Microsoft investigates widespread Teams launch failures on Windows PCs

Microsoft has confirmed that a technical problem is preventing some Windows users from opening the Teams desktop client, with reports of long loading times or the application failing to start altogether.

The issue, logged internally as TM1466820, is still under investigation, according to a brief statement from the company. Engineers have not yet identified a definitive cause, and the problem remains unresolved as of the latest update.

Users affected by the glitch have described delays ranging from several minutes to a complete inability to launch the collaboration tool, disrupting routine communications for remote workers and corporate teams that rely on Teams for meetings, chat, and file sharing.

Microsoft Teams is a core component of the Microsoft 365 suite, and its reliability is critical for many businesses that have shifted to hybrid or fully remote work models. A failure in the desktop client can force users to fall back on the web version, which may lack certain integrations or performance benefits, potentially slowing productivity.

While the company has not disclosed the scope of the incident, similar outages in the past have prompted rapid patches or updates. In 2023, for example, Teams experienced a brief outage that was resolved within hours after Microsoft released a hotfix. Analysts note that the current problem could be tied to recent updates to Windows or Teams, though no official confirmation has been made.

Microsoft has advised users to monitor the official Teams status page and to keep their operating system and application versions up to date. The firm said it will issue further guidance once the root cause is pinpointed, and it is expected to roll out a fix through regular update channels. In the meantime, organizations are encouraged to consider temporary workarounds, such as using the Teams web client or alternative communication platforms, to maintain continuity while the investigation proceeds.