Your microphone check, explained
Test your mic, listen, then choose the next step
Use the mic test above to check the sound reaching your browser. Watch the waveform, select the intended microphone and record a short sample. A moving meter confirms that audio is arriving; playback helps you judge whether your voice is clear enough for your call or recording.
How to Test Your Microphone Online
- Start and select your inputClick Start Test and allow microphone access. Use the Microphone dropdown to choose your headset, laptop mic, USB mic or audio interface.
- Include silence and speechPause briefly, then speak normally from your usual position. Check that the waveform follows your voice rather than a different microphone across the room.
- Record and listenRecord a few sentences, finish the recording and play it through headphones. Listen for missing words, low volume, noise, room echo and distortion.
- Change one thing and repeatAdjust position, input gain or a relevant setting, then record again. Download samples if useful. Click Stop when finished and check the same input in your actual app.
Using Hear Yourself? Wear headphones and start with a comfortable playback volume. Speaker output can return to the microphone and create echo or feedback. Browser monitoring can also introduce delay. See how to use mic monitoring with headphones.
What to say during a mic test
Say this line at normal volume, then repeat it slightly more quietly.
Testing, one, two, three. Peter bought six big bags of sweet potatoes.
Record both versions and play them back with headphones. Listen for bursts on P and B, harsh S sounds, clear numbers and missing syllables. Include a short pause to hear the background noise.
Understand your mic test results
Judge the readings alongside a recording. A quiet room, a loud voice and automatic processing can all change the result; a grade alone cannot tell you how natural your voice sounds.
| Reading | What it tells you | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Waveform and input level | Audio is reaching the selected browser input. Movement alone does not prove speech is intelligible. | Speak, pause and confirm that the response follows your voice. If it does not, follow the microphone input troubleshooting checks. |
| Peak level and clipping | Peaks show the louder parts of the digital signal. Clipping warnings suggest possible overload. | Try louder speech too. Reduce gain if peaks overload and listen again. Use the guides for static, crackling or popping and improving microphone audio quality. |
| Estimated noise floor | An estimate of quieter captured audio, affected by room noise, gain and processing. | Compare silence with speech under the same settings. See how to reduce keyboard and mouse noise in your microphone before changing several settings. |
| Sample rate, channels and processing | Information the browser exposes about its capture path. Some fields may be unavailable. | Check the intended input and app settings. If playback is one-sided, follow the recording channel and one-sided audio checks. |
| A–F quality score | A summary of selected signal checks, rather than a professional equipment rating. | Use it to investigate levels or noise, then listen for clarity, echo and missing words. |
What problem are you hearing?
Choose the symptom closest to your result. Each guide explains what to check and how to interpret the outcome.
Microphone access blocked
Check website permission and the device’s access controls.
No input or no sound
Trace detection, mute, connection and app selection in order.
Voice is too quiet
Separate low capture level from playback volume and app gain.
Static, crackling or popping
Compare connections, overload and intermittent noise.
Words keep cutting out
Distinguish gates and processing from device or call dropouts.
Works, but sounds poor
Improve placement, the room and processing one change at a time.
Test Your Microphone on Windows and Mac
In Windows, open Settings → System → Sound → Input and select your microphone to check its input level. On Mac, open System Settings → Sound → Input and watch the input meter while speaking. This online test checks the browser’s capture path specifically. For system checks, use Windows 11 microphone troubleshooting, Windows microphone settings or Mac microphone troubleshooting. Compare the same device before changing settings.
Microphone guides for your app and device
A browser test checks this capture path. Meeting, chat and recording software can select another input or apply different processing. Use the relevant guide when the problem occurs in one place.
Calls, chat and recording
Operating system and connections
A specific sound problem
Prepare, test and choose
More setup and comparison guides
Privacy and the limits of a browser mic test
The tool processes test audio and optional recordings locally in your browser; it does not upload that media to TestMic.net servers. Downloaded files stay on your device until you remove them. Ordinary hosting, analytics and advertising data are separate from your test audio; see the Privacy Policy.
The test cannot certify your microphone’s frequency response, measure calibrated sound pressure or reproduce every app’s processing. A successful result here does not guarantee that another participant can hear you. Confirm the selected microphone and playback in the app you plan to use.
Microphone test FAQs
How do I know which microphone is being tested?
Choose a named input from the Microphone dropdown. Speak near that device and check the response. Device names may remain limited until permission is granted; compare another input if you are unsure.
Why does the meter move but playback has no sound?
Capture and playback use different paths. Check the recording player, output volume and selected speakers or headphones. A silent player does not, by itself, prove that your microphone failed.
Can I use the mic test on iPhone or Android?
Yes. A supported mobile browser can request microphone access, although recording formats, monitoring and device information vary. Follow the iPhone and Android microphone testing steps and use playback to confirm the result.
Does a good score mean my microphone sounds professional?
No. The score summarizes selected signal checks. It cannot fully judge pronunciation, tone, room echo, processing artifacts or suitability for a particular recording. Listen to a sample and check the destination app.
Why does my mic work here but not in Zoom, Meet or Discord?
The app may use another input or have different mute, permission or processing settings. Follow the checks for Zoom, Google Meet, Discord or Microsoft Teams to compare that app with a successful browser recording.
Is this mic test safe and private?
TestMic processes test audio and optional recordings locally in your browser without uploading that media to TestMic.net servers. Read the Privacy Policy for ordinary website data practices and how browser microphone tests work for the limits of local testing.
How do I test my AirPods or Bluetooth headset microphone?
Select the headset by name in the Microphone dropdown, then record and play back a short sample to confirm the intended input. If it is missing or sounds poor, use the AirPods microphone checks for PC and Mac or Bluetooth headset microphone quality guide.
How can I test my mic and hear myself?
Wear headphones and use the Hear Yourself button to monitor the selected microphone at a comfortable volume. Browser monitoring can add delay, so also record and play back a sample. See how to hear your microphone through headphones.
Getting ready for a video call?
Check the picture as well as the sound. Use the webcam test to review camera access, framing, lighting and browser video before opening your meeting app.