Free tool · Meetings
Mic test: check your microphone and speakers online
Press Start microphone and speak: the bar shows how loud the microphone hears you. Record 5 seconds to hear how you sound, switch between microphones, and play a tone on your left and right speakers. Nothing is uploaded.
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Most "can you hear me?" moments come from the wrong microphone being picked, a muted headset or a blocked permission. This mic test finds the problem in seconds: a live level meter shows whether sound arrives, a 5-second recording lets you hear what others hear, and a speaker test checks the other direction.
How to test your microphone
- Press Start microphone and choose Allow when the browser asks.
- Speak, clap or tap the microphone. The bar moves with the sound, and the number next to it shows the level in decibels.
- If you have more than one microphone, pick another under Microphone. Headsets, webcams and laptops each bring their own.
- Press Record 5 seconds, speak, and listen to the playback. That is roughly how you sound in a call.
- Press Stop to turn the microphone off.
The details under the meter show the microphone's name, its Sample rate and whether it sends Mono or Stereo sound.
Test your speakers or headphones
Under Test your speakers or headphones, press Left, Both or Right. Each plays a one-second tone on that side. If Left plays on the right, your headphones are on backwards; if a side is silent, check the plug, the balance setting and the volume.
Reading the level meter
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The bar stays at the start, "silence" | No sound reaches the browser | Check the chosen microphone, mute switches and permissions |
| The bar moves only a little | The microphone hears you faintly | Move closer, or raise the input volume |
| The bar reaches half to two-thirds | A good level | Nothing |
| The bar hits the end often | Too loud, your voice may crackle | Move back, or lower the input volume |
The thin line on the meter marks the recent peak, so you can see how loud the loudest moment was.
Browser sound processing
The three switches under Browser sound processing turn on the same processing that video calls use:
- Echo cancellation removes the sound of your own speakers from the microphone, so others do not hear themselves.
- Noise suppression lowers steady noise like fans and air conditioning.
- Automatic volume evens out loud and soft speech.
Turn them off and record 5 seconds to hear the raw microphone. If it sounds much worse raw, your room is noisy or echoes, and a headset will help more than a better microphone.
If the microphone does not work
The browser blocked it. Click the icon at the left of the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and reload. In Safari, open Safari → Settings → Websites → Microphone.
Your computer blocked it or picked another one.
- Windows 11: in Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone, turn on Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone. In Settings → System → Sound, under Input, choose the right microphone and check its volume.
- Mac: in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, turn it on for your browser, then restart the browser. In System Settings → Sound → Input, choose the microphone and its input volume.
- Linux: in your desktop's sound settings, under Input, choose the microphone and check that it is not muted. With PipeWire or PulseAudio, the Volume Control app (pavucontrol) shows every input and its level.
Another app holds it. Some headsets work with one app at a time. Quit call apps and try again.
Which microphone to use
- Laptop microphone: fine for a quick call in a quiet room, but it hears the keyboard and the fan.
- Webcam microphone: often better than the laptop's, but far from your mouth, so it picks up the room.
- Headset: the most reliable choice for calls, because the microphone stays close to your mouth and the sound goes to your ears, so there is no echo.
- USB microphone: the best sound for recordings and talks, if you keep it close and use headphones.
- Bluetooth headphones: convenient, but many switch to a lower-quality mode while their microphone is on, so music and voices sound flat during calls. Use their microphone for calls only, or a wired one for recordings.
What to do next
When your sound works, you are ready to meet. Barside has free video meetings for up to 6 people, and it can transcribe calls on your own computer, with no bot joining the call and no upload. Check your picture too, with the camera test.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Is this microphone test private?
Yes. The sound goes from your microphone to this page only. The level meter and the 5-second test recording run in your browser; nothing is uploaded, and the recording is gone when you leave the page.
The bar does not move. What is wrong?
The browser may be using another microphone, the microphone may be muted, or your system may block it. Pick another one under Microphone, check for a mute switch on a headset, and check your system's microphone privacy settings (see the steps on this page).
How loud should my microphone be?
When you speak normally, the bar should reach about the middle to two-thirds and rarely touch the end. If it stays near the start, move closer or raise the input volume; if it hits the end, move back or lower it.
What do echo cancellation and noise suppression do?
They are the browser's sound processing, the same that video calls use. Echo cancellation removes your speakers' sound from the microphone, noise suppression lowers steady background noise, and automatic volume evens out loud and soft speech. Turn them off to hear the raw microphone.
Why do I hear only one side in the speaker test?
That is the point of Left and Right: each plays a tone on one side. If Left plays on the right, your headphones are reversed. If one side is silent, check the balance in your system's sound settings and the headphone plug.
Can I record more than 5 seconds?
Use the free online voice recorder. It records as long as you like, with pause, and lets you download each recording.