Microphone Test

About this tool

This microphone test tells you within seconds whether your mic works: press Start, allow access and speak. A level meter and waveform move with your voice, the tool shows the RMS level, current peak and highest peak in dBFS, and the status reads Sound detected once the RMS level passes -50 dBFS. Record a 5-second clip and play it back to hear how you sound, switch microphones with the device list, and see the sample rate, channel count and the echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain settings your browser reports. If access is blocked, no microphone is found or another app is using it, you get the specific fix, and a checklist covers Windows, macOS and phone privacy settings. The tool also warns when the mic sends pure digital silence, which points to a mute switch or a muted input, and when the signal clips at 0 dBFS. Levels are measured in your browser with the Web Audio API, no audio is uploaded or stored, and Stop releases the microphone. Readings depend on input gain and distance, so they show signal level, not microphone quality.

Why use it

• Separate readouts for RMS level, current peak and highest peak in dBFS show how strong the signal really is, not just that something moved.

• The 5-second record and playback check lets you hear echo, noise or muffled sound that a meter cannot show.

• Error messages name the actual cause, such as blocked permission, no device found or a mic held by another app, with the steps to fix it.

• Shows the audio processing your browser applies to the microphone: echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain control.

• Audio is analyzed on your device and never uploaded, and Stop fully releases the microphone.

How to use

1. Press Start mic test and choose Allow when your browser asks for microphone access.
2. Speak normally. The meter, waveform and dBFS readouts should move, and the status line says Sound detected when your voice comes through.
3. If several microphones are connected, pick one in the Microphone list; the test restarts with that device.
4. Press Record 5 seconds, speak, then listen to the playback (press play if it does not start on its own).
5. Read What your browser reports to check the sample rate, channels and audio processing settings.
6. Press Stop and release mic when you are done, so the browser's recording indicator turns off.

When it helps

• Before a video call, interview or online exam, to confirm the right mic is selected and working.
• After plugging in a new headset, USB microphone or webcam, to check that the computer picks it up.
• When people say they cannot hear you, to find out whether the cause is the mic, a mute switch or a permission setting.
• When setting input volume for streaming or recording, to watch the peak level and avoid clipping.

Examples

Tips

• Watch the peak while you speak at your usual volume. If it reaches 0 dBFS, the tool shows a clipping warning: lower the input volume or move back.
• Tap gently near the microphone and watch the waveform jump. It is a quick way to confirm which physical mic the selected device is.
• If the status says very little sound is reaching the browser, check that the selected device is the mic you speak into, not a webcam or a virtual device.
• Close call and streaming apps such as Zoom, Teams, Discord or OBS if the mic will not start, because some hold the device while open.
• Listen to the playback check with headphones to hear background noise and echo clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Glossary

dBFS

Decibels relative to full scale. 0 dBFS is the largest value digital audio can represent, so normal readings are negative.

RMS level

The root mean square of the samples, an average that reflects loudness better than single peaks.

Peak level

The largest absolute sample value in the measured window.

Clipping

Distortion that happens when a signal would exceed 0 dBFS and is cut off at the maximum.

Auto gain control

Browser processing that raises or lowers the microphone level automatically to keep speech at a steady loudness.

Sample rate

How many audio samples are captured per second, such as 48,000 Hz.