How to Fix Microsoft Teams Client Crashing on VMware Horizon/App Volumes

Learn how to troubleshoot and fix the issue of Microsoft Teams client crashing on VMware Horizon/App Volumes when using Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes.

Microsoft Teams is a popular collaboration and communication platform that allows users to chat, call, share files, and work together on projects. However, some users may encounter problems when using Microsoft Teams on VMware Horizon/App Volumes, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that provides desktop and application delivery.

In this article, we will explain why Microsoft Teams client crashes on VMware Horizon/App Volumes when using Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes, and how to fix it.

Problem

The problem is that the new Microsoft Teams client, which was released in March 2023, is not compatible with some types of Writable Volumes in App Volumes. Writable Volumes are virtual disks that store user data and settings, and can be attached to virtual machines (VMs) in VMware Horizon. There are three types of Writable Volumes:

• UIA-only: User Installed Applications only. This type of Writable Volume captures only the applications that users install on their VMs, but not their user profile data and settings.
• Profile-only: User Profile only. This type of Writable Volume captures only the user profile data and settings, but not the applications that users install on their VMs.
• UIA+Profile: User Installed Applications and User Profile. This type of Writable Volume captures both the applications and the user profile data and settings that users install and configure on their VMs.

The new Microsoft Teams client installs differently from the old one, and requires some system-level components and registry entries that are not captured by the Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes. As a result, when users try to launch the new Microsoft Teams client on a VM that has a Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volume attached, the client crashes instantly without any error message.

Solution

There are two possible solutions to fix the issue of Microsoft Teams client crashing on VMware Horizon/App Volumes when using Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes. To implement either of the solutions, you will need to have access to the App Volumes Manager console, which is the web-based interface that allows you to manage App Volumes. You will also need to have the appropriate permissions and roles to create and assign Writable Volumes and AppStacks to users. The following steps will guide you through the process of implementing each solution:

Solution 1: Use UIA-only Writable Volumes

This solution involves changing the type of Writable Volume that users have from Profile-only or UIA+Profile to UIA-only. This way, the new Microsoft Teams client will be captured by the Writable Volume along with its system-level components and registry entries, and will not crash on launch. However, this solution also means that users will lose their user profile data and settings, and will have to reconfigure them every time they log in to a new VM. This may not be ideal for users who have customized their user profile or have important data stored in it.

1. Log in to the App Volumes Manager console with your credentials.
2. Navigate to the Volumes tab, and select the Writable Volumes sub-tab.
3. Select the users that have Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes, and click on the Delete button. This will delete their existing Writable Volumes and detach them from their VMs. Note that this will also delete their user profile data and settings, so make sure to back them up if necessary.
4. Navigate to the Configuration tab, and select the Templates sub-tab.
5. Select the UIA-only template, and click on the Create Writable button. This will create a new UIA-only Writable Volume for each user that you selected in step 3, and attach it to their VMs.
6. Instruct the users to log out and log back in to their VMs, and install the new Microsoft Teams client on their UIA-only Writable Volume. They should be able to launch and use the new Microsoft Teams client without any issues, but they will also have to reconfigure their user profile data and settings.

Solution 2: Use AppStacks

This solution involves creating and assigning an AppStack to users that contains the new Microsoft Teams client. An AppStack is a virtual disk that contains one or more applications that can be delivered to users on demand. By using an AppStack, the new Microsoft Teams client will be installed on the VM as a system-level application, and will not depend on the Writable Volume for its functionality. Users will be able to use the new Microsoft Teams client without any issues, and will also keep their user profile data and settings on their Writable Volume. However, this solution also requires some additional steps and resources, such as creating and managing the AppStack, and ensuring that it is compatible with the VM operating system and other applications.

1. Log in to the App Volumes Manager console with your credentials.
2. Navigate to the Volumes tab, and select the AppStacks sub-tab.
3. Click on the Create AppStack button, and follow the wizard to create a new AppStack that contains the new Microsoft Teams client. You will need to provide a name and a description for the AppStack, select a storage location and a template for the AppStack, and choose a provisioning VM to install the new Microsoft Teams client on the AppStack. For more details on how to create an AppStack, refer to the [official documentation].
4. After creating the AppStack, select it and click on the Assign button. This will allow you to assign the AppStack to users or groups that need to use the new Microsoft Teams client. You can also specify when the AppStack will be attached and detached to the users’ VMs, such as at login, at next login, or immediately. For more details on how to assign an AppStack, refer to the [official documentation].
5. Instruct the users to log out and log back in to their VMs, and launch the new Microsoft Teams client from the AppStack. They should be able to use the new Microsoft Teams client without any issues, and also keep their user profile data and settings on their Writable Volume.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is the difference between the old and the new Microsoft Teams client?

Answer: The old Microsoft Teams client was based on Electron, a framework that allows developers to create cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies. The new Microsoft Teams client is based on Edge WebView2, a component that allows developers to embed web content in native applications using the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser. The new Microsoft Teams client offers better performance, security, and compatibility than the old one, but also requires some changes in the installation and deployment process.

Question: What are the benefits of using VMware Horizon/App Volumes for VDI?

Answer: VMware Horizon/App Volumes is a comprehensive VDI solution that provides desktop and application delivery, management, and security for users across devices and locations. VMware Horizon/App Volumes allows users to access their personalized desktops and applications from any device, while reducing the cost and complexity of managing and maintaining physical desktops and servers. VMware Horizon/App Volumes also integrates with other VMware products and services, such as VMware vSphere, VMware vSAN, VMware NSX, VMware Workspace ONE, and VMware Cloud on AWS, to provide a complete and scalable VDI solution.

Question: How can I get more help or support for VMware Horizon/App Volumes or Microsoft Teams?

Answer: You can get more help or support for VMware Horizon/App Volumes or Microsoft Teams by visiting the following resources:

• [VMware Horizon/App Volumes Documentation]: This is the official documentation for VMware Horizon/App Volumes, where you can find guides, tutorials, reference materials, and troubleshooting tips for using and managing VMware Horizon/App Volumes.
• [VMware Horizon/App Volumes Community]: This is the official community for VMware Horizon/App Volumes, where you can interact with other users and experts, ask questions, share feedback, and get updates on VMware Horizon/App Volumes.
• [Microsoft Teams Documentation]: This is the official documentation for Microsoft Teams, where you can find guides, tutorials, reference materials, and troubleshooting tips for using and managing Microsoft Teams.
• [Microsoft Teams Community]: This is the official community for Microsoft Teams, where you can interact with other users and experts, ask questions, share feedback, and get updates on Microsoft Teams.

Summary

In this article, we have explained why Microsoft Teams client crashes on VMware Horizon/App Volumes when using Profile-only or UIA+Profile Writable Volumes, and how to fix it. We have also provided two possible solutions, using UIA-only Writable Volumes or AppStacks, and the steps to implement them. We hope that this article has helped you to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of Microsoft Teams client crashing on VMware Horizon/App Volumes, and to enjoy the benefits of using Microsoft Teams on VMware Horizon/App Volumes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The information and solutions provided in this article may not be suitable for your specific situation or environment. You should always consult with a qualified IT professional before making any changes to your VMware Horizon/App Volumes or Microsoft Teams configuration or settings. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following