Mic Test

Press Start microphone test, allow access, and speak. Within a second you get a plain-language verdict — "Your microphone is working", "Signal very quiet", or "No signal detected" — backed by real measurements: a level meter in dBFS with peak hold and a clipping light, a live oscilloscope waveform, and a frequency spectrum. Record a short clip to hear exactly what other people hear, then play it back or download it.

Everything happens inside this tab. The audio is analysed with the browser's Web Audio API and recorded with MediaRecorder; nothing is uploaded, streamed, or stored anywhere, and Stop releases the microphone immediately.

What the readings mean

• RMS level is the average loudness. Normal speech at arm's length usually sits between about -40 and -12 dBFS.
• Peak is the loudest single sample. 0 dBFS is the digital ceiling — anything that reaches it is clipping, which sounds harsh and distorted.
• Peak hold keeps the loudest recent peak on the meter for a second so short sounds like a clap are easy to read.
• Microphone details show what the browser actually opened: the device name, sample rate (typically 48,000 Hz), channel count, and whether echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto gain are really on.

Common uses

• Check a headset or USB mic before a Zoom, Teams, Meet, or Discord call
• Find out which input your computer is really using when several mics are plugged in
• Diagnose "they can't hear me": muted headset, wrong device, OS input volume at zero, or another app holding the mic
• Compare how you sound with noise suppression and auto gain on versus off (in Options)
• Set a streaming or podcast mic's gain so loud moments stay below clipping

Example

Speak normally,
30 cm from a laptop mic

-27.4 dBFS RMS · peak -9.1 dBFS
Your microphone is working.

A reading below about -50 dBFS while you talk means the mic is too far away or its input volume is too low; a meter stuck at -∞ means no audio is arriving at all.

Limitations

• Browsers only allow microphone access on secure (https) pages and only after you click Start and grant permission.
• Device names appear only after permission is granted — before that browsers hide them for privacy.
• The browser's echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto gain change the signal; turn them off in Options to see the raw input level.
• dBFS is relative to the digital full scale, not a calibrated sound pressure (dB SPL) measurement.

How do I test my microphone online?

Press Start microphone test, allow microphone access when the browser asks, and speak. The level meter should move and the verdict line should say "Your microphone is working". Use Record to capture a few seconds and play it back to hear how you actually sound.

Is this mic test private? Is my audio recorded or uploaded?

Nothing leaves your browser. The signal is analysed locally with the Web Audio API, a test recording exists only in this tab's memory until you download it or close the page, and Stop releases the microphone straight away.

Why does the mic test say "No signal detected"?

The browser opened the microphone but is receiving pure silence. The usual causes are a hardware mute switch or button on the headset or mic, the input volume set to zero in your OS sound settings, or the wrong input selected — pick another one in the Microphone list.

Why can't the browser find or open my microphone?

"Permission denied" means access was blocked — click the microphone or lock icon in the address bar to allow it (on macOS also check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone). "In use by another app" means Zoom, Teams, Discord, or OBS is holding the device exclusively; close it and try again.

What is a good microphone level in dBFS?

For speech, aim for an average (RMS) of roughly -30 to -15 dBFS with peaks staying below about -6 dBFS. Consistently under -50 dBFS is too quiet; peaks hitting 0 dBFS are clipping and will sound distorted.

Should I turn noise suppression and echo cancellation off?

Keep them on for calls on laptop speakers — they stop echo and fan noise. Turn them off (in Options) to judge the raw quality and level of a good USB or XLR mic, or when they make music or your voice sound watery.

Does this work as a sound test for headphones and speakers?

It tests the input side. Record a clip and play it back to confirm your speakers or headphones produce sound too — if you can hear the playback, both directions are working.

Can I test my mic on a phone or iPad?

Yes. It works in current Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. The device list shows the built-in and any connected microphones once you have granted permission.