Microphone Test

Check the microphone your browser receives

Press Start microphone, allow access, and speak at your usual distance. The meter responds to the incoming signal. To hear what reaches the browser, choose Record 5 seconds and play the short recording afterward. Use headphones when listening so playback does not feed back into the microphone.

Choose the right input

A laptop can have a built-in microphone, a USB headset, and a webcam microphone connected at once. Start once to grant permission and reveal available device names. Select the desired input, then start again. Changing the selection stops the old stream. System default follows the device chosen by your operating system, which may differ from the input configured inside a meeting app.

Worked example: headset versus laptop

Suppose your headset sounds distant during calls. Start this test with System default and speak quietly while tapping near the headset microphone. Stop, choose the named headset input, and repeat. If the second recording is clearer, check the meeting application's input selection. A successful browser recording helps narrow the problem but does not prove that the meeting service has selected the same device.

What the level means

The meter reports relative digital signal level, calculated from short samples of incoming audio. Zero means little or no signal in that sample; larger values mean a stronger waveform. It is not a calibrated sound-pressure reading, microphone sensitivity specification, or target speaking volume. Automatic gain control and noise suppression applied by the browser or device can change the result.

When nothing moves

Check the microphone's physical mute switch, cable, and operating-system input settings. If access is denied, use the browser's site-permission controls to allow microphone access, then retry. Close another application if it has exclusive control of the device. Permission requests need a secure page and browser support. Some managed computers block microphone access regardless of the page's settings.

Privacy and limitations

Audio processing and the optional recording stay in this tab. The tool does not upload or save the recording. Stop, changing devices, hiding the page, or navigating away releases the stream and clears playback. Recordings last five seconds and are started only by your button press. This test cannot measure end-to-end meeting latency, wireless reliability, or how another app processes your voice.

Microphone Test FAQ

Why is recording unavailable?

Some browsers expose live audio input but do not support the recording interface needed here. You can still inspect the meter.

Why does the test stop when I switch tabs?

It deliberately releases the microphone when the page becomes hidden. Return and start again when ready.

Does a moving meter mean the sound is clear?

No. A meter shows signal strength. Listen to the recording to assess muffling, background noise, or distortion.