GearCheckHow to test your microphone
- Click “Start mic test” and choose Allow when your browser asks for microphone access.
- Speak or tap the mic. The bar and waveform should move with your voice. The status line turns green as soon as we hear you clearly.
- Pick the right device. If nothing moves, open the microphone menu and try each entry — laptops, webcams and headsets each add their own.
- Record and listen back. Press Record 5 seconds, say a sentence, and play it back. Muffled, crackly or distant? See the fixes below.
Microphone not working? Fixes by system
Windows 10 and 11
- Open Settings → System → Sound → Input, choose your microphone and speak — the bar should move. Raise Input volume if it is low.
- Check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone: “Microphone access” and “Let desktop apps access your microphone” must be on.
- Headset plugged into a single combo jack? Windows may need you to pick “Headset microphone” in the Realtek or audio driver popup.
macOS
- Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and enable your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). Restart the browser after changing it.
- In System Settings → Sound → Input, select the right device and drag the input volume up.
In the browser
- Click the lock or microphone icon to the left of the address bar and set Microphone to Allow, then reload.
- Close other apps that may hold the microphone exclusively — Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS or another browser tab.
Reading the results
| Meter reading | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below −50 dB while talking | Too quiet or the wrong mic is selected. Raise the input volume or move closer. |
| −30 to −10 dB | Healthy speaking level for calls and streaming. |
| Hitting the red zone | Too loud: your voice may clip and distort. Lower the gain or move back. |
| Bar moves with no one speaking | Background noise, fans or electrical hum. Turn on noise suppression or use a closer mic. |
The Frequency view shows where the energy in your voice sits. A steady spike at the far left (50 or 60 Hz) is electrical hum, usually from a ground loop or an unshielded cable. Very little energy above a few kHz makes a voice sound muffled — common with Bluetooth headsets in call mode.
Testing a specific microphone
Using a headset? See the headset mic test guide. Testing earbuds? Try the AirPods mic test. Want to see yourself too? The webcam test checks your camera, and the speaker test makes sure you can hear the other side.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my microphone is working?
Press Start mic test and allow access. Speak normally: if the green bar moves and the status turns to “Your microphone is working”, the mic is fine. For the full picture, press Record 5 seconds and play it back — that is exactly what other people hear on a call.
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No. The level meter and visualizer are calculated in your browser. The 5-second recording only exists in your browser’s memory so you can play it back; it disappears when you leave or reload the page, and it is never sent to a server.
What is a good microphone level?
Normal speech should peak around −20 to −10 dB on the meter, in the green zone. If it barely reaches −40 dB you are too quiet: move closer or raise the input volume. If it hits the red zone (above about −3 dB) your voice will distort; lower the input gain.
Why is my mic picking up no sound?
The most common causes are a hardware mute switch (on headsets, inline cables and some laptops via an F-key), the wrong microphone selected, input volume at zero in system settings, or privacy settings blocking the browser. Use the device menu above the meter to try each microphone.
Should I turn noise suppression and echo cancellation on?
For calls, yes — they remove background noise and stop the other person hearing themselves through your speakers. For music, podcasts or checking the raw quality of a microphone, turn them off before starting the test so you hear the unprocessed signal.
Can I test my mic on an iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari or Chrome, tap Start mic test and allow microphone access. If you have AirPods or a Bluetooth headset connected, the phone usually uses that microphone instead of the built-in one.