Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about other products were checked on 16 October 2026 and can change.
"You're on mute" is the most-said sentence on video calls. A dedicated mute button you can hit without looking for the on-screen icon fixes it. This guide lists the real Teams, Zoom and Google Meet shortcuts, explains why they sometimes don't work, and shows how to put them on big buttons on your phone.
The shortcuts
| Action | Teams (Windows / Mac) | Zoom (Windows / Mac) | Google Meet (Windows / Mac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mute / unmute | Ctrl+Shift+M / Cmd+Shift+M | Alt+A / Cmd+Shift+A | Ctrl+D / Cmd+D |
| Camera on / off | Ctrl+Shift+O / Cmd+Shift+O | Alt+V / Cmd+Shift+V | Ctrl+E / Cmd+E |
| Push to talk (hold) | Ctrl+Space / Option+Space | Space | — |
| Leave | Ctrl+Shift+H / Cmd+Shift+H | Alt+Q / Cmd+W | Close the tab |
Shortcuts checked on 16 October 2026; the apps change them occasionally, and each app's settings list the current ones.
Why the shortcut sometimes does nothing
Keyboard shortcuts go to the window in front. If you're sharing a document and the meeting window is behind it, Ctrl+Shift+M goes to the document instead. Three fixes:
- Zoom: Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts, tick Enable Global Shortcut next to Mute/Unmute My Audio. It then works from any app.
- Windows 11: Win+Alt+K mutes the call in apps that support the taskbar microphone button, such as Teams, whichever window is in front.
- Teams and Meet: click the meeting window first, or keep the meeting on a second screen and click it before you speak.
A mute button on your phone
Hardware mute buttons and macro pads work, but you probably have a phone on the desk already. SofaDeck turns it into a page of big buttons that press the shortcuts for you, over your Wi-Fi, with nothing to install on the phone:
- Install SofaDeck on the PC and pair your phone (scan the QR code, type the PIN).
- Tap Edit on the phone deck, then ✨ Templates.
- Pick Meetings: Teams mute, Teams camera, Zoom mute, Zoom camera, Teams leave and Screenshot.
- Keep the phone next to the keyboard during calls and tap to mute, unmute or leave.
The Meetings template uses key combos, which are part of SofaDeck Pro ($9.99 once, no subscription). With Pro you can add it as an extra page next to your normal deck, edit any button (for example swap Zoom camera for Win+Alt+K) and build macros such as "mute, camera off, lock PC" for stepping away.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getA phone button presses the same shortcut you would, so the focus rule above still applies. With Zoom's global shortcut or Win+Alt+K it works from any window.
Better audio helps too
Muting matters most when the background is loud. A headset with a boom microphone picks up far less of the room than a laptop mic, so you can leave it unmuted more often. See USB headsets on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
More work buttons: productivity buttons worth having, lock your PC from your phone and use your phone as a macro pad.
To mute the microphone itself for every app at once — not just one meeting — see how to mute your mic on PC, including SofaDeck 1.0.9's free Mic & calls button.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Teams mute shortcut?
Ctrl+Shift+M on Windows and Cmd+Shift+M on a Mac toggle your microphone in a Teams meeting. Ctrl+Shift+O (Cmd+Shift+O) turns the camera on or off, and holding Ctrl+Space unmutes you while you hold it.
What is the Zoom mute shortcut?
Alt+A on Windows and Cmd+Shift+A on a Mac mute and unmute your microphone. Alt+V (Cmd+Shift+V) starts and stops video. Holding the space bar unmutes you temporarily.
Why doesn't my mute shortcut work?
Meeting shortcuts only reach the meeting window while it is in front. Click the meeting window first, or in Zoom tick Enable Global Shortcut next to the mute shortcut in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts so it works from any app.
Is there a universal mute shortcut on Windows 11?
Windows 11 has Win+Alt+K, which toggles the microphone in call apps that support the taskbar mute button, such as Microsoft Teams. Apps that don't support it ignore the shortcut.
Is the SofaDeck Meetings page free?
The Meetings template uses hotkey combos (Ctrl+Shift+M, Alt+A and so on), and combos are a Pro feature, $9.99 once. The free version can still lock the PC, control volume and mute system audio.