This blog post helps you fix performance issues Teams.
Lately I noticed that my PC was getting slower and slower. Opening a Teams channel in Microsoft Teams took ten seconds, opening a chat conversation as well. Writing an email in Outlook was successful, but the letters appeared on the screen with a delay. The performance of Teams bothered me the most. In Task Manager I found CPU usage was high, and more than 1 GB of memory in use was no exception. There is no way to limit the memory usage of Microsoft Teams. There is a lot of complaints about performance, but Microsoft doesn’t prioritize this as an important issue yet
Luckily I have found the right settings to improve the performance of Teams. Which immediately made my entire PC less slow.
Fix performance issues Teams
Perform the 3 actions below to solve the performance problems with Microsoft Teams.
Disable GPU Hardware acceleration
- In Teams, click your icon / photo.
- Choose Settings.
- In Settings, in tab general, enable “Disable GPU hardware acceleration“.
- While you’re here, also disable “Register teams as the chat app for Office…“.
- Restart Teams. Please note that Teams runs in the background. You must close it from your system tray (near the clock at the right bottom).
Disable all Teams addins in Outlook
- In Outlook, click Options.
- In the Outlook Options window, click Addins.
- At the bottom, click Go… (next to Manage: COM Add-ins).
- Untick Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in for Microsoft Office
- Click OK.
- Restart Outlook.
Clear Teams cache
- In Windows Explorer, go to %appdata%\Microsoft\teams .
Then delete the following files:
a. In tmp folder, delete all files.
b. In Blob_storage folder, delete all files.
c. In Cache folder, delete all files.
d. In IndexedDB folder, delete the .db file.
e. In GPUCache folder, delete all files.
f. In databases folder, delete all files.
g. In Local Storage folder, delete all files.
h. In Application Cache > Cache folder, delete all files in it.
After these 3 modifications to your system, Teams performs much faster. As far as I know, there are no other fixing performance issues Teams available. But let me know in the comments if you experience any issues or if you have additional information and tips.
Settings for the system administrator
This section was added after one of my commentors asked me:
– Is there a registry key I can use for this?
As an system administrator as my profession, I surely understand this question. I always want my users to have a more than great experience on their device. In the meanwhile, it must be a safe environment and it should cost me as little time as possible :) So let me me answer this question for the GPU Hardware Acceleration and the Outlook addin
Automate disabling GPU Hardware Acceleration in Teams
User settings for Teams are saved in a JSON file desktop-config.json:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Teams\desktop-config.json
or as you see the path in Windows Explorer, probably:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\desktop-config.json
This JSON file is UTF-8 encoded so you can open and read it with any text editor, like Notepad++. Search for DisableGPU in the file, and you will find “disableGpu”:false or “disableGpu”:true.
If you want to automate this setting for your users, you need to search and replace “disableGpu”:false for “disableGpu”:true. This can be done with a simple Powershell Script. And then let the script run via a GPO, SCCM or Intune
Automate disabling Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-in in Outlook
The load behavior of the Microsoft Teams Meeting Add-In is controlled in the Registry. To set this add-in to Disabled, do the following:
- In your Registry Editor, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\TeamsAddin.FastConnect
- Double-click LoadBehavior, set the value data to 2, and click OK. This disables the load at startup.
If you want to enable load at startup, change it to 3
This setting can be easily deployed with a GPO policy. If you’re on Intune and Azure Active Directory, you may want to deploy a simple PS1 script that modifies the entry.
Reduced memory usage from 1.3gb to 400mb. Even our IT support could not figure this out and they were asking me to get a new laptop. You rock :)
no noticeable difference, still takes some 30% of the CPU and 50-60% of CPU while sharing window. for comparison AnyDesk does it by using less than 4%. whoever developed Teams should be fired.
can’t say anything since Microsoft Teams is Developed in Electron, which uses Chromium for rendering.
Im on a surface and have found that Teams has MAJOR performance issues when running through DisplayPort to an Ultrawide monitor. I’ve switched to a Display Port -> HDMI cable and the issue seems to have gone away. Not sure what about DisplayPort is causing issues, but eliminating it has fixed my setup… at least for now.
did your issue include blackouts/flickering? I’m having the same issue and believe it’s due to display port but am not sure…
what is the use Teams add-in if can’t use in outlook
also ‘Disable GPU hardware acceleration‘ didn’t help
Works like a charm
Thanks for the tips, was a great help, much appreciated!
apply it, ver 1.4.00.11161 (64 bits), good result, thanks!
From using 1G and 30% cpu to 600MB and 3% cpu
That’s the result I was expecting! Great job! :)
Video is absolutely terrible on Teams. We use a corporate network with high quality video camera’s compatible with Teams and we never know when the video is going to be good or bad. No issue with Zoom can’t believe Microsoft isn’t addressing this!! I’ve tried every solutiion out there and nothing improves this problem. If I switch to Zoom on the same computers NO ISSUE!! Come on Microsoft fix this!!
