Online mic test
This test shows whether sound is reaching your microphone and how good it is: the bar shows the level in dBFS (0 is the most your device can record), the waveform shows the last 4 seconds, and the diagnosis tells you in plain words whether the mic is muted, too quiet, clipping or working. If you have more than one microphone (laptop, headset, Bluetooth earbuds), you choose which one to test.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and allow access when your browser asks.
- If you have more than one, pick the one you want to test under Microphone.
- Speak normally from about 20 cm (8 inches) away: the diagnosis should show Working.
- Tap Record 5 s, say a sentence and listen to the recording that plays right after.
- With headphones on, tap Hear myself to listen to the live playback.
Help and explanations
You can hear your own voice in your headphones and record 5 seconds to play back, the fastest way to find out how you sound on a call or a stream. Everything runs in your browser and no audio is uploaded.
What the diagnosis means
Muted: no signal at all is coming in, not even the faint hiss every microphone has. It's almost always the mute switch on the headset or laptop, the wrong microphone selected, or the operating system blocking the browser. Too quiet: the sound comes in weak; move closer to the mic or raise the input volume in your sound settings. Clipping: your voice goes past 0 dBFS and distorts; move the mic away or lower the gain. For normal speech, aim for between −30 and −10 dBFS.
Headphones, headset, laptop or phone
The selector lists the microphones your browser can see. Bluetooth earbuds sound muffled while the mic is in use because the system switches them to call mode, which has lower quality; you'll hear that in the recording and it's normal. If your mic works here, it works in Discord, Zoom, Teams or Google Meet, as long as the same device is selected there. By default the test listens to the raw microphone; tick Noise suppression, echo cancellation and auto gain to hear how you sound on a video call.
Tips
- Use headphones for playback: with speakers, the sound loops back into the mic and squeals. If that happens, the test turns playback off by itself.
- Playback has a small delay (around 200 ms on Bluetooth). To judge quality, use the recording instead.
- Background noise above −50 dBFS in a quiet room points to a fan, air conditioning or gain set too high.
- For singing, keep peaks around −6 dBFS: that leaves room for the high note without clipping.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my headphone mic?
Plug in or pair your headphones, turn on the microphone and choose them in the Microphone selector. Speak close to the mic and record 5 seconds to hear the quality.
How can I hear myself through my mic?
With headphones on, tap Hear myself: the microphone sound goes straight to your headphones at the volume you choose. Without headphones, use Record 5 s.
Why is my mic so quiet?
The mic is too far from your mouth, the system input volume is low (on Windows, in Settings > System > Sound; on a Mac, in System Settings > Sound > Input) or the volume wheel on the headset cable is turned all the way down. Turn it up until speech sits between −30 and −10 dBFS.
Why does it say muted when my mic is on?
Because no signal is reaching the browser. Check the mute switch, the selected microphone and the system permission; on a phone, close other apps that use the microphone.
Does it work on Android and iPhone?
Yes, in Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge. On iPhone the list usually shows only the built-in mic and the one on the connected headphones.
Is the recording uploaded anywhere?
No. It stays on your device and disappears when you close the page, unless you tap Download recording.
What is dBFS?
It's the digital audio scale: 0 dBFS is the most your device can record and everything else is negative. It isn't the loudness of the room; for that, use a sound level meter app.