What this microphone test shows you
- A live level meter - how loud your microphone is, updated many times a second on a scale from silence (−60 dBFS) to the maximum (0 dBFS).
- A live waveform - the shape of the sound. Speech looks like bursts with gaps; hum and fan noise look like a constant fuzzy band.
- Signal detection - whether any sound has been heard at all, so a silent or muted microphone is caught immediately.
- Device picker - every microphone the browser can see: built-in, headset, USB, webcam microphones and virtual audio devices.
- Processing switches - turn echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control on or off and hear the difference.
- Technical details - sample rate (usually 44.1 or 48 kHz) and number of channels (mono or stereo).
- Record and play back - record up to 15 seconds and listen to exactly how you sound.
Nothing is uploaded. The sound is analysed in your browser, and a recorded sample stays in this tab until you discard it or leave the page.
How to read the meter
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No movement, Signal: Silent | The browser is receiving silence | Choose another microphone, check mute switches, check permissions |
| Moves only in the lowest part | You'll sound quiet | Move closer or raise the input level in your operating system |
| Peaks around the middle when you talk | Healthy level for calls and recordings | Nothing - this is ideal |
| Regularly hits the red end | Clipping: the sound will distort | Move back or lower the input level |
| Moves constantly while you're silent | Background noise or electrical hum | Turn on noise suppression, move away from fans, check cables |
Record and play back: the most honest test
The meter tells you how loud the signal is, but not how it sounds. Press Record sample, speak normally for a few seconds, then play it back. Listen for:
- Echo or "bathroom" sound - hard walls reflecting your voice. Add soft furnishings, or move closer to the microphone.
- Hiss - the input level is set too high on a quiet microphone. Lower it and speak closer.
- Hum or buzz - usually electrical interference from a power supply or a cheap cable.
- Muffled sound - you're using the wrong microphone (for example, a webcam microphone across the room instead of your headset), or something is covering it.
- Robotic or choppy sound - the computer is overloaded or a Bluetooth headset has a weak connection.
Microphone not working? Fix it in this order
- Allow microphone access. Click the padlock or microphone icon in the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and reload.
- Choose the right device. Headsets, webcams and monitors often add their own microphones. Pick the one you actually want from the menu.
- Check the hardware. Look for a mute switch on the headset cable or earcup, a mute key on the keyboard, or a muted light on a USB microphone.
- Check the operating system.
- Windows 10 and 11: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone - allow apps and desktop apps. Then Settings → System → Sound → Input, select the microphone and check its volume.
- macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone - enable your browser. Then System Settings → Sound → Input to check the level.
- Close apps that might hold the microphone. Some call apps and audio tools take exclusive control.
- Bluetooth headsets: disconnect and reconnect. Many Bluetooth headsets switch to a lower-quality "headset" mode when their microphone is used - that's normal, but it does make music sound worse during calls.
Echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain
Browsers can process the microphone signal before any website receives it. Toggle each option to hear what it does:
- Echo cancellation removes sound from your speakers that leaks back into the microphone. Essential for calls without headphones; unnecessary with a headset.
- Noise suppression reduces steady background sounds such as fans, air conditioning and traffic. It can make voices sound slightly processed.
- Auto gain control automatically raises quiet speech and lowers loud speech. Great for calls; bad for music, where it flattens dynamics.
For calls: leave all three on. For recording music or podcasts with a good microphone: turn all three off and set the level manually.
Why the meter moves but people can't hear you in calls
The call app is probably using a different microphone. Each app keeps its own device setting. Open the audio settings inside Zoom, Teams, Meet or Discord and choose the same microphone that works here. If it still fails, check whether the app has microphone permission in your operating system's privacy settings.
Testing your camera too?
Run the Webcam Test to check video, or the Video Recorder to record video and sound together.