Microphone test
Check that your microphone is working before a call, an interview or a recording session. Press Record, say a few words, and play it back — you will see the level as you speak and hear exactly what the other end would hear.
Ready. Press Record and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
Reading the meter
The vertical bar on the right of the display is a peak meter. Speak at the volume you would normally use and watch where it settles.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Flat line, meter dead | No signal reaching the browser | Wrong input selected, muted device, or permission denied |
| Meter barely moves | Signal is far too quiet | Move closer, or raise input gain in your system settings |
| Blue with occasional amber | Correct level | Nothing — this is the target |
| Constantly red at the top | Clipping, the signal is distorting | Lower input gain or move back from the mic |
| Meter moves when you are silent | Background noise or a hot gain setting | See reducing background noise |
Aim for a signal that lives in the blue and touches amber on your loudest syllables. Audio that peaks red is permanently distorted — no amount of later processing recovers it, so it is worth fixing before you record anything that matters.
Testing more than one microphone
The Input dropdown lists every audio input your system exposes: built-in mic, headset, USB interface, webcam, virtual devices from conferencing software. Switch between them and press Record on each to compare. A common surprise is that the laptop's built-in microphone is selected while a much better USB mic sits unused, because plugging a device in does not always make it the default.
The dropdown may show entries like "Microphone 1" instead of real names until you grant permission the first time. That is a browser privacy measure — device labels are hidden until a page has been trusted with audio access. Press Record once, allow access, and the real names appear.
This test runs the signal raw
Browsers normally apply echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control to microphone input. Useful on a video call; misleading in a test, because it hides the problem you are trying to find. This page disables all three so you hear the microphone as it actually is. If your recording sounds noisier here than it does on a call, that is the reason — and it means the noise is real, not imagined.
Nothing is stored
The sample you record for playback exists only in this tab's memory. Close the page and it is gone. Nothing is uploaded at any point, which matters more than usual for a page you are likely to speak candidly into while testing.
Still not working?
- Microphone not workingThe full diagnostic walkthrough, by symptom.
- Microphone permissionsHow to reset permission in each browser.
- Volume meterA larger meter for setting levels precisely.
- Best mic settingsGain, distance and placement.
Questions
Does this test record anything I say?
Only if you press Record, and only into this tab's memory so you can play it back. It is never uploaded and it is discarded when you close the page.
Why does my microphone show as 'Microphone 1' with no name?
Browsers hide device names until a page has been granted microphone permission, so that sites cannot fingerprint your hardware without asking. Press Record, allow access, and the real names appear in the dropdown.
The meter moves but playback is silent. What is wrong?
The microphone is working and the problem is on the output side. Check your speaker or headphone selection, the system volume, and whether the browser tab is muted — right-click the tab to check.
My mic sounds worse here than on Zoom. Why?
This page deliberately disables the noise suppression and automatic gain control that call software applies, so you hear the true signal. The noise was always there; the call software was masking it.
Can I test a microphone before joining a meeting?
Yes, and it is worth doing. Close the meeting app first, though — on Windows in particular, conferencing software can hold the microphone exclusively and block other applications from opening it.
Does this work on a phone?
Yes, in Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. On a phone, be aware that the built-in microphone is directional — holding the device differently changes the level noticeably.
Why does the meter jump when I am not speaking?
Either genuine background noise — a fan, air conditioning, traffic — or an input gain set too high, which amplifies the room along with your voice. Reducing background noise covers both.