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Device Tests

Mic Tester

Mic Tester is part of Toolspire and is ready as soon as this page loads. Find out in seconds whether your microphone works: watch the level move as you speak, record a clip to hear how you sound, and get plