Microphone test
Click Start and speak. The level bar and waveform move if your browser hears your microphone, then record a clip to hear yourself.
Microphone test workspace
Privacy: Camera and microphone video and audio stay in this browser tab. Clips and photos are created on your device and never uploaded.
How to use
4 short steps.
Click Start and allow access
Your browser asks for permission once. After you allow it, pick the microphone you plan to use from the list.
Speak at a normal distance
The input level bar and the waveform should move as you talk and settle near zero when you stop.
Record a clip and play it back
Click Record, say a sentence, then click Stop recording. Press play to hear how you sound to other people.
Read the device table
Check the microphone name, sample rate and channels, and whether echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain are on.
What the result means
Match what you see to one of these.
If the bar moves when you speak, your mic works
If the level bar and waveform follow your voice, your browser receives sound from this microphone. Meeting apps that use the same device should hear you too, as long as you select it there.
If the bar barely moves, the input is too quiet
If the level stays under about 20 percent while you talk normally, check that the right microphone is selected and raise the input level in your system sound settings. Move closer and retest.
If the clip sounds bad, listen for the cause
If playback is quiet, noisy or muffled, the room, distance, a covered mic or heavy processing is usually to blame. If it crackles or cuts out, suspect the cable, port or USB hub.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, try these in order.
Allow the microphone in your browser
Click the lock or camera icon in the address bar and set Microphone to Allow. In Chrome this is under Site settings. Reload and click Start.
Allow it in your operating system
Windows: Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone. macOS: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Turn on access for your browser, then retest.
Close apps holding the microphone
Zoom, Teams, Discord or a recording app may have taken the device. Quit them, then click Start again.
Select the right input
Pick the correct microphone from the list above and in your system sound settings. Headset mics often appear under a different name. Speak again.
Check the cable, port and mute switch
Plug the mic into another USB port or jack, skip any hub, and check for a hardware mute button. Retest.
Try another browser or device
If the meter still stays flat, test the same microphone in another browser or on another computer. If it fails there too, the microphone itself is faulty.
What this test can't tell you
Where a browser check stops.
- Sample rate, channels and processing flags describe the stream the browser negotiated, not every mode your hardware supports.
- This page cannot see which device Zoom, Teams or Discord selected, or what a remote participant hears.
- Playback is a listening check, not a calibrated quality score.
FAQ
Common questions about this test.
How can I test my microphone and hear myself?
Click Start, allow access and speak. Watch the level bar move, then click Record, talk for a few seconds and click Stop recording. Press play to hear the clip. Nothing is uploaded.
Can I do a mic test on my phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari or Chrome, tap Start and allow the prompt. On iPhone, keep the page in the foreground, because iOS stops the microphone when you switch apps.
Why is my mic volume so low?
The input level in your system sound settings is usually too low, or you are too far from the mic. Raise the input level to about 75 percent, sit within 20 to 30 cm, and retest. Auto gain in the table can also turn a loud voice down.
How do I check microphone permission in Chrome, Firefox or Safari?
Chrome and Edge: click the icon left of the address bar, then Site settings > Microphone. Firefox: click the permissions icon in the address bar and remove the block. Safari: Safari menu > Settings for This Website > Microphone.
Does this work for Zoom, Teams or Discord?
It tells you the microphone works in your browser. Those apps choose their own input, so open their audio settings, select the same microphone name you tested here, and use their built-in test too.