How to set up my MacBook Pro for MS Teams interview

[Ambrosia7177]

Hello. I have a job interview later this week, and the client e-mailed me an MS Teams hyperlink to join the meeting.

I haven't done an interview via MS Teams in years, and don't want to have any technical issues before/during the interview.

This will be on my MacBook Pro running Sonoma 14.8.3.

FWIW, my Mac is pretty locked down - I never use the camera or microphone - and since things were locked down ages ago, I'm concerned things may not work. (And there is no way to know if things are broken until the interview starts?!)

Questions:
1.) What settings on my MBP could block me from the MS Teams meeting?

2.) What settings on my MBP could block my camera / microphone on this MS Teams meeting?

3.) What settings in Chrome could block my camera / microphone on this MS Teams meeting?


(Note: I hate Google and Chrome, but I have tons of privacy and security add-ons in Firefox, so that is a non-starter. Seems like Chrome is the most widely supported, and a safer bet for this situation.)


Would appreciate some help on this so I don't blow this very important meeting!

 

[kitKAC]

Install the Teams Desktop app and do a test call with someone.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Install the Teams Desktop app and do a test call with someone.

Or use the iPhone app, better camera.

 

[Bigwaff]

Teams also works in the browser. You should get prompted to enable camera, microphone, and speakers.

 

[BigBlur]

If you're using the Teams app, you need to make sure the app has permissions to the camera and microphone. If you have an account, you can make a test call (Settings > Devices > Make a test call).

If you're doing it through a browser (which it sounds like you're doing), then you need to make sure the browser has permissions to the camera and microphone. Additionally, within the browser's settings, you need to make sure the site (teams.microsoft.com) has access to the microphone and camera as well. The browser version does not have a way to make a test call, but you can start your own meeting and test it that way.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Install the Teams Desktop app and do a test call with someone.

I don't want to have to install software for an interview. The whole reason they emailed me a link is so that I don't have to have the MS Teams app.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Teams also works in the browser. You should get prompted to enable camera, microphone, and speakers.

But would there be anything that I might have to adjust in macOS System Preferences?

(I recall years ago where I had a similar interview and it took the interviewer 5 minutes trying to help me troubleshot the issue. We got it fixed, and I think I got the job, but what an embarrassing experience!)

When I go to macOS > System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Microphone I see a toggle for Chrome.

But when I go to macOS > System Preferences > Privacy & Security > Camera then Chrome is not listed

Those are the kind of things I don't want to run into the first couple minites of a 30-40 minute interview.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

If you're using the Teams app, you need to make sure the app has permissions to the camera and microphone. If you have an account, you can make a test call (Settings > Devices > Make a test call).

If you're doing it through a browser (which it sounds like you're doing), then you need to make sure the browser has permissions to the camera and microphone. Additionally, within the browser's settings, you need to make sure the site (teams.microsoft.com) has access to the microphone and camera as well. The browser version does not have a way to make a test call, but you can start your own meeting and test it that way.

In Chrome, I have...

Preferences > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera > Sites can ask to use camera

Preferences > Privacy and security > Site settings > Microphone > Sites can ask to use microphone

 

[Alameda]

I don't want to have to install software for an interview. The whole reason they emailed me a link is so that I don't have to have the MS Teams app.

What are you so afraid of?
You can always remove the Teams app after the interview.

I think the standalone Teams app is more reliable than going through the browser.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

What are you so afraid of?
You can always remove the Teams app after the interview.

I just have too many things going on, and installing new software and figuring out how to use the MS Teams app would be an additional stressors.

Plus I a VERY territorial when it comes to installing software onto my Mac.

I think the standalone Teams app is more reliable than going through the browser.

Maybe I'll learn the MS Teams app on my Mac later this year - could use it for my startup business - but now isn't a good time.

@Alameda so does it sound like I have things set up properly in macOS System Preferences and in Chrome?

 

[hg.wells]

The benefit of installing the Teams app locally is you can do a test call in the settings and validate your camera and audio is working before your interview.

Then the link they provided for the interview will open directly in the app.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

The benefit of installing the Teams app locally is you can do a test call in the settings and validate your camera and audio is working before your interview.

Then the link they provided for the interview will open directly in the app.

Since Microsoft went full Cloud and subscription-based, won't I have to create a Microsoft account in order to be able to use the MS Teams application on my Mac?

 

[hg.wells]

You’d have to create an account, but it would a free account.

Free Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams

Chat, collaborate, and meet from anywhere in one place with Microsoft Teams (free).

www.microsoft.com

 

[chrono1081]

1. Use the Teams app. The browser app is pure trash (moreso than the actual app).

2. Do a test video call with someone. Teams has a bunch of permissions it wants but they won't show up until you use the app to try and access them. If you do just a quick video call with someone you'll see the prompts and can enable the settings it wants accordingly.

 

[Tyler.Schmaltz]

Since Microsoft went full Cloud and subscription-based, won't I have to create a Microsoft account in order to be able to use the MS Teams application on my Mac?

