Microphone Test
Check that your mic works, hear how you sound, and get the exact fix if it doesn't.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded.
Your browser will ask to use the microphone. Sound stays on your device.
How to use Microphone Test
- Press Test my microphone and choose Allow when your browser asks.
- Talk at your normal volume. The bar should move into the green zone.
- Read the result. If something is wrong, follow the steps shown for your system.
- Press Record 5 seconds, then play the clip back to hear how you sound.
- Press Stop when you are done. The microphone turns off right away.
How it works
Your browser opens the microphone and measures how loud the sound is many times a second. The bar shows the level, and the line marks the loudest moment of the last second and a half. Nothing is sent anywhere: the measuring happens on your device, and the microphone turns off when you press Stop or leave the page.
After a few seconds the test gives a result:
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your microphone works | Your voice reaches the browser at a healthy level. | Nothing. If an app still can’t hear you, pick the same microphone in that app. |
| Only faint sound so far | The mic picks up something, but never as loud as normal speech. | Talk normally first. If it stays low, raise the input volume or move closer. |
| No sound reaches it | The microphone is open but sends pure silence. | Look for a mute switch, pick another microphone, or check the input volume. |
| Too loud and distorts | Your voice hits the top of the scale, so others hear crackling. | Lower the input volume, turn off Microphone Boost, or move back. |
If the microphone doesn’t start at all, the test names the cause, such as a blocked permission, a system privacy setting, another app holding the mic, or no microphone at all, and shows the steps for your browser and system.
It works here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord
The test proves your microphone and browser are fine. When one app still can’t hear you, the problem is in that app:
- Wrong input device. Each app picks its own microphone. Open its audio settings and choose the one named in this test.
- App blocked by the system. On Windows, Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone lists which apps may use it. On a Mac, check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
- Muted in the app. Many apps mute you when you join a call. Look for a crossed-out mic icon.
Record and play back
Press Record 5 seconds, talk, and play the clip back. This tells you what the level meter can’t: whether you sound muffled, echoey, robotic or noisy. The clip stays in your browser and is gone when you close the page.
Sound processing
Browsers clean up microphone sound with echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic volume, like video-call apps do. Under Details you can turn them off and record again to hear your raw microphone. If your voice sounds robotic or cuts out, noise suppression is often the cause. Safari and some phones ignore these switches.
Bluetooth headsets
Most Bluetooth headsets switch to a lower-quality mode while their microphone is in use, so you can sound muffled even when the level is fine. Record a clip, then compare it with your laptop’s built-in microphone or a wired one.
Phones and tablets
The test works in mobile browsers too. On an iPhone or iPad, the system also asks whether your browser may use the microphone. If you said no once, turn it back on in the Settings app; the test shows how.
Questions
How do I know if my microphone is working?
Press Test my microphone, allow access and talk. If the level bar moves and the result says "Your microphone works", sound is reaching your browser. Record a clip and play it back to hear the quality.
Why is my microphone not working?
The usual causes are a blocked browser permission, a system privacy setting, a muted or wrong input device, or another app holding the mic. The test tells you which one it found and shows the fix for your browser and system.
How do I allow microphone access in Chrome?
Click the icon at the left end of the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, then reload the page. On Windows and Mac, the system privacy settings must also allow Chrome to use the microphone.
Why does my mic work here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord?
Each app picks its own input device. Open the app’s audio settings and choose the same microphone that works in this test. Also check that the app is allowed to use the microphone in your system privacy settings.
Why is my microphone so quiet?
The input volume is set low, the mic is too far away, or the wrong device is selected. Raise the input volume in your system sound settings, move closer, or turn on automatic volume. On Windows, Microphone Boost adds more gain.
Does this mic test record or upload my voice?
No. The level meter runs in your browser. A clip is only recorded when you press Record, it stays on your device, and it is gone when you close the page.
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Updated October 11, 2026 · Works in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari · Runs entirely in your browser