Online Microphone Test

How to test your microphone

1. Press START and allow microphone access when the browser asks.
2. Speak at your normal volume, about an arm's length from the microphone. The level bar and the waveform should move with your voice, and the status line tells you whether the signal is good, too quiet or clipping.
3. If you have several microphones (laptop, headset, webcam, USB microphone), pick each one in the Microphone list and compare them.
4. Press Record, say a sentence, press Stop and play it back to hear exactly what other people hear.

The test runs in your browser. It works on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad and Android, with built-in microphones, headsets, USB and Bluetooth microphones.

What the readings mean

• Level (dBFS): how loud the signal is, from about −90 (silence) to 0 (the loudest a digital signal can be). Normal speech near the microphone usually sits between −30 and −10 dBFS. Below −45 dBFS while you speak means the microphone is very quiet.
• Clipping: the red dot lights up when peaks reach 0 dBFS. Clipped audio sounds distorted, so lower the input volume or move back a little.
• Noise floor: the level of the room when you are silent. Below −60 dBFS is a quiet room; above −45 dBFS, fans, traffic or a cheap microphone will be noticeable in calls.
• Frequency and pitch: the main frequency of the sound and the pitch of your voice. Adult speaking voices are usually between about 85 and 255 Hz.
• Crest factor: the difference between peaks and average level. Natural speech is usually around 12 to 20 dB; much lower values mean the sound is heavily compressed or limited.
• Sample rate, channels and processing: shown in the microphone report, with the device name. Copy the report if a support team asks for details about your setup.

Microphone not working? Check these first

If the level bar does not move at all, the cause is almost always one of these:

• Access is blocked, either for this site in the browser or for the browser in Windows, macOS, iOS or Android privacy settings. The tool shows the exact steps for your device when this happens.
• The wrong microphone is selected. Computers often default to a webcam or monitor microphone, and phones to a Bluetooth headset.
• The microphone is muted by a key on the laptop (often F4 or F8), a switch on the headset cable or the Microphone access switch on Android.
• Another app is using it. Close call apps, voice assistants and recorders, then press START again.

If the bar moves here but people still cannot hear you in a call, the microphone works and only that app needs fixing: open the guide for it below.

The microphone works but sounds bad

• Too quiet: raise the input volume in the system sound settings, or turn on Microphone Boost on Windows. Gain in this tool only changes the display.
• Noisy or hissing: move away from fans and windows, lower a very high input volume, and keep the microphone closer to your mouth so your voice is louder than the room.
• Distorted: the level reaches 0 dBFS. Lower the input volume until the clipping dot stays off when you speak loudly.
• Echo in calls: use headphones so the microphone does not pick up your speakers.
• Sounds different in Zoom or Teams: call apps filter your voice. Switch voice processing on and off in this tool to hear the difference between the raw microphone and the filtered version.

Privacy

All analysis happens on your device, in the browser. No audio is uploaded or stored by this website. A recording you make stays in your browser until you download it or close the page.

Frequently asked questions

Is this microphone test free?

Yes. There is nothing to install and no account to create.

Why does my browser ask for permission?

Browsers never let a website use the microphone without your consent. Allow access for this site to run the test; you can withdraw it any time in the browser's site settings.

Can I test a headset or USB microphone?

Yes. Connect it, press START, then choose it in the Microphone list. If it is missing, unplug it and plug it back in, then press Rescan.

Why is my level low even when I speak loudly?

The input volume in the system settings is low, the microphone is far away or pointing the wrong way, or a headset microphone is selected that is not near your mouth. Check the Windows, Mac or phone guide for the exact setting.

Does this work on iPhone and Android?

Yes, in Safari, Chrome and most other mobile browsers. If you opened the page inside an app such as Facebook or Instagram, open it in your browser instead: in-app browsers often block the microphone.