Linux cache folders are located in ~/.config/Microsoft/Microsoft Teams/
I realize this article was originally written in early 2020, when MS was taking on more Teams customers at a pace not seen before. They struggled to balance roadmap priorities. It may not seem like it, but they did give priority to Teams performance issues. It’s still not where it needs to be, but it has come along way. As far as recommendations in this article, many are still generally good ideas. Your mileage may vary and you could even have problems others wouldn’t. Clearing out old temp files that accumulate over time is a great idea. I wish Teams… Read more »
explain that UP!!!!!!!!!! :)
Thanks! I’ll consider adding that tip to my article!
Unfortunately, none of this helped in my case (Teams v1.4.00.2781 x64). Teams uses 10-25% CPU constantly, on an 8-core machine, even when the window isn’t open. I noticed that the Add-in in Outlook is re-enabled every time Teams is restarted, even if the option to register Teams with Office is disabled. I also noticed that in chat windows, the Pop-Out Chat button is constantly being added and removed from the toolbar in an endless loop. Figuring it might be related, that it’s stuck somewhere and freaking out. Even after completely wiping Teams from the system and re-installing from scratch, it… Read more »
Look at this HUGE feedback forum with over 1400 comments and 17000+ votes: Teams uses 600MB and is super slow! – Microsoft Teams UserVoice
was able to reduce half gig worth ram thanks
dont find .db file…
same
I did a dir command, and saw two *.*db files, opted to renamethem, then delete after I was sure Teams was functioning correctly.
Now my cpu isn’t maxing out nice tips man
Thanks! This was really helpful and reduced my CPU usage and fan noise on my Dell Laptop significantly.
ya, it worked perfectly
hi thank for do this i need help but i need it o much
thanks. This helps already to make Teams a tad faster. I wonder why a tech giant like Microsoft keeps releasing buggy products… they seem to miss the very basics of consumer-first approach…
Thanks!
I have had a lot issues with TEAM lately
Made these changes and it didn’t do anything. I’m still sitting at ~750mb RAM utilization although the GPU is not involved any more (not sure why that was an issue to begin with though).
This is normal and by design. Teams uses what RAM is available in order to give you optimal experience and, if there is a lack of RAM and other apps require it, Teams again releases it. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-memory-usage-perf … Teams uses the Chromium engine to render and “Whether you’re running the Teams desktop app or the Teams web app, Chromium detects how much system memory is available and utilizes enough of that memory to optimize the rendering experience. When other apps or services require system memory, Chromium gives up memory to those processes. Chromium tunes Teams memory usage on an ongoing… Read more »
Thanks!
Thank you soooo much for this.
Thank you so much – you have saved a LOT of people a lot of time and frustration. :-)
Hi im not very tecky! Please can you help…when i’m in Microsoft Teams it’s running really really slow. I have tried to disable the GPU but i’m not getting the option to do this, when I click on my profile picture in Teams, i select Settings and then General…I can’t see the option to disable GPU, is there any other way that i can try to make it run faster? Thank you for reading :)
Hi John! I don’t usually respond to stuff like this, but I had to take time to thank you SO MUCH for this article. It’s helped performance on my system like you wouldn’t believe – or maybe you would :)
Hello John, I used the script mentioned below to be run as external task through WEM on logoff. I can see that when user is logged off, the path on profile store where desktop-config.json is saved gets updated with value “true” for disableGPU
However, when user logs in again, and checking further on the location – AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams the value for disableGPU shows as false.
Not sure what i am doing wrong here, any suggestions please?
Script running on logoff
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
cd $env:userprofile
((Get-Content -path “AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\desktop-config.json” -Raw) -replace ‘”disableGpu”:false’,’“disableGpu”:true’) | Set-Content -Path “AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\desktop-config.json”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Aargh, you’re right, Uddave. I’m experiencing the same issue (using your code). I’ll do a quick check (because my free time is scarce latest weeks :( )
Edit: sorry @Uddave but I’m not able to fix this now. It indeed seems like there’s some caching in memory that prevents direct editing in the json file.
I checked changed files / reg keys with Regshot but was unable to find additional changed files.
Ok, found the issue. You need to close Microsoft Teams ENTIRELY before editing the file. So do not only close the window, but also close the systray icon. Surely, you may also kill the processes with Powershell. I guess something like:
Get-Process -name Teams | Stop-Process
Once you have closed Teams entirely, you can adjust the parameters in the JSON file.
I am seeing the same then with WEM, Teams cant start first or be launched first. WEM has to be allow to do its thing on the desktop-config.json. There is a lockfile that appears to stop you from editing this file if teams is open first. But it works with the gui, its putting it in a temp file and then when you close it the lockfile is gone and the settings still to the desktop-config.json
I changed it to this and the GPU offloading is now working as it should via WEM
$filepath = “$env:APPDATA\microsoft\teams\desktop-config.json”
$existing = Get-Content $filepath -raw|ConvertFrom-Json
$existing.appPreferenceSettings.disableGpu = ‘true’
$existing.appPreferenceSettings.openAtLogin = ‘false’
$existing |ConvertTo-Json|Set-Content $filepath
I’ve found that with these options in the powershell script it displays the right settings in the json file and also in the Teams settings.
