Runs in your browser: your voice and your test recording stay on your device.

This mic test checks whether your microphone works, right in your browser. Select Start mic test, allow the microphone when your browser asks, and speak: a level bar moves when sound reaches the mic. You can then record 5 seconds and play it back to hear how you sound.

Nothing is uploaded. The sound is analyzed on your device, and the recording disappears when you leave the page.

How to use the mic test

Plug in or connect the microphone you want to check first, such as a headset, USB mic or Bluetooth earbuds.
Select Start mic test. Your browser asks for permission to use the microphone. Choose Allow.
Speak at a normal volume, or tap gently near the mic. Watch the level bar and the headline above it.
If you have more than one microphone, pick it in the Microphone list. Names appear after you allow access, and the test restarts with the one you chose.
Select Record 5 seconds, say a sentence, then press play on the recording to hear yourself.
Select Stop when you are done. The page lets go of the microphone straight away.

Testing for a video call? Run the test with the same headset and the same browser you use for calls. The result then matches what other people will hear from you.

How to read your result

The big headline tells you whether any sound has reached your microphone since you started. The bar under it shows the level right now, and the table lists what your browser reports about the device.

What you see	What it means	What to do
Your mic is working	Sound is reaching the microphone and your browser can use it	Record 5 seconds to check that you sound clear
No sound detected yet	The browser has a microphone, but it hears nothing	Check the mute switch, the input device and the input volume (see the fixes below)
Level: Very quiet	The mic hears you, but only just	Move closer, or raise the input volume in your sound settings
Level: Very loud: may distort	The input is close to its limit and may crackle	Move back a little, or lower the input volume
Microphone access is blocked	You, your browser or your system said no to the mic	Allow it in the browser and system settings listed in the message
No microphone found	The browser can’t see any microphone	Connect one, or pick the right input device in your settings
Your microphone is busy	Another app or tab is holding the mic, or the device stopped responding	Close other call apps, reconnect the mic and try again

What the details mean

Microphone is the device your browser is listening to. If it’s not the one you expected, pick another in the list.
Sample rate is how many times per second the sound is measured. Any common value is fine for calls and voice notes.
Channels shows mono (one channel) or stereo (two). Most headset and laptop microphones are mono.
Echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain are voice clean-up features. Browsers usually switch them on for voice. They can make music or a quiet instrument sound odd, so call and recording apps often let you turn them off.

If your browser leaves a row as Not reported, it simply doesn’t share that detail. It isn’t a fault.

Mic not working? Fixes for Windows 11, Android, iPhone and Mac

Start with the basics: check any mute switch or button on the headset cable or ear cup, and make sure the plug is fully in. Then work through the steps for your device.

Windows 11

Allow microphone access. Microsoft says to go to Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and turn on Microphone access and Let apps access your microphone. If your browser isn’t in the list of apps, Microsoft says it’s likely a desktop app, so also turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone.
Pick the right input. Go to Start → Settings → System → Sound. Under Input, use Choose a device for speaking or recording to select your mic.
Check the input volume. On the same page, select the arrow next to your microphone. Under Input settings, select Start test, speak, and adjust the Input volume slider if needed.
Free the mic. Close video call apps and other browser tabs that might be using it, then run this test again.

Find more Windows fixes, and the Windows 11 settings worth changing, on our Windows hub.

Browser permission: Chrome, Edge and Safari

Your browser keeps its own permission for each website, on top of the system setting. If the tool says access is blocked, change it here and reload the page:

Chrome on a computer: Google’s help says to open Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Microphone. If the site is listed as not allowed, select it and change the permission to Allow.
Chrome on Android: tap More (three dots) → Settings → Site settings → Microphone. If the site is under Blocked, tap it and choose Allow.
Microsoft Edge: select Settings and more → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions → All sites, select the site, and change the Microphone setting.
Safari on Mac: choose Safari → Settings → Websites → Microphone, and set the site to Ask or Allow.

Android and Samsung Galaxy

Check the app permission. Google’s Android Help says to open Settings → Apps, choose the app (for this page, your browser), tap Permissions, then set Microphone to an allow option.
Check the phone-wide switch. Android can turn the microphone off for every app. Google lists it under Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Privacy controls → Microphone access. Menu names vary by phone, so on a Galaxy you may find it faster to search Settings for “microphone”.
Then check the site permission in Chrome, as shown above.

More Galaxy and Android help is on our Android hub.

iPhone

Apple’s steps for an iPhone microphone that isn’t working:

Remove any screen protector, film or case, and clear debris from the microphone openings.
Record a short clip in Voice Memos and play it back. Apple also suggests recording a video with each camera and playing both back.
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and make sure the app you’re using is turned on.
If it still fails after those steps, Apple suggests getting the iPhone serviced.

More iPhone guides are on our iPhone hub.

Mac

Choose Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and turn on access for your browser.
Choose Apple menu → System Settings → Sound, click Input, select your microphone, and drag the input volume slider.
Apple notes that a recording indicator appears in Control Center when the microphone is in use or was used recently, so you can see when an app is listening.

More Mac guides are on our Mac hub.

Privacy: what this test does with your voice

The level meter and the details table are worked out by your browser on your device. The 5-second recording is held in your browser’s memory as a temporary link that only this page can play. It is never uploaded, and it’s gone when you record again, reload or leave the page.

Your browser shows when a page is using the microphone. Select Stop and the indicator should go away. If you’re worried an app is listening when it shouldn’t be, our guide to checking whether your phone is hacked and our security hub can help.

What this test can’t check

It tests the microphone your browser can reach. A call app such as Zoom or Teams has its own microphone setting, so check that too.
It shows whether sound arrives and how loud it is, not a lab-grade quality score. Your own ears, using the recording, are the best judge of clarity.
Browsers can’t switch your system default device. Use the input settings above for that.

Related free tool: our speaker and headphone test.

FAQ

Is this mic test safe to use?

Yes. It runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and the recording is deleted when you leave the page. You can also revoke the permission in your browser settings at any time.

Why does it say “No sound detected yet”?

The browser has a microphone but hears silence. The usual causes are a muted headset, the wrong input device, or an input volume set to zero. Try another mic in the list, then check your sound settings.

How do I test my microphone in Windows 11 without a website?

Go to Start → Settings → System → Sound, select the arrow next to your microphone, then select Start test under Input settings and speak.

Can I test my mic on a phone?

Yes. Open this page in a current mobile browser, such as Chrome on Android or Safari on iPhone, and allow the microphone when asked.

Why does my recording sound muffled?

Check that you picked the microphone you meant to, remove any case or cover over it, and move a little closer. Voice clean-up features such as noise suppression can also change how you sound.

Mic Test: Check if Your Microphone Works