QuickDeviceTest Device test / Mic test
Mic test
Check your microphone online: see the live level, catch clipping and hear a 4-second playback of how you sound. The audio never leaves this page.
Press start and allow the microphone when your browser asks.
How to read the result
The meter shows dBFS, decibels below the loudest value digital audio can store. 0 is the ceiling, so every reading is negative. Silence in a quiet room usually sits around −60 to −50 dBFS; normal speech at arm's length lands between −30 and −10.
- Working: we measured a clear voice-level signal.
- Very quiet: the mic is connected but you'll sound distant. Raise the input level or move closer.
- Clipping: the waveform hits the ceiling and distorts. Lower the gain.
- Problem: permission was blocked, no mic was found, or another app is using it.
Fix a microphone that isn't detected
- Windows: Settings > System > Sound > Input: pick the device and speak to see its bar move. Then Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone: allow desktop apps and your browser.
- macOS: System Settings > Sound > Input, then Privacy & Security > Microphone: enable your browser.
- Chrome/Edge: click the icon left of the address bar > Site settings > Microphone: Allow.
- Headsets: check the inline mute switch, and try a different USB port or the 3.5 mm combo jack.
Playback sounds fine but people still complain? A steady level here with choppy or robotic sound on a call points to the network, not the microphone.
Why "louder" isn't the goal: gain and headroom
Digital audio has a hard ceiling called 0 dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). Every number your meter shows above is a negative distance below that ceiling. Drag the input gain and watch the same sentence of speech change.
Good level: Healthy. Speech peaks roughly between −18 and −6 dBFS leave headroom above and keep your voice well clear of the noise floor.
Questions
How do I know if my microphone is working?
Press "Start mic test", allow access, and speak. If the bar moves and the level jumps above about −35 dBFS when you talk, the microphone is sending sound. Use "Record & play back" to hear exactly what others will hear.
Why is my mic level so low?
Common causes: the wrong input is selected (for example the laptop mic instead of the headset), the input volume in system settings is low, you are too far from the mic, or a hardware mute switch on the headset or cable is on.
What is a good microphone level?
For speech, aim for peaks between roughly −18 and −6 dBFS. Consistently hitting 0 dBFS means clipping (distortion); staying below −30 dBFS means you are too quiet and background hiss will be noticeable.
What is the noise floor reading?
It is the quietest typical level the mic picks up between your words (the 10th percentile of the RMS level): background hiss, fans, traffic, hum. Below about −55 dBFS is quiet; above about −40 dBFS others will hear the background, so turn on noise suppression or move the mic closer.
Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
No. The level meter reads audio inside your browser. The playback clip is stored in memory on this page only and disappears when you leave.
Why does the browser not ask for microphone permission?
You may have blocked it earlier. Click the icon to the left of the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and reload. On macOS also check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone for your browser.
Mic works here but not in Discord or Zoom?
Pick the same input device inside that app's voice settings, and turn off "exclusive mode" apps or other programs that may be holding the microphone.