About the Mic Test
This Mic Test shows whether your microphone is working and how loud it is. Press the start button, allow the microphone when your browser asks, and speak. A level bar moves with your voice, a marker holds the recent peak, a decibel figure and a plain-words status such as Good level or Clipping: too loud tell you how the signal looks, and a small graph shows the last five seconds. You can pick a different microphone from a list, turn echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain on or off, and record five seconds to play back and hear yourself. The sound is measured on your device and never sent anywhere, and the recording is lost when you close the page. The decibels are relative to full scale, not sound pressure, and your operating system may already change the level before the browser receives it.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Mic Test
- 1Press Start microphone test and allow the microphone in your browser.
- 2Speak normally and watch the level bar, the dB figure and the status.
- 3Choose another microphone from the list if the wrong one is being used.
- 4Press Record 5 seconds and play back to hear yourself, then Stop to turn the microphone off.
Testing your microphone
Start the test, allow access, and say a few words at your normal speaking volume. The bar should move as you talk and drop back when you are quiet. If you have several microphones, such as a laptop microphone, a headset and a webcam, the list lets you check each one. Press Stop when you are finished, so the microphone is released and the browser's recording indicator goes off.
The Record 5 seconds and play back button captures a short clip from the microphone that is currently active. Listening back is the best way to hear hiss, hum, echo or a room that sounds too hollow.
Reading the level meter
The number is a level in decibels relative to full scale, where 0 dB is the loudest signal a digital system can hold. Speech normally sits between about -30 and -12 dB. The bar shows the average level and the thin marker shows the recent peak, which falls slowly so you can see it. The status uses the loudest peak of the last second, so a single loud word shows up.
These are digital levels, not sound pressure in dB SPL, so they cannot tell you how loud a room is. The browser may also receive a signal that the system has already changed with gain or noise reduction.
Fixing a mic that isn't working
- Check that the microphone is not muted by a switch on the cable or headset.
- Allow the microphone in the browser's address bar or site settings, then reload.
- Close other apps that use the microphone, such as a call or a recorder.
- Choose the right input in the Microphone list and in your system sound settings.
- Try another USB port, or another browser.
- The microphone needs a secure page that starts with https.
Privacy: what the browser hears
The page asks for the microphone only after you press start, and the browser shows its own indicator while it is on. The signal is analysed in memory to draw the meter and is not sent to a server. Your five-second recording stays in the page. Press Stop or close the tab to turn the microphone off. If you want to record longer speech and save it, use the Voice Recorder. If you want to keep a clip, record it with the Voice Recorder, and hear any typed words aloud with Text to Speech. If it works, the Typing Speed Test is a fun next check, and the Screen Recorder captures sound together with your screen.
Features
- Live level bar with a peak marker
- Decibel reading and a status such as Good level or Clipping
- Five-second level history graph
- Choose between several microphones
- Echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain switches
- Five-second recording with playback
- Sound stays on your device
- Stop button releases the microphone
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my microphone online?
Press Start microphone test, allow the microphone when your browser asks, and speak. If the level bar moves and the status changes from No sound detected, your microphone is working. Use the record button to hear how you sound.
Why does the mic test show no sound?
Usually the browser is using the wrong input, the microphone is muted, or permission was blocked. Pick another microphone from the list, check for a mute switch on your headset, and check the microphone setting in the address bar. Another app may also be using the microphone.
Is my voice recorded or sent anywhere?
No. The level is worked out inside your browser, and nothing is uploaded. If you press the record button, a five-second clip is kept in the page so you can play it back, and it disappears when you close or reload the page.
What is a good microphone level?
For speech you want the meter to stay roughly between -40 and -12 dB, with peaks well below 0. The status says Good level in that range. Above -3 dB the tool shows Clipping, which means the sound may be distorted, so move back or lower the input volume.
How do I choose a different microphone?
After the test has started, open the Microphone list and select another input, such as a headset or a USB microphone. The test restarts with that device. The names of devices only appear once you have given permission.
Why is my microphone too quiet?
Raise the input volume in your system sound settings, move closer to the microphone and check you have picked the right device. Try switching Auto gain on to see whether the browser can lift the level. If the meter still stays near the bottom while you talk, the microphone may be faulty or muted.