Mic Test
Press Start and say something: the meter shows your microphone working. Record 5 seconds to hear yourself back. The sound stays on this device, and nothing is saved or uploaded.
Nothing is recorded or uploaded: the sound stays on this device.
More optionsBrowser processing on
Your microphone
Not tested
Press Start, then choose Allow when your browser asks to use the microphone.
How this works: Method, 10 sources, Checked against 2 worked examples,
How this works
Method
When you press Start, the page asks the browser for the microphone with getUserMedia, the call the W3C Media Capture and Streams spec defines. The browser asks you first, and shows its own microphone icon while the test listens. The sound goes from the microphone to this tab and no further: there is no server on the other end. Full method
Sources
- MediaDevices: getUserMedia() (MDN)
- MediaDevices: enumerateDevices() (MDN)
- Media Capture and Streams (W3C)
- Web Audio API (W3C)
- MediaStream Recording (W3C)
- UI Events KeyboardEvent code Values (W3C)
- UI Events (W3C)
- Pointer Events (W3C)
- Gamepad (W3C)
- Gamepad API (MDN)
How it’s tested
2 worked examples for this page are checked by automated tests before every release: given the inputs, the tool must show the expected answer.
Changes
- First version: mic, webcam, keyboard, click speed, spacebar and gamepad tests, all on the device.
Example: reading the meter
Say “testing, one, two” at your normal volume. Each word pushes the bar to the right, and the thin peak marker holds the loudest moment for a second before it falls back. The first sound louder than −45 dB on the meter, a quarter of the way along, turns the card to “Works”. A fan or a quiet room barely moves it. If the bar only flickers at the left end while you talk, the input is too quiet: the table below has the fixes.
How the mic test works
When you press Start, the page asks the browser for the microphone with getUserMedia, the call the W3C Media Capture and Streams spec defines. The browser asks you first, and shows its own microphone icon while the test listens. The sound goes from the microphone to this tab and no further: there is no server on the other end.
The Web Audio API’s AnalyserNode hands the page the latest samples, numbers between −1 and 1. The meter shows their root mean square (RMS, the average power) in decibels relative to full scale, dBFS: 0 dB is the loudest a sample can be, and the meter starts at −60 dB, where room hiss sits. The waveform above it draws the same samples as they arrive.
Record 5 seconds uses the browser’s MediaRecorder. The recording is held in this tab’s memory as a blob, played back from there and thrown away when you delete it, record again or leave the page. Nothing is written to storage and nothing is sent: the “On this device” line at the foot of the page counts every upload, and it stays at 0.
level (dBFS) = 20 × log10( √(mean of sample²) )
- Browsers only offer the microphone and camera to secure pages (https://). On a plain http:// page, navigator.mediaDevices is missing, so no test can run. Source: MediaDevices: getUserMedia().
- Until you allow access, the browser hides your microphones’ names: enumerateDevices() returns empty labels. That is why the microphone picker fills in after you press Start. Source: MediaDevices: enumerateDevices().
Microphone problems and fixes
What the test shows for each common problem, and what to try first.
| Problem | What you see | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked | “Blocked”, with steps for your browser | Allow the microphone in the site settings (the icon left of the address), then reload. |
| Blocked by the system | “Blocked by your system” | macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. |
| No microphone | “No microphone found” | Plug the headset in fully, or pair the Bluetooth one, then press Try again. |
| In use | “In use by another app” | Close the other app using it (a call, a recorder), then try again. |
| Muted | “Silent”: a flat line | Check the mute switch on the headset or laptop, and the input volume in your system’s sound settings. |
| Too quiet | “Very quiet”: the bar barely moves | Move closer, raise the input volume, or pick the other microphone in the list. |
| Wrong microphone | It works, but not the one you meant | Choose the right one in the Microphone picker; the default is your system’s. |
| Echo or robot voice | Playback sounds processed | Turn on Raw input under More options to switch off echo cancellation and noise suppression. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No. The live sound goes from your microphone to this tab only. If you press Record 5 seconds, the clip is kept in the tab’s memory so you can play it back, and it is gone when you delete it or leave the page. The “On this device” counter at the bottom of the page lists everything the page has sent: it shows 0 uploads.
Why does the browser ask for my microphone every time?
Browsers ask per site and remember your answer differently. Chrome lets you allow it just this time or whenever you visit, Firefox remembers it if you tick “Remember this decision”, and Safari asks on each visit unless you set the site to Allow in Settings → Websites → Microphone.
How do I test my microphone on an iPhone or Android phone?
Open this page in Safari or Chrome, press Start and allow the microphone. Phones have more than one microphone and choose one for you; with a headset plugged in or paired, it uses the headset’s. If the prompt never appears, check the browser has microphone access in the phone’s Settings app.
What is a good microphone level?
Loud enough that your normal speaking voice fills most of the meter, but never reaching 0 dB. At 0 dB a sample can’t get any louder, so the waveform is cut flat (clipping) and it sounds harsh. If your voice only reaches the first quarter, raise the input volume or move closer.
Can I use this as a sound test for my speakers?
Yes, two ways. Record 5 seconds and play it back to hear your microphone through your speakers or headphones. Or press “Play a test sound” to hear a short, quiet tone without the microphone at all. If you hear nothing, check the volume and which output your system is using.