How do I know my mic is working?

When you speak, the green bar should jump well past the middle and the page shows "Your microphone is working". If the bar barely moves, the microphone is quiet or far away; if it never moves, the wrong microphone is chosen, it is muted, or the system is blocking it. The playback test is the final check: if you hear yourself clearly, others will too.

Is my voice recorded or uploaded?

No. The meter reads the sound live in your browser and keeps nothing. The five-second test is recorded only when you press its button, is kept in the page's memory to play back, and is gone when you leave the page. Nothing is sent to this site or anyone else.

My mic works here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord. Why?

Each app chooses its own microphone. Note the name shown here and pick the same one in the app's audio settings; also check the app is allowed to use the microphone in Windows or Mac privacy settings, which apply to each app separately.

Why does my headset microphone sound bad?

A Bluetooth headset switches to a low-quality "hands-free" mode while its microphone is in use, which also makes music in your ears sound flat. A wired headset, a USB microphone or the computer's own microphone sounds better. Noise suppression can also make a voice sound thin or watery.

The browser says the microphone is blocked. How do I fix it?

Open "Not working? Fixes" above: it shows where to allow the microphone in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, and in the privacy settings of Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, which can block it for every browser at once.

Does the mic test work on a phone?

Yes: on an iPhone in Safari or Chrome, and on Android in Chrome, Samsung Internet or Firefox. A phone usually lists one microphone; a headset plugged in or paired appears as another.

Stays on your computer How this works

Free mic test: check your microphone online

Find out in seconds whether your microphone works: a live level meter shows it picking up your voice, and a five-second recording plays back how you sound. Test your speakers or headphones too. Nothing leaves your device.

Microphone

The browser will ask to use the microphone. Nothing is recorded unless you press Record.

Speakers and headphones

Press a button and listen: the tone should come from that side only. No permission is needed.

Not working? Fixes

The browser blocked the microphone

Chrome and Edge: click the icon at the left of the address bar (a slider or padlock), set Microphone to Allow, and reload the page.
Firefox: click the crossed-out microphone icon in the address bar, remove the block, and reload.
Safari on a Mac: Safari menu, Settings, Websites, Microphone: set johnmcm.com to Allow.
iPhone and iPad: tap aA (or the page menu) in the address bar, Website Settings, and set Microphone to Allow; or Settings, Apps, Safari, Microphone.
Android: tap the icon at the left of the address bar, Permissions, and allow it; if Chrome itself is not allowed, Settings, Apps, Chrome, Permissions.

The computer or phone is blocking it (system privacy settings)

Windows 11: Settings, Privacy & security, Microphone: turn on access, and "Let desktop apps access" for Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Some laptops also have a camera shutter, a key with a camera symbol, or a switch in the maker's app.
Mac: System Settings, Privacy & Security, Microphone: turn on your browser, then quit and reopen it.
iPhone: Settings, Privacy & Security, Microphone, and check Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions does not block it.
Android: Settings, Security & privacy (or Privacy), and make sure the microphone access switch is on.

The meter does not move, or the sound is very quiet

Pick the right microphone in the list above: a headset, webcam or monitor may each have one.
Check the microphone's own mute switch, and for a headset that it is connected (Bluetooth headsets can switch to a low-quality "headset" mode while the microphone is in use).
Raise the input level: Windows Settings, System, Sound, Input; Mac System Settings, Sound, Input.
If the meter moves here but others cannot hear you in a call, choose the same microphone in that app's settings.

No sound from the speaker test

Check the volume, the mute key and which output is chosen (system sound settings), and on an iPhone the silent switch.
If both sides play from one speaker, the device is mono or set to mono audio in accessibility settings.

To check your camera as well, use the Webcam Test.

About this mic test

Find out whether your microphone works, and how you sound, before a call, a meeting, a game or a recording. Press Start microphone and speak: the level meter moves with your voice and the page says whether it is picking you up well or only faintly. Then record five seconds and it plays straight back, so you hear what others hear, including background noise or a muffled headset.

The page also lists your microphones so you can see which one the browser is using and switch to another, shows its sample rate and whether echo cancellation and noise suppression are on, and tests your speakers or headphones left and right. It runs in your browser: the sound never leaves your device, nothing is uploaded or stored, and the microphone is released when you turn it off or leave the page.

What you can check

A live microphone level meter, with the level in decibels
A plain verdict: working, too quiet, or nothing heard
A five-second recording that plays back straight away
Every microphone on the device by name, with a list to switch between them
The microphone's sample rate, channels, echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain
A left/right speaker and headphone test
Fixes for a blocked or silent microphone in each browser and in Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android settings

How to test your microphone

Press Start microphone and allow it when the browser asks.
Speak normally: the green bar should move, and the page tells you if it hears you.
Press Record 5 seconds and play back, speak, and listen to the playback.
If it is the wrong microphone, choose another in the list.

Questions

How do I know my mic is working?: When you speak, the green bar should jump well past the middle and the page shows "Your microphone is working". If the bar barely moves, the microphone is quiet or far away; if it never moves, the wrong microphone is chosen, it is muted, or the system is blocking it. The playback test is the final check: if you hear yourself clearly, others will too.
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?: No. The meter reads the sound live in your browser and keeps nothing. The five-second test is recorded only when you press its button, is kept in the page's memory to play back, and is gone when you leave the page. Nothing is sent to this site or anyone else.
My mic works here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord. Why?: Each app chooses its own microphone. Note the name shown here and pick the same one in the app's audio settings; also check the app is allowed to use the microphone in Windows or Mac privacy settings, which apply to each app separately.
Why does my headset microphone sound bad?: A Bluetooth headset switches to a low-quality "hands-free" mode while its microphone is in use, which also makes music in your ears sound flat. A wired headset, a USB microphone or the computer's own microphone sounds better. Noise suppression can also make a voice sound thin or watery.
The browser says the microphone is blocked. How do I fix it?: Open "Not working? Fixes" above: it shows where to allow the microphone in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, and in the privacy settings of Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, which can block it for every browser at once.
Does the mic test work on a phone?: Yes: on an iPhone in Safari or Chrome, and on Android in Chrome, Samsung Internet or Firefox. A phone usually lists one microphone; a headset plugged in or paired appears as another.

To check your camera too, use the Webcam Test. To make a recording you keep, use the Voice Recorder, and to clean up noise in one, Remove Background Noise.