Mic test
Is your microphone working? Find out in five seconds.
Level −∞ dBFSPeak −∞ dBFS
dBFS: relative to the loudest the microphone can record — not a calibrated sound level (dB SPL).
Nothing leaves your device
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you type, play or record here stays on your device: nothing is uploaded or saved on a server.
Example
Example: reading the level meter while testing a headset microphone
Headset plugged in: press Start, allow the microphone and pick the headset under Device. Then talk at a normal volume and watch the meter, which runs from −60 to 0 dBFS.
| The meter shows | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below −50 dBFS, no “It works” | Your voice is not reaching it: the wrong microphone, muted, or blocked. |
| About −40 dBFS while you speak | Heard but quiet: move closer or raise the input level in the sound settings. |
| −30 to −10 dBFS while you speak | Good: a normal speaking level. |
| Above −3 dBFS, the bar turns red | Too loud, close to clipping: the voice may distort. Turn it down. |
“It works — signal received.” appears as soon as your voice goes above −50 dBFS. To hear how you really sound, record 10 seconds and play them back, or turn on “Hear yourself” with headphones on.
How it works
- Press Start and allow the microphone when the browser asks.
- Speak: the meter moves and “It works” appears. Choose another microphone from the list if you have several.
- Record 10 seconds and play it back to hear how you sound — or turn on “hear yourself” with headphones.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my microphone not work?
- Most often the browser was not allowed to use it (check the icon next to the address bar), another program such as a video call is using it, or the wrong microphone is selected. The test tells you which, and lists every microphone it can see.
- What does the level in dBFS mean?
- Decibels relative to full scale: 0 is the loudest the microphone can record, speech usually sits between −30 and −10. It is not a sound-level meter reading in dB SPL — computer microphones are not calibrated.
- How do I hear myself?
- Turn on “hear yourself” and your voice comes back through the speakers with a slight delay. Use headphones, or the sound loops between speaker and microphone and howls.
- Is the recording uploaded?
- No. The 10-second clip stays in your browser’s memory and is gone when you close the page.
- Why is my microphone so quiet?
- If speech stays around −40 dBFS or lower, raise the microphone’s input level in the system sound settings, move closer, or check the right microphone is chosen: a laptop’s built-in one across the desk reads far lower than a headset at your mouth.
- Can I test my webcam here too?
- Yes: switch Test to Webcam for the camera preview with its real resolution and frame rate, a snapshot, and the microphone meter alongside.
- Does it work on phones?
- Yes, in the phone’s browser. On an iPhone, sound may be muted while the ringer switch is on silent.
Made for a specific use
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