Mic Test
Press Start, allow your microphone, and talk.
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How to use the mic test
- Press Start mic test and allow access when your browser asks.
- Talk at your normal volume. The meter should move, mostly in the green and yellow area.
- If you have more than one microphone, choose the one you want from the list.
- Press Check background noise: stay quiet for 3 seconds, then talk for 3 seconds. You'll get a signal-to-noise rating that tells you how clearly your voice stands out.
- Press Record 5 s and play it back to hear exactly what others hear.
Reading the results
| Reading | What it means |
|---|---|
| Level | The average loudness right now, in dB below the maximum (dBFS). Normal speech usually sits around −30 to −12 dB. |
| Peak | The loudest moment, held briefly on the meter. If it reaches 0 dB the sound clips and distorts. |
| Background noise | How loud your room is when you're silent. Lower (more negative) is better. |
| Voice clarity | The result of the background-noise check: how much louder your voice is than the room (signal-to-noise ratio). Over 30 dB is excellent, 20–30 dB good, 10–20 dB fair, under 10 dB poor. |
| Waveform | The raw shape of the sound. A flat line means silence; a line pressed against the top and bottom means clipping. |
| Spectrum | Which frequencies are present. Voices sit mostly between 100 Hz and 4 kHz. A constant spike can reveal hum or electrical noise. |
Browser processing: echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain
Browsers clean up microphone audio for calls. Echo cancellation removes your speakers' sound from the mic, noise suppression filters steady background noise, and auto gain adjusts volume automatically. They start off here, so you hear your microphone's true sound: noise suppression and auto gain can make a good mic sound muffled or "underwater". Turn them on and record again to hear roughly what a browser call does to your voice; apps such as Discord, Zoom and Teams apply their own versions.
Why does my mic sound muffled?
The most common reason is a Bluetooth headset. When its microphone is in use, Windows and macOS switch it to a low-quality "call" mode (8–16 kHz instead of 44–48 kHz), which sounds like a phone line. The test warns you when that happens; look at the Sample rate tile. For clear sound use a wired or USB mic, or a headset with its own USB dongle. Other causes: a mic too far from your mouth, a cover or foam blocking it, or very strong noise suppression.
Microphone not working? Try these fixes
- Allow access in the browser. Click the icon to the left of the web address and set Microphone to Allow, then reload.
- Allow access in your system. On Windows, open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and turn on access for apps and for your browser. On macOS, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and enable your browser.
- Pick the right device. Choose your microphone from the list above, and set it as the default input in your system's sound settings.
- Check the hardware. Many headsets have a mute switch or button on the cable or earcup, and some mics have a gain knob turned all the way down. Try another USB port.
- Raise the input level. If the meter barely moves, increase the input volume in your system's sound settings (Windows: Sound → Input → Volume; macOS: Sound → Input → Input volume).
- Close other apps. Some USB microphones work with only one app at a time, so close voice and recording apps and try again.
Frequently asked questions
Is my audio recorded or uploaded?
No. Audio is analysed in your browser. If you use Record, the clip stays on your device until you close the page, unless you choose to download it.
Why do I hear an echo or squeal with "Hear yourself"?
Your speakers are feeding back into the microphone. Use headphones, or turn "Hear yourself" off.
Why does my voice sound different in the recording?
Recordings capture what the microphone and browser processing produce, which differs from how your voice sounds inside your own head. Try toggling the processing options to compare.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in current mobile browsers. Allow microphone access when asked; on iPhone use Safari or Chrome.
How do I test my webcam?
Use the webcam test.