How to test your microphone
Press Start microphone test and allow access when your browser asks. Speak at your normal call volume from your usual distance. The meter should move in time with your voice, and the level should sit somewhere around −30 to −12 dBFS on speech peaks. Then record a short clip and play it back.
Playback is the part most people skip and the part that matters most. A moving meter only proves the microphone is alive; playback tells you whether you sound muffled, distant, echoey or clipped — which is what the person on the other end of the call actually experiences.
What the dB numbers mean
The readout is in dBFS — decibels relative to digital full scale, where 0 dB is the loudest signal that can be recorded without distortion. It is not the same as the dB SPL a sound-level meter shows, because a browser has no way to know how sensitive your microphone hardware is.
| Level on peaks | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Flat at −∞ | No signal at all — muted, blocked or wrong input | Check the mute key, permissions and the input picker |
| −60 to −40 dB | Very quiet; you'll sound distant | Move closer, or raise input gain in system settings |
| −30 to −12 dB | Healthy speech level | Nothing — this is the target |
| Touching 0 dB | Clipping — the waveform is being chopped flat | Lower input gain or back off the mic |
Why is my microphone not working?
In order of how often it turns out to be the cause: the browser was never granted permission; another app is holding the microphone exclusively; the wrong input device is selected; a physical mute switch or Fn key is engaged; or the operating system's input volume is at zero. Hardware failure is last on that list, not first.
- Permission: click the padlock or camera icon in the address bar and allow the microphone for this site, then reload.
- Another app: Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord and OBS can hold a microphone open. Quit them fully — closing the window is often not enough.
- Wrong input: plugging in headphones adds a new input. Use the picker above to switch between them.
- Windows privacy settings:Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone must allow desktop apps to access it.
- macOS:System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, then tick your browser.
Why do I sound bad even though the meter moves?
A working microphone and a good-sounding microphone are different things. If the level is healthy but playback sounds wrong, the cause is usually the room or the position rather than the hardware. Hard walls and bare floors create echo, a laptop's built-in mic sits next to a fan, and a mic more than about 30 cm away picks up more room than voice.
This test deliberately disables echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain, so what you hear is the raw input. Calling apps re-enable those, which is why a slightly noisy recording here can still sound fine on a call.
If you record or take calls often, a headset beats any built-in microphone because it fixes distance — see our picks for the best over-ear wireless headphones and the best headphones overall.
Next: check the other half of the call
A call needs output as well as input. Run the speaker and stereo test to confirm both channels play, and the webcam test for video. If you are recording your screen rather than a call, our guides to screen recording on Windows and screen recording on a Mac cover capturing audio alongside the video.
Frequently asked questions
Is this microphone test safe? Is my voice recorded?
It is safe. Audio is analysed by JavaScript inside your own browser and is never transmitted to any server. If you record a clip, the file is created in your browser's memory and discarded when you close the tab. The microphone is released the moment you press Stop.
Why does my browser keep asking for permission?
Chrome and Edge grant microphone access per site and remember it; Safari asks again more often by design, and private or incognito windows never remember. If you previously pressed Block, the browser will not ask again — you have to clear it manually from the address-bar icon.
Can I test my microphone without allowing access?
No. A web page cannot read a microphone without explicit permission, and that is a good thing. Permission is per-site and revocable at any time from the padlock icon in the address bar.
Does it work with a Bluetooth headset?
Yes. Pair the headset first, then reload this page so it appears in the input picker. Bluetooth headsets often register as a separate input from the same device's built-in microphone, so check the picker if the meter stays flat.