Recording guides
Two kinds of guide: fixing something that is broken, and getting a better result from something that already works. Start with whichever describes your situation.
Something is broken
Work through these in order — permission problems account for the large majority of failures, and they fail silently, with no error and no prompt.
- Microphone not workingOrdered checks by symptom, from permission to hardware.
- Microphone permissionsHow to reset a blocked site in each browser and operating system.
- Where downloads saveFinding the file on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone and Android.
Fastest first step: open the microphone test and watch the meter while you speak. If it moves, audio is reaching the browser and the problem is downstream.
Getting a better recording
- Best microphone settingsDistance, gain and which side of the microphone to speak into.
- Reduce background noiseFixing the room, which software cannot do afterwards.
- MP3 vs WAVOne rule covers almost every case, plus the exceptions.
Understanding how it works
- How browser recording worksThe three APIs involved, and why MP3 takes a moment to encode.
- Recording without installingWhat is possible on a locked-down school or work machine.
For how this site specifically handles your audio — and how to verify it — see how it works and the privacy policy.
Which guide do you need?
| What you are seeing | Start here |
|---|---|
| No permission prompt appears at all | Microphone permissions — the site was probably blocked once, and browsers never re-ask |
| Prompt appeared, but the meter stays flat | Microphone not working — usually the wrong input device is selected |
| It records, but sounds distant or echoey | Reduce background noise — room reflections cannot be removed afterwards |
| It records, but sounds quiet or distorted | Best microphone settings — gain and distance |
| Recording worked, file is nowhere | Where downloads save |
| Not sure which format to pick | MP3 vs WAV |
| Cannot install software on this machine | Recording without installing |
| Want to understand what the browser is doing | How browser recording works |
The three things that cause most problems
- Permission, and it fails silently. A blocked site produces no prompt and no error — recording simply does nothing. Browsers never re-ask once you have blocked one, so it has to be reset by hand.
- A second permission at the operating system level. Windows, macOS, iOS and Android all gate microphone access above the browser. Granting it in the browser while the system blocks it is the most common false trail.
- Another application holding the microphone. Zoom, Teams and Discord can take exclusive control and keep it after their window closes. Quitting them from the system tray fixes it.
Still stuck
Check the browser support table for version requirements, or the page for your specific browser or device, where the menu paths are exact rather than generic. If none of that helps, get in touch.
Questions
My microphone will not work. Where do I start?
The troubleshooting guide, which is ordered by how often each cause turns out to be the problem. Permission is the answer most of the time, and it fails silently.
Which guide covers file formats?
MP3 vs WAV. The short version: WAV if you will edit it, MP3 if you will send it.
Can software remove background noise afterwards?
Steady noise like hum and hiss, largely. Room reverb, no — it is part of the recorded signal. Reducing background noise covers what to fix before recording.
Where did my downloaded recording go?
Your browser's Downloads folder. Press Ctrl+J, or Command+Shift+J on a Mac, to see recent downloads. Where downloads save covers every platform.