We use teams for my bible study for people to join remotely and they dont need to create or have a Microsoft account to join a meeting. Might need one to host a meeting but not to join one. Works in the web app or the desktop app.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Use your browser and you don’t need Microsoft account to join. Teams app is absolute trash, and can make your machine crawl. If any of my clients insist on teams, i ask them to ship me a windows laptop.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Use your browser and you don’t need Microsoft account to join. Teams app is absolute trash, and can make your machine crawl. If some of my client insist on teams, i ask them to ship me a windows laptop.

Really?

Well, that is why I am slow to add applications to my Mac.

If I get this contract, they will supply a Windows laptop, so no worries there.

But it is disheartening to hear someone say that the MS Teams desktop application is "absolute trash" because I had considered using it later this year for my startup business.

(Maybe I should start a new thread on that? Or just continue here?)

 

[Ambrosia7177]

We use teams for my bible study for people to join remotely and they dont need to create or have a Microsoft account to join a meeting. Might need one to host a meeting but not to join one. Works in the web app or the desktop app.

I'm guessing you need a host with a Microsoft account... And then that host - at your church - just sends people meeting invites like I got for the interview.

At this point, I'll just chance things and hope the browser add-on thing works.

It's not like this is my first time doing a video interview using a browser, but I do recall one time it was a real problem, and since I have my Mac locked down and haven't don't a video interview in a couple years, I figured doing some research ahead of time makes sense.

At this point everything is up to the Heavens...

 

[aespana]

If you can use Chrome, try with Chrome. Make sure that you give microphone and camera permissions when they ask you to approve, that's why a test is a must.
You can ask to someone with a MS account to make a teams meeting to test the setup.

If you need to share screen, be aware to give the correct permission to Chrome to do it. Again, test with someone all:

- Camera
- Microphone
- Screen share (if needed).

 

[TechnoMonk]

Really?

Well, that is why I am slow to add applications to my Mac.

If I get this contract, they will supply a Windows laptop, so no worries there.

But it is disheartening to hear someone say that the MS Teams desktop application is "absolute trash" because I had considered using it later this year for my startup business.

(Maybe I should start a new thread on that? Or just continue here?)

There are many threads on teams. Microsoft says it’s getting rid of electron behind the teams. They may eventually make it better. You can always try it and delete if you have issues. It didn’t work out well but you may be lucky. iPhone teams isn’t bad.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Find a friend with Teams and ask them to make a test conference for you. That way you can verify where any video, audio, etc. settings are and how to adjust. Also preadjust lighting and background to reduce stress.

I just had a Zoom conference the other day and it was embarrassing that I had failed to enable audio and video. On previous Zoom conferences it had just worked when I clicked on the meeting invite.

 

[Madonepro]

I'm guessing you need a host with a Microsoft account... And then that host - at your church - just sends people meeting invites like I got for the interview.

At this point, I'll just chance things and hope the browser add-on thing works.

It's not like this is my first time doing a video interview using a browser, but I do recall one time it was a real problem, and since I have my Mac locked down and haven't don't a video interview in a couple years, I figured doing some research ahead of time makes sense.

At this point everything is up to the Heavens...

How bad do you want this job? Personally, if I am attending an interview, it's because I want the job, and will do whatever I need to do, to be successful at interview. Installing an app, which gives you the best connection, and setup, is a no brainer...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Well, had technical issues and the interview bombed...

We could see each other, and I could hear them fine, but they couldn't hear me.

Technology really SUCKS in the modern world.

Would Do Not Disturb cause an issue?

 

[BigBlur]

Well that sucks. No, "Do Not Disturb" wouldn't have caused this.

A common issue when this happens is usually when you're "double-muted" (you're muted in multiple places), but many things could have happened.

Was the correct device selected as the microphone?
Were you using an external mic? If so, does it have a physical mute switch?
Were you unmuted in the Teams app?
Were you unmuted at the OS level?

We don't know what you did when "things were locked down ages ago." Perhaps something with that interfered with it. I suggest to follow some of the great advice here and do some practice calls before your next interview.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Well that sucks.

I just don't care anymore, so it's like, "Whatever..."

No, "Do Not Disturb" wouldn't have caused this.

Okay, good to know.

A common issue when this happens is usually when you're "double-muted" (you're muted in multiple places), but many things could have happened.

Was the correct device selected as the microphone?

As far as I know - I checked in MS Teams.

Were you using an external mic?

USB headset.

If so, does it have a physical mute switch?

No.

Were you unmuted in the Teams app?

Yes.

Were you unmuted at the OS level?

Yes.

We don't know what you did when "things were locked down ages ago."

Just lots of best practices to keep things private and secure.

Simply put - not flying naked like most computer users.

I should have done a re-boot before the call.

Perhaps something with that interfered with it. I suggest to follow some of the great advice here and do some practice calls before your next interview.

Don't have anyone to test things with...

I guess this is yet another motivator for me to get my damn start-up business finished so I don't have to ever go through this again...

Another wasted week...