Microphone Test
Check your microphone: live level meter, waveform, and record and play back, with no audio uploaded.
Audio is processed in your browser. It isn't sent or stored anywhere.
How to allow microphone access
Chrome, Edge and Brave
- Click the icon at the left of the address bar (padlock or controls).
- Open “Site settings” or “Permissions”.
- Set Microphone to “Allow” and reload the page.
Safari (Mac, iPhone and iPad)
- Mac: Safari → Settings → Websites → Microphone, and set this site to “Allow”.
- iPhone and iPad: Settings → Apps → Safari → Microphone, and choose “Ask” or “Allow”.
- Reload the page.
Windows 10 and 11
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone.
- Turn on “Microphone access” and “Let apps access your microphone”.
- Also turn on “Let desktop apps access your microphone”, which is the one browsers use.
- In Sound → Input, check you picked the right device and that its bar moves.
macOS
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
- Turn on the switch for your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox…).
- Restart the browser if it asks you to.
How do I test if my microphone is working?
To test your microphone, press "Test microphone", accept the browser's permission prompt and speak: you will see a level meter and a live waveform move, with a warning if no signal arrives, if the level is too low or if the audio clips. You can pick which microphone to use if you have several, record 5 or 10 seconds and play it back to check clarity and background noise. If the browser lacks permission or finds no device, the page walks you through the fix in Chrome, Safari, Windows and macOS. It is free, needs no signup, and audio never leaves your browser: it isn't sent or stored, and the recording is deleted when you discard it or close the tab. Use it before a video call, an interview or an online class.
How to use Microphone Test
- Press "Test microphone" and accept the permission when the browser asks. The microphone only turns on after you ask for it.
- Speak normally from the distance you will use. The meter and waveform should move, and the status should read "Good level".
- If you have more than one microphone, choose it from the dropdown. Try the headset and the laptop's built-in one.
- Choose 5 or 10 seconds, press "Record", say a sentence and listen to yourself. Check that you are understandable and there is no hum or constant noise.
- Press "Stop" when done: the microphone turns off and you get a short result. If something fails, follow the permissions guide on the page.
Common use cases
Before an important video call
Check in 30 seconds that Meet, Teams or Zoom will pick you up, instead of finding out with everyone already connected.
Choosing between several microphones
With a headset, a webcam and a laptop mic, record a sentence with each and decide which sounds best.
Diagnosing a microphone nobody can hear
See whether a signal arrives (the meter) or not, and whether the problem is the browser permission, the system's privacy settings, a muted microphone or the wrong device.
Setting the input volume
The "Too quiet" or "Clipping" warning tells you whether to raise or lower the gain in Windows or macOS to avoid a distant voice or distortion.
A class, an interview or a live stream
Make a test recording to hear how your room, echo and background noise sound before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my microphone works?
Press "Test microphone", accept the permission and speak. If the meter moves and the status changes to "Good level", it works. If it stays on "No signal", the microphone is muted, wrongly selected or blocked by permissions.
Why won't my browser let me use the microphone?
Usually the permission is blocked for this site, or the operating system stops the browser from accessing it. The page shows the steps for Chrome, Safari, Windows and macOS. On Windows, also turn on "Let desktop apps access your microphone".
Is my voice recorded or sent anywhere?
No. Audio is analyzed in your browser and isn't sent to any server. The optional recording lives only in the tab and is deleted when you discard it or close the page.
What does -∞ dBFS or "No signal" mean?
That no sound is coming in: the microphone is muted, unplugged, the wrong device, or the system blocks access. A healthy speech level sits around -30 to -12 dBFS.
Why does my audio sound distorted?
It's probably clipping: the signal goes past the digital maximum and gets cut off. Lower the input gain in your sound settings, move away from the microphone or turn off microphone boost.
Does it work with Bluetooth or USB headsets?
Yes, they appear in the device selector once permission is granted. With Bluetooth, microphone quality is usually lower while the headset is in call mode.