Microphone test
Test your microphone online
Press Start microphone test and speak: the bar moves with your voice, so you can see the browser hears you. Pick another microphone from the list, then record five seconds and play them back to hear how you sound. The sound stays in this browser tab and is never uploaded.
Check your microphone
Start the test, then speak at a normal volume. The bar moves with your voice.
Runs entirely in your browser. The microphone starts only when you press the button; the level is measured on your device and the playback lives in this tab's memory until you leave. Nothing is uploaded.
How do I read the microphone meter?
The meter shows how loud the sound reaching the browser is, on a decibel scale like the one meeting apps use. Silence leaves it empty, normal speech fills most of it and the dark marker holds the recent peak.
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| The bar follows your voice | The microphone works and the browser hears you. Record a few seconds to judge the quality. |
| The bar stays flat while you talk | The browser receives silence: a muted headset, the wrong microphone selected or a system input level at zero. |
| The bar moves when you are quiet | Background noise reaches the microphone: a fan, traffic or a keyboard. Leave voice processing on, or move away from the noise. |
| The bar hits the end on every word | The input is too loud or too close. Lower the input level or move the microphone a little away from your mouth. |
How to test a microphone step by step
- Start the test. Press Start microphone test. The browser asks for microphone access only after the press; choose Allow.
- Speak and watch the bar. Talk at your normal volume. The bar should rise as you speak and fall back when you stop. A flat bar means the browser receives silence.
- Choose the right microphone. If the bar stays flat, pick another microphone in the list. Headsets, webcams and the built-in microphone are often all listed.
- Record and listen. Press Record 5 seconds, say a sentence and listen to the playback. Use headphones if you can, to hear yourself the way others will.
- Stop the microphone. Press Stop microphone or leave the page. The browser releases the microphone and the recording is deleted.
Microphone not working? Fixes for every browser
A blocked microphone does not trigger a new prompt by itself: allow it for the site, then reload the page. Find your browser below.
Chrome on a computer
- Click the site controls icon at the left end of the address bar.
- Switch microphone on, or set it to Allow under Site settings.
- Reload the page and start the test again.
Microsoft Edge
- Click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar and open Permissions for this site.
- Set microphone to Allow.
- Reload the page and start the test again.
Firefox
- Click the crossed-out microphone or permissions icon in the address bar.
- Clear the Blocked setting next to the device.
- Reload the page and allow access when Firefox asks again.
Safari on a Mac
- Open the Safari menu and choose Settings for this website.
- Set Microphone to Allow or Ask.
- Reload the page and start the test again.
iPhone and iPad
- In Safari, tap the page menu in the address bar, open Website Settings and set Microphone to Allow.
- In Chrome or another browser, open the Settings app, find that browser and switch Microphone on.
- Return to the page, reload it and start the test again.
Android
- Tap the icon at the left end of the address bar and open Permissions.
- Set Microphone to Allow. If the browser itself has no access, open Android Settings, then Apps, your browser and Permissions, and allow Microphone.
- Reload the page and start the test again.
If every browser on the computer fails, the operating system is blocking the microphone. macOS: Open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and switch your browser on. Quit and reopen the browser afterwards. Windows 11: Open Settings, then Privacy & security, then Microphone. Turn on Microphone access and "Let desktop apps access your microphone".
A mute switch
Many headsets have a mute button or a flip-up boom, and some keyboards a microphone key. Check those before changing settings.
The wrong input
Docks, monitors and webcams add their own microphones. Pick the one you are actually speaking into; the bar shows at once whether it hears you.
Another app holds it
A call in another app or tab can take the microphone. Close it, then press Try again.
Sound better on video calls
- Use a headset. A microphone close to your mouth picks up less of the room, and headphones stop your speakers from echoing into it.
- Keep noise suppression on. Meeto turns noise suppression on by default on computers; on phones you can switch it on in the call settings.
- Mute when you are not speaking in larger meetings, and check the meter on the microphone button in the call to confirm your voice is going out.
- Check the other end. If people say you cut out, run the connection test; the network is a more common cause than the microphone.
Ready to try it with a person? Start a free Meeto meeting below and send the link: guests join from their browser without an account or a download. Plans and limits are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No. The level meter reads the sound inside your browser. The five-second playback is kept in the tab's memory only and is deleted when you record again or leave the page. Nothing is sent to Meeto or anyone else.
Why does the bar move but my recording sounds quiet?
The meter shows the level after the browser's voice processing. Some microphones are simply quiet: raise the input level in the system sound settings, move closer, or use a headset microphone.
What does browser voice processing do?
Echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain are switched on by default in browsers, as in a call. Untick the option to hear the raw microphone, which helps to tell a noisy room from a faulty microphone.
My microphone works here but not in a meeting app. Why?
Each site and app has its own permission and its own selected device. Check that the meeting site is allowed to use the microphone and that the same microphone is selected in its settings or lobby.
Can I test a microphone on my phone?
Yes. The test works in Safari and Chrome on iPhone and iPad and in current Android browsers. Phones usually list a single microphone, plus a headset when one is connected.
Try your first browser meeting
Create a room, share the link and invite someone to join you.