Is your microphone actually working?
Press one button and find out. This page measures your input level in decibels, draws the waveform, records a sample you can play back, tests both headphone channels and measures round-trip latency — entirely inside your browser.
What this tests
- LevelPeak and RMS in dBFS with peak hold, noise floor estimation and a clipped-frame counter — the numbers Windows and macOS never show you.
- WaveformA live oscilloscope. Flat line means no signal; flat tops mean the signal is clipping.
- SpectrumFrequency content from 20 Hz upward, so you can spot rumble, hum and hiss by sight.
- RecordingCapture up to two minutes, play it back, download the file. The only honest test of how you sound.
- Live monitoringHear yourself through headphones in real time and catch plosives and background noise instantly.
- HeadphonesLeft, right and both channels, plus a 20 Hz to 18 kHz sweep and fixed test tones.
- LatencyPlays clicks through your speakers and times how long they take to return through the mic.
- ReportDevice name, sample rate, channel count, processing state and a plain verdict you can copy into a support ticket.
How to test your microphone
- Pick the right input
Open the device list at the top of the console. Every microphone the system can see is listed by name. Choose the one you actually intend to use — the default is often a webcam or a virtual cable.
- Press Start test and allow access
The browser shows a permission prompt. Choose Allow. Nothing is recorded until you press Record, and even then the audio stays on your machine.
- Speak at your normal distance
Say a full sentence at conversational volume, sitting where you normally sit. The meter should swing between -24 dB and -6 dB. A flat meter means no signal is arriving.
- Check the waveform for damage
Open the Waveform panel. A healthy voice looks like rounded peaks with space above and below. Flat tops touching the edges mean the signal is clipping and words will sound crunchy.
- Record and play it back
Levels can look perfect while the audio sounds terrible. Record five seconds, play it back, and listen for hiss, hum, echo and keyboard noise.
- Read the report
The Report panel names the device, its sample rate and channel count, whether echo cancellation and auto gain are active, and gives a plain verdict you can copy into a support ticket.
Pick your platform
Questions people ask
Is my audio uploaded anywhere?
No. The test uses the Web Audio API inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, and recordings live in memory until you close the tab or download them yourself.
Why does the browser ask for permission every time?
Some browsers only remember the choice for the session, and private or incognito windows always forget it. Allowing the site in your browser's site settings makes the choice permanent.
What is a good level?
Peaks between -12 dB and -6 dB, with a noise floor below -50 dB. That gives clean headroom without clipping.
The test works but people still cannot hear me
Then the microphone is fine and the app is not. Open that app's audio settings and select the same device you chose here.
Does this work on a phone?
Yes. Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS both support the test, though iOS restricts which of the phone's microphones a browser can reach.
Which browsers work?
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Brave and Opera on desktop, plus Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. The page needs the Web Audio API and getUserMedia, which all current versions support.
Why does the site need HTTPS?
Browsers only grant microphone access on secure origins. That rule protects you, and it is why the test lives at https://check-mic.com.