$filepath = “$env:APPDATA\microsoft\teams\desktop-config.json”
$existing = Get-Content $filepath -raw | ConvertFrom-Json
$existing.appPreferenceSettings.disableGpu = $True
$existing.appPreferenceSettings.openAtLogin = $False
$existing |ConvertTo-Json -Compress | Set-Content $filepath
Hi, I disabled the acceleration and cleared the cache as instructed here, but TEAMS still runs at 700+ MB RAM unfortunately.
Do you have any other tips?
Working on Surface Pro X.
Thanks!
Followed directions, went from 700+ MB RAM usage to 1.5 GB RAM usage.
Between 7 and 9 video meeting streams on Teams make my Lenovo ThinkPad T460 laptop. I type message very so slowly. some freeze.
Please reduce memory usages
Application Cache folder is not visible
For the record, in the ‘disable Outlook addins’ section, TeamViewer is an entirely different application, it is not created or maintained by Microsoft, and is not related to Microsoft Teams in any way.
Yeah, bummer of me. I missed that when I was editing the screenshots.
Teamviewer is only an app to view and optionally gain control over someone’s pc. It is nowhere related to Teams.
Hi John how about an update on the original article, for us not so technical guys. Thanks.
Hi Carl, thanks for your comment. An update with the latest tips and improvements would be beneficial indeed. I’ll consider that in the very near future!
Disable GPU Hardware acceleration and clearing cache did the trick! Thank you!!
Thanks a lot, this works wonders.
“Register Teams as chat app…….” this keeps coming back after restart.
Any way you could assist with the “simple” powershell script? I am not very good at it and would like to try and roll out an automated fix for all of our users.
Super, It worked for me
Thanks ! Now my whole laptop and MS Teams is working much much better ! Thanks a ton ! :)
Awesome! Solution. Worked for my team. :)
I’m curious, what’s the logic behind disabling GPU hardware acceleration? It should help the overall performance using a modern GPU card, isn’t it?
I must say I have this feature enabled, with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 and my mem cosumption in Teams is around 100MB, CPU lower than 1%.
Good question, Boca. I did not fact check this, but I believe many current devices (especially laptops) don’t support GPU hardware acceleration. So the software may send instructions to the OS which are then not interpreted in the right way. Also: hardware acceleration may just enable some other fancy visual features in Teams which you don’t want or need. This also consumes GPU and CPU cycles. If anyone reading this article can add something to this, or maybe correct me, please do! Btw: I remember enabling Software Rendering in Internet Explorer as one of my first troubleshooting tips, when someone… Read more »
Part of the problem is Chromium engine and GPUs. The rest is MS.
Wow…100MB I wish!! I have a HP Laptop from 2018 with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX130 and Intel® Core™ i7-8550U @ 1,8 GHz. 8GB RAM. My Microsoft Teams consumes around 2GB of memory (2 GIGS!!!), with Chrome also consuming tons of memory and other programs as well my RAM reaches 100% in no time, then Wi-Fi starts dropping for some reason and the entire system gets slow, its a pain to work remotely with teams always crashing my calls and wi-fi dropping, never in my life I had so much trouble calling someone or even working. I will try this right away… Read more »
Thanks a lot!
You’re very welcome, Antonio!
hi, my teams video is persistently sticking and not work properly at all. I’m on a fast fibre connection at home, so its not the broadband, any recommendations?
Hi geoff, are others’ cams stuttering? Or is it your video that is sticking? In case you see others’ videos stuttering, check your Task Manager to see CPU performance. Any value above 50-60% is concerning and may lead to non-optimal video conferencing (like timeouts). A device with a better graphical card may solve this issue. You may also try to limit video to 1 person at a time (only the one who’s speaking) Since Microsoft has recently increased the number of active video cams per conference (from 4 to 9), the problem may also be at Microsofts infrastructure. Internet traffic… Read more »
thankyou John
All I did was disabled the acceleration, and WHAT A DROP in memory! Thank you!!! Mine went down by over 400mb, and is now under 100mb.
Unfortunately I really rely on the status indicator in outlook, so couldn’t turn that part off, and I’m not in the mood to delete anything currently, as I’m already having enough issues with my comp lately (don’t want to compound things haha).
me too. i just disabled the settings from teams as recommended. it actually worked! Thanks!
Is there a registry key I can use for this
Good question! I’ll try to find out!
Thank you so much for this!
I didn’t delete any of the app data – just the other two steps. These took my average RAM usage from ~600MB to ~100MB. Wow.
This was a godsend!!! Teams had become almost unusable for my organization. Thank you!