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Localtools

Microphone Test

See your microphone level live, switch between mics and record a short clip to hear yourself.

Input level

Press Start microphone test and allow microphone access, then speak.

Audio stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded or saved.

How to use

  1. Press Start microphone test and choose Allow when your browser asks to use the microphone.
  2. Speak at your normal volume and watch the input level bar. It should jump when you talk and fall back when you stop.
  3. If you have several microphones, such as a headset and a laptop mic, choose the one you want from the Microphone list.
  4. Press Record 5 seconds, say a sentence, then play the clip back to hear how you sound to others.
  5. Press Stop when you are done so the browser releases the microphone.

How the microphone test works

When you start the test, your browser asks for permission and then gives this page a live audio stream from the selected microphone. The page passes that stream to the Web Audio API, which hands over small blocks of raw samples on every screen refresh (usually 60 times a second). For each block the test calculates the root mean square (RMS), a standard measure of how much energy the sound carries, and converts it to decibels relative to full scale (dBFS). Zero dBFS is the loudest signal the input can represent; quiet rooms usually sit around −60 dBFS and normal speech close to the microphone lands somewhere between −35 and −10 dBFS.

The bar uses that decibel value rather than raw amplitude, because hearing works on a logarithmic scale. A sound that is twice as loud to your ears moves the bar a sensible distance instead of barely nudging it. The bar rises immediately and drops back slowly so short peaks are easy to see.

Reading the results

  • No sound means the input is essentially silent. The microphone may be muted or unplugged, or the wrong device may be selected.
  • Quiet means your voice is reaching the computer but weakly. Others may need to turn you up.
  • Good level is where you want normal speech to land.
  • Too loud means you are close to clipping, where the signal is cut off and sounds harsh.

The sample rate shows how many audio samples per second the microphone delivers, typically 44,100 or 48,000 Hz. The channel count shows whether the stream is mono or stereo; most headsets and laptop microphones are mono. If the browser does not report the microphone’s own rate, the rate of the browser’s audio engine is shown instead.

Recording a test clip

The Record 5 seconds button uses your browser’s built-in recorder to capture a short clip from the same stream. When it finishes, a player appears so you can listen back. This is the quickest way to notice problems the meter cannot show, such as hiss, a muffled sound from a covered microphone, or a loud fan in the background.

Using the result in call apps

If the microphone works here, browser-based calls such as Google Meet or Teams on the web can use it too. Desktop apps like Zoom, Discord or the Teams app have their own input setting, so choose the same microphone there. Before a video call, check your camera with the webcam test as well.

Nothing leaves this browser tab, and pressing Stop or closing the tab releases the microphone.

Frequently asked questions

The bar does not move when I speak. What is wrong?

First check that the right microphone is selected in the list. Then look for a mute switch on your headset or a mute key on your laptop, and make sure the input volume in your system sound settings is not at zero. On Windows, open Sound settings and check the input device; on macOS, open System Settings, Sound, Input.

I blocked the microphone by accident. How do I allow it again?

Click the lock or microphone icon at the left of the address bar, set Microphone to Allow for this site and reload the page. On macOS you may also need to allow your browser under System Settings, Privacy and Security, Microphone. On Windows, check Settings, Privacy and security, Microphone.

What is a good microphone level?

When you speak normally, the bar should sit roughly in the middle and the label should read Good level. If it says Quiet, move closer or raise the input gain. If it says Too loud, your voice may distort, so lower the gain or move the microphone away a little.

Why does my recording sound different from the real thing?

Browsers turn on echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain for microphones by default, the same processing used on calls. That is what other people hear in browser-based meetings, so the clip is a fair preview, but it can sound slightly flatter than a raw recording.

Can I test a Bluetooth headset microphone?

Yes. Pair the headset first, then pick it in the Microphone list; on Windows it may appear as a separate "Headset" or "Hands-Free" entry. While its microphone is in use, most Bluetooth headsets switch to a call mode with lower audio quality, so the clip sounds narrower, like a phone call. That is normal for Bluetooth, and it is what people hear when you use the headset on calls.

Why does the list only show "Default microphone"?

Browsers hide the names of your devices until you give the page permission. After you press Start microphone test and allow access, the full list of microphones appears.

Why can't I hear myself live while testing?

The test deliberately does not send your microphone to the speakers, because that would create a loud feedback loop. Use the 5-second recording to hear yourself instead.

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