How to test your microphone online
An online mic test takes about ten seconds: start the test, allow access once, and talk at your normal volume. The meter shows the level live, and the verdict tells you in plain words whether your microphone is working, too quiet, too loud, or sending no sound at all.
Press Start mic test
No signup, no download, no install. The test runs on this page.
Choose Allow
Your browser asks once whether this page may use your microphone. You can take that permission back at any time in the browser's site settings.
Talk like you would on a call
Count to ten or read a sentence aloud. The white marker should sit in the green zone while you speak.
Record a clip and play it back
Hearing yourself is the only way to catch a muffled, echoey, or noisy sound that a meter cannot show.
Wrong mic? After you start, the Mic list shows every microphone your browser can see. Pick the one you use for calls and the test restarts on it. Browsers hide device names until you allow access, which is why the list is empty at first.
What your mic test result means
The verdict is based on the loudest level of your voice over the last few seconds, so it does not flicker between words. A mic that is working lands in the green zone, roughly -40 to -11 dBFS on this meter, without touching the top of the scale.
| Verdict | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your mic is working | Your voice reaches the page at a healthy level. | Nothing. Record a clip if you want to hear the quality. |
| Too quiet | Sound gets through, but it is faint. | Move closer, speak up, or raise the input volume in your sound settings. |
| Too loud | The level hits 0 dBFS, the digital maximum, and distorts. | Back off the mic or lower its input volume. |
| No sound | The mic is connected but sends pure silence. | Check for a mute switch or button, or pick another input. |
| Blocked or not found | The browser could not open a microphone at all. | Follow the steps the test shows. They match your browser. |
dBFS (decibels relative to full scale) treats 0 dBFS as the maximum digital level, so normal readings are negative. See iZotope's guide to headroom and levels.
Mic test with playback: hear yourself
To hear yourself, press Record clip, talk for a few seconds, then press Play clip. The recording lasts up to 10 seconds, plays back right in the panel, and lives only in this browser tab. You can download it if you want to compare mics later.
Playback answers the question a meter cannot: do you sound clear? Listen for three things. A boomy or distant sound means you are too far from the mic. A muffled, phone-call sound on Bluetooth earbuds usually means they switched into their hands-free call mode. A hiss or hum under your voice is room or electrical noise, which the noise floor reading under Advanced puts a number on.
Use headphones while you play the clip back if your speakers are loud. That keeps the playback from feeding back into the live meter.
Mic not working? Fixes by device
If the test shows an error or no sound, the cause is almost always a blocked permission, the wrong input device, a mute switch, or another app holding the microphone. The test shows steps for your exact browser, and these guides cover each device in detail.
Microphone not working
The full checklist for any computer, phone, or headset.
Laptop mic not working
Mute keys, privacy settings, and built-in mic quirks.
Windows 11 mic not working
The exact Settings switches that silence a mic.
Discord mic not working
Input device, sensitivity, and voice settings in Discord.
AirPods mic not working
Pairing, mic side, and the muffled call-mode problem.
Xbox mic not working
Controller jack, mute, and privacy settings on Xbox.
More free tests and a gear guide
The same no-install approach works for the rest of your call setup. Check your camera, make sure both speakers or earbuds play, or test a headset microphone on its own page with headset-specific tips.
Webcam test
Live preview, resolution, and frame rate, with the mic meter alongside.
Sound test
Left, right, and both-channel tones for speakers and headphones.
Headset mic test
Wired, USB, and Bluetooth headsets, plus the plug-type gotcha.
Best USB microphones
If your mic works but sounds poor, these are the upgrades worth it.
How the mic test measures your microphone
When you allow access, the browser hands this page a live audio stream through its standard getUserMedia interface. A Web Audio analyzer reads that stream many times a second and computes its level. Nothing is sent anywhere: the math happens on your device.
The level is the average loudness of the last fraction of a second, shown in dBFS. The peak is the single loudest moment, and a clip is counted when a sample reaches the top of the digital scale. Open Advanced for the rest:
- Noise floor: the level of your quietest moments. A quiet room with a decent mic sits far below your speaking level; a fan, an open window, or electrical hum raises it.
- Sample rate and channels: what your browser reports for the stream, such as 48 kHz and 1 channel (mono). Most call mics are mono, which is normal.
- Audio processing: browsers can apply echo cancellation, noise suppression, and automatic gain control. Toggle each one to hear the raw mic versus the processed sound your call apps likely get.
- Spectrum: how your voice spreads across frequencies from 0 to 8 kHz.
The device picker uses the browser's device list, so a headset plugged in mid-test shows up without a reload. Press Stop and the page stops every audio track, which releases the microphone so the browser can turn off its in-use indicator.
Mic test questions
Does this mic test record or upload my voice?
No. The live meter analyzes audio in memory and throws it away instantly. If you press Record clip, the clip is kept only inside this browser tab so you can play it back, and it is gone when you close or leave the page. The page never uploads audio.
How do I know which microphone is being tested?
The name of the active microphone appears at the top of the test panel once you allow access. The Mic list at the top of the panel shows every microphone your browser can see, and choosing a different one restarts the test on it.
How do I hear myself on a mic test?
Press Record clip, talk for a few seconds, then press Play clip. The recording runs up to 10 seconds and plays back in the panel. Wearing headphones for playback stops the sound from looping back into the microphone.
Why does the meter move but the playback has no sound?
That points to your speakers or headphones, not the microphone. Check that the volume is up and the right output device is selected, then try the left and right tones on the sound test page to confirm your output works.
Why does my mic work here but not in Zoom, Meet, or Discord?
Each app keeps its own microphone choice, separate from your browser. Open the app's audio settings and pick the same microphone that worked here. On Windows, also check that Let desktop apps access your microphone is turned on under Privacy and security.
Can I test my mic on an iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone or in Chrome on Android, press Start, and allow access. Recording a clip on iPhone needs a recent iOS version (14.3 or later); the live meter works on older versions back to iOS 11.
What is a good microphone level?
On this meter, normal speech should keep the white marker in the green zone, roughly -40 to -11 dBFS, with peaks that never reach 0 dBFS. A level that touches 0 dBFS clips and distorts, so a bit of headroom is better than maximum volume.
Why does the test say No sound when my mic is plugged in?
The browser opened the microphone, but it is sending pure silence. That usually means a hardware mute switch, a mute button on a headset cable, or a mute key on a laptop is on. It can also mean the browser picked a different input, so check the Mic list.
Why is my mic so quiet?
Distance is the usual cause, so move closer first. Then raise the input volume: on Windows 11 it is in Settings, System, Sound, under your input device; on a Mac it is in System Settings, Sound, Input. Built-in laptop mics are naturally quieter than a headset mic near your mouth.
What should I say during a mic test?
Talk the way you would on a call: count to ten, or read a sentence with a few P and S sounds, such as "Peter picked six silver spoons." Those sounds reveal pops and hiss when you play the clip back.
Can a website use my microphone without asking?
No. Browsers only give a page your microphone after you allow it, and only on secure (https) pages. You can review or remove that permission at any time in your browser's site settings.
Does a "working" result mean my mic sounds professional?
No. Working means your level is healthy and sound gets through. How good you sound depends on the mic, its distance from your mouth, and the room. Record a clip to judge quality, and see our best USB microphones guide if you want an upgrade.
How do I stop the test and turn the mic off?
Press Stop mic test. The page stops every audio track, which releases the microphone so your browser can turn off its in-use indicator. Closing the tab does the same.