Mic Tester
Find out in seconds whether your microphone works: watch the level move as you speak, record a clip to hear how you sound, and get plain advice if nothing comes through.
At a glance
- Tests a microphone in your browser: press the button, allow access, and a live level meter shows at once whether sound is coming in.
- Says plainly what it hears — working, no sound, too quiet, too loud or distorting — and what to do about each.
- Shows the level in decibels (dBFS), the loudest peak, the background noise, a live waveform and frequency spectrum, and the main pitch.
- Records up to 30 seconds and plays it back, so you hear exactly what others will hear. The clip can be downloaded.
- Lets you choose between microphones and switch echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain on or off.
- Works with built-in, USB, Bluetooth and headset microphones on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iPhone and iPad.
- The sound is analysed on your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored; a recording stays in the tab until you close it.
Step by step
How to test your microphone
- 1
Start the test
Press Test my microphone. When the browser asks, choose Allow.
- 2
Speak
Talk at your normal voice. The meter should move and the message should change to Your microphone is working.
- 3
Check the device
If nothing moves, pick another device under Microphone — the browser may be listening to the wrong one.
- 4
Record a clip
Press Record, say a sentence, then play it back to hear the quality.
Features
Everything you need, nothing you don’t
A clear verdict
Not just a moving bar: the test tells you whether the microphone works and what is wrong if it does not.
Record and play back
Hear your own voice as a call or recording would capture it.
Pick the right device
Switch between laptop, headset and USB microphones without leaving the page.
Waveform and spectrum
See the sound wave live, or the frequencies from bass to treble.
Processing on or off
Compare the microphone with and without noise suppression, echo cancellation and auto gain.
Private
No sign-up, no upload. Audio never leaves your browser.
What the level means
The meter is in dBFS — decibels below the loudest sound a digital recording can hold. 0 dB is the ceiling; quieter sounds are negative numbers.
| Peak level | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0 dB | The ceiling. Sound that reaches it is cut off and distorts — lower the input volume. |
| −12 to −3 dB | Strong and clear. Where a confident voice close to the microphone peaks. |
| −30 to −12 dB | Normal speech. Fine for calls and recordings. |
| Below −30 dB | Quiet. Others may struggle to hear you — move closer or raise the input volume. |
| Below −60 dB | Silence, or background noise only. |
Microphone not working? Check these
- Permission — the browser must be allowed to use the microphone for this site. Click the icon at the left of the address bar and set Microphone to Allow.
- The right device — laptops with a headset or webcam attached have several microphones. Choose the one you are speaking into.
- Mute — look for a mute switch on the headset cable or boom, and the microphone-mute key on the keyboard.
- Input volume — in Windows open Settings → System → Sound → Input; on a Mac, System Settings → Sound → Input. Raise the level and watch the meter there.
- Privacy settings — Windows and macOS can block the microphone for all apps or for your browser. Switch it on under Privacy & security → Microphone.
- Another app — close Zoom, Teams, Meet or a recorder that may be holding the microphone, then try again.
- Bluetooth — a Bluetooth headset must be connected in its call or "hands-free" mode for its microphone to work.
- The cable — unplug it and plug it in again, and try another USB port or the other audio socket.
Echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain
Browsers clean up microphone sound before an app gets it. Echo cancellation removes the sound of your own speakers, noise suppression removes steady background noise such as a fan, and automatic gain raises a quiet voice and lowers a loud one.
Video-call apps keep all three on, so that is how the test starts. Switch them off to hear the microphone as it really is — useful for music, podcasts, or working out whether a thin or "underwater" sound comes from the microphone or from the processing.
Works here but not in your call?
If this test hears you but Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams does not, the microphone itself is fine. The app is usually using a different microphone, or you are muted inside it. Open the app’s audio settings and select the same device that worked here.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my microphone?
Why is my microphone not working?
How can I hear myself?
What is a good microphone level?
Why does my voice sound muffled or robotic?
Can I test a headset or AirPods microphone?
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
Does it work on a phone?
Keep going
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