Why Are There Multiple Instances of Microsoft Teams in Task Manager?

If you open up the processes tab in the Task Manager on Windows 10 or 11, you might find multiple instances of Microsoft Teams running in Task Manager. I used to have 8 Team processes running on my Surface Go, and I have never run Microsoft Teams before:

But why does this happen in the first place?

Microsoft Teams uses something called multiprocessing, which splits different parts of Teams into multiple processes; this is especially useful to save resources and increase the overall performance of the system when running Teams.

If you never use Microsoft Teams like me, if you are running low on RAM, or if you want to limit Microsoft Teams from using resources by running these processes, the next question is probably:

How do I stop Microsoft Teams from running multiple processes on the Task Manager when I am not using Microsoft Teams?

We can use a few methods to free up these resources, and we will see them next.

(If you also wonder why your RAM usage is so high when nothing is running, you can find the answer here.)

Method 1: Disable Microsoft Teams from Running on Startup

Microsoft Teams run by default on Windows Startup; this is why it will open up multiple instances of it even if you never run the program.

If you find it convenient to have Microsoft Teams on your PC but don’t want it running in the background when you are not using it, you can disable it from running on startup.

Here is how you can do it:

1. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the Startup Tab.
3. Find Microsoft Teams, right-click on it and select Disable:
   

From now on, Microsoft Teams won’t run by default, but you can always run it in Start Menu > All apps.

(If you want to know what is the Mixed Reality Portal app that comes pre-installed in Windows, I’ve written an article on what is the Microsoft Mixed Reality Portal.)

Method 2: Uninstall Microsoft Teams to Prevent it from Running Multiple Processes

If you don’t plan to use Microsoft Teams or you prefer another program for meetings, the best choice is to uninstall Microsoft Teams.

This will not only prevent Microsoft Teams from running multiple instances on Task Manager, but it will also free up disk space.

(Uninstalling programs is a great way to keep your Windows clean and fast. Do you know how to uninstall multiple programs at once?)

Here is how to uninstall it:

In Windows 10

1. On Windows Search enter Settings, then click on the first result.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Then click on Apps & Features.
4. Click on Microsoft Teams and then click on Uninstall.:

In Windows 11

1. Enter Add or remove programs on Windows Search and click on it.
2. Browse the App list to find Microsoft Teams, click on the three dots next to it, then select Uninstall:
   

You can always install it later in case you need it, or you can choose just to run the web version, which doesn‘t require installing it back.

(If you have a high CPU/RAM usage problem with Microsoft Widgets on Windows 11, also make sure to check this article to see how to fix it.)

Method 3: Use the Web Version of Microsoft Teams

An obvious alternative for Microsoft Teams users who doesn’t want it using PC resources in the background is to uninstall it and then go for the web version of Microsoft Teams.

You only need a browser to run the web version during meetings, and as soon as you are done with it, just close the browser tab to free up system resources and eliminate all related processes.

You can access the web version of Microsoft Teams on this website: https://teams.microsoft.com.

Conclusion

It is perfectly normal that Microsoft Teams run multiple processes on the Task Manager. This happens due to multiprocessing, which splits different parts of a process to save system resources.

But if you are not okay with Microsoft Teams using resources on the backgrounds, you can disable it from running on startup. Alternatively, you can uninstall it, and if you need it later on, you can choose to run the web version.

If you have high CPU usage during video calls on your Lenovo ThinkPad, I’ve written an article about Windows Camera Frame Server’s high CPU usage when the webcam is on.

To better understand the Task Manager, read my article on what the number in parentheses means in task manager.