How to test your microphone
- Press Start test and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Speak normally. The bar moves with your voice, and the panel shows the current and loudest levels.
- Press Record 5 seconds and play back to hear how you sound.
- If you have several microphones, such as a headset and a laptop’s built-in one, choose another from the list.
Reading the level
| Loudest level while speaking | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below −40 dB | Very quiet: wrong microphone, muted, or too far away |
| −40 to −20 dB | Quiet but usable; move closer |
| −20 to −6 dB | Good level for calls and recordings |
| Near 0 dB | Too loud; risk of distortion. Move back or lower the input level |
The levels are in decibels relative to the maximum (dBFS), so 0 dB is the loudest possible and everything else is negative.
Common problems
- Wrong microphone: computers often default to the built-in microphone even with a headset plugged in. Choose the headset in the list.
- Muted headset: many headsets have a mute switch on the cable or ear cup.
- Very quiet: raise the input level in your system’s sound settings, or move closer.
- Echo in calls: use headphones, so the microphone doesn’t pick up the other person from your speakers.
Before an important call
Test with the same microphone and browser you’ll use for the call. Record a few seconds and listen with headphones: you should hear clear speech without a hum, crackle or echo of the room. Then check that the call app is set to the same microphone, since apps such as Zoom and Teams have their own input selection.
Privacy
The test uses your browser’s built-in microphone access. The sound is measured on your device only, and the microphone is released when you press Stop or leave the page.
Questions
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
The live meter only measures the sound; nothing is saved. The 5-second test clip is kept in your browser just so you can hear it, and disappears when you leave the page. Nothing is uploaded.
The bar doesn't move. What's wrong?
Check that the right microphone is selected, that it isn't muted (some headsets and laptops have a mute button or key), and that your browser has permission. On Windows, also check Settings › System › Sound › Input; on a Mac, System Settings › Sound › Input.
Why does my voice sound different in the playback?
This test records the raw microphone signal without the noise suppression and automatic volume that call apps add, so you hear what the microphone really captures. Everyone's voice also sounds unfamiliar when played back, because you normally hear yourself partly through your own head.
What level is good?
When you speak normally, the loudest level should reach roughly −20 to −6 dB. Much lower means you'll sound quiet or distant; constantly near 0 dB risks distortion.
Last reviewed 8 November 2026