Open Advanced options for Microsoft Teams, as in section 02.
2. Select Reset and confirm.
3. Open Teams and sign in again.

Teams opens like a fresh install, with your chats still there once you sign in.

06 · Use Teams in your browser.

This does not fix the app, but it lets you keep working while you sort it out.

1. Open Microsoft Edge, Chrome or Firefox and go to teams.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with your work account.

Your chats and teams load in the browser tab. If the browser version will not load either, the cause is probably not your PC, so go to Still stuck?

07 · Reinstall Teams.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for Microsoft Teams, select the three dots, then select Uninstall.
2. Restart your PC.
3. Download Teams from microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/download-app, install it and sign in.

Teams opens to the sign-in screen. If Uninstall is greyed out or the install is blocked, your IT person manages Teams on this PC.

08 · Or let KoalaFix do it.

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09 · Still stuck?

A Microsoft service outage, a missing Teams licence or an admin setting that blocks the Teams app can stop Teams opening on a healthy PC. Only a Microsoft 365 admin can check those. If a message says classic Teams is no longer available, Microsoft says to contact your IT department.

10 · FAQ.

Will I lose my chats if I reset or reinstall Teams?

No. Your chats, files and meetings are stored in Microsoft 365, not on your PC. Reset and reinstall remove Teams settings on this PC, and you sign in again.

Can I still use classic Teams?

No. Microsoft ended classic Teams on 1 July 2025 and it no longer works. If a message says classic Teams is no longer available, use new Teams or Teams in your browser, and ask your IT person if the new app will not install.

Which browsers work for Teams on the web?

The latest three versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox work on Windows. Teams on the web is not supported on virtual desktops or in mobile browsers.

What if Teams is stuck on its logo or a loading message?

It is the same problem. Whether Teams shows its logo, a spinning circle or a message such as “Hang tight” or “We’re sprucing things up”, start at section 01 and work down. If Teams on the web loads, the problem is the app on your PC, not your account.

11 · Related fixes.

• Outlook keeps asking for a password
• Locked out of Microsoft 365
• OneDrive not syncing

12 · What KoalaFix can handle.

See the full capability map for what KoalaFix fixes automatically, what asks for approval, and what still needs a person.

13 · Sources.

The steps in this guide follow these pages. Menus can move when Microsoft updates its apps, so check them if a step looks different.

• Clear the Teams client cache (Microsoft Learn)