How to test your microphone
- Click Start microphone test and allow microphone access when your browser asks.
- Pick the microphone you want to check from the list. Laptops often have a built-in mic plus a headset or USB mic, and the default isn't always the one your call app uses.
- Talk at your normal volume, sitting where you would on a call. The meters move, the waveform scrolls and the Diagnosis updates every second.
- Click Measure noise floor and stay silent for 3 seconds to see how much background noise the mic picks up.
- Click Record 5 s, say a sentence and listen to the playback. That's exactly how you sound to others. Download it if you want to compare mics.
How to read the results
Levels are shown in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). 0 dBFS is the loudest value digital audio can hold; everything else is negative. A few rules of thumb for voice:
| Reading | Good range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Peak level while talking | −18 to −6 dBFS | Below about −30 dBFS you're too quiet; hitting 0 dBFS means clipping (distortion). |
| RMS (average) level | −30 to −18 dBFS | Closer to how loud you sound. RMS is always lower than the peak. |
| Noise floor (silence) | below −60 dBFS | −60 to −50 is fair, above −50 dBFS listeners will hear hiss, hum or room noise. |
| Voice above noise | 25 dB or more | Under 15 dB your voice competes with the background. |
The spectrum shows which frequencies the mic picks up. Speech sits mostly between 100 Hz and 8 kHz. A hard cut-off at 4 or 8 kHz (marked with a red line when the mic reports it) means a low sample rate, the typical sign of a Bluetooth headset in call mode.
Common problems and fixes
No sound at all
If the meter doesn't move and the diagnosis says pure silence, the mic is sending exact zeros. Check the mute switch on your headset or cable, a mute key on your keyboard, and the input volume. On Windows, open Settings › System › Sound › Input; on a Mac, System Settings › Sound › Input. Also make sure the right device is picked in the list above: "Stereo Mix" or an empty jack will always be silent.
Too quiet
Raise the input volume in the same system settings, move closer (10–30 cm for a desk mic) and point a headset boom at the corner of your mouth. Auto gain in call apps can hide a quiet mic, but it raises the background noise too.
Clipping or distortion
If the Clipping counter goes up, the signal is hitting 0 dBFS and your voice will crackle. Turn the input volume down, disable "Microphone Boost" on Windows (Sound Control Panel › Recording › Properties › Levels) or lower the gain knob on a USB mic or audio interface.
Bluetooth headset sounds muffled
Classic Bluetooth headphones have two modes. A2DP gives high-quality stereo but has no microphone channel. As soon as an app opens the headset's mic, it switches to the Hands-Free Profile (HFP), which carries only 8 kHz (narrowband) or 16 kHz (wideband) audio in both directions. That's why your voice and even your music suddenly sound like a phone call. The fix is to use your laptop's built-in mic or a USB mic and keep the headset for listening only. Some newer headsets with LE Audio or aptX Voice do better.
Background noise
Move away from fans, air conditioning and open windows, close the gap between your mouth and the mic, then lower the input volume. Toggle Noise suppression above to hear what the browser's filter does. Compare the noise floor with it on and off.
Privacy
Everything happens in your browser. The audio is analyzed on your device, recordings stay in memory until you download them, and nothing is uploaded. Closing the tab or clicking Stop test releases the microphone.
Setting up for a call? Check your camera with the webcam test and your sound output with the speaker and headphone test. For your own ears, try the online hearing test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my microphone online?
Click Start microphone test, allow access, and talk at your normal volume. If the level meter moves, your mic works. The diagnosis then tells you whether the level is right, whether it clips or picks up noise, and you can record 5 or 10 seconds to hear exactly how you sound.
Why is my microphone so quiet?
Usually the input volume is set low in your system settings (Windows: Settings > System > Sound > Input; macOS: System Settings > Sound > Input), you're too far from the mic, or the wrong device is selected. Headset booms should sit near the corner of your mouth. Aim for voice peaks between about -18 and -6 dBFS on the meter.
Why does my Bluetooth headset mic sound so bad?
When an app uses a Bluetooth headset's microphone, the headset switches from its high-quality stereo mode (A2DP) to the Hands-Free Profile (HFP), which carries only 8 or 16 kHz audio in both directions. Your voice and your sound both get muffled, like a phone call. Use the computer's built-in or a USB mic for input and keep the headset for listening.
What is a good microphone level in dBFS?
For speech, peaks between -18 and -6 dBFS and an average (RMS) level around -30 to -18 dBFS are ideal. 0 dBFS is the digital maximum: reaching it means clipping, which sounds harsh and can't be fixed afterwards. Peaks below about -30 dBFS are too quiet.
What is a noise floor and what is a good value?
The noise floor is the level your mic records when nobody is talking: hiss, hum, fans and room noise. Below -60 dBFS is good and below -70 dBFS is excellent. Between -60 and -50 dBFS is fair, and above -50 dBFS listeners will clearly hear the background.
The test says my mic sends pure silence. What does that mean?
The browser receives exact zeros, which a working microphone never produces, even in a silent room. The mic is almost always muted: a switch on the headset or cable, a mute key, 0% input volume, a privacy setting, or an input with nothing plugged in. Try another device from the list.
Should I turn off noise suppression, echo cancellation and auto gain?
Leave them on to hear what call apps like Meet, Zoom or Teams roughly do with your voice. Turn them off to test the raw microphone: that shows the true noise floor and whether the hardware itself clips. For music or podcast recording, raw usually sounds better.
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No. The audio is analyzed in your browser, recordings stay in your device's memory until you download them, and nothing is sent to a server. Stopping the test or closing the tab releases the microphone.