Android people should update Microsoft Teams ASAP to kill a bug that breaks 911 calls
Android users, go check the Google Play store for an update if you've got the Microsoft Teams app installed. You could be saving a life.
Wait, what?
A strange confluence of bugs impacting Microsoft Teams and the Android operating system as a whole has put 911 calls placed from Android phones (OS version 10 or later) at risk of being blocked. The issue was was first spotlighted a couple weeks ago in a Reddit post, and then examined and summed up in a subsequent Medium post penned by former XDA-Developers editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman (h/t Android Police).
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"According to Google’s investigation, the issue can occur when the user has the Microsoft Teams app installed but not logged in," Rahman wrote. That results in what Google described as an "unintended interaction" between the app and the operating system, which leads to the blocked emergency calls.
For those who are affected by it, it's not the most obvious glitch to detect. When you call 911 on a phone impacted by the issue, it seems to go through. The phone says there's an active call and it even rings once. But the connection never happens, and the the call never shows up in a call log.
While the Teams update is already live to address the issue on the Microsoft side — an Android update is also coming on Jan. 4, according to Google — there's also a relatively easy workaround for those who, for whatever reason, can't get their app updated. If you have the Teams app installed but aren't signed in, first uninstall and re-install it, and then sign in. That's it. Users are advised to remain signed in until they've nabbed the Microsoft update.
The cause of the issue is rather complicated and technical, but it basically stems from the way the app and the OS "talk" to each other. If you're curious, you can find a full rundown in Rahman's Medium post. The important thing is, the issue is at least partially fixed, and it's enough to make the Teams vs. Android software conflict go away. The upcoming Android update sounds like more of a proactive move meant to ensure this issue doesn't spring up with other apps that can make calls.
So go update your Teams app pronto if you have it, whether or not you're signed in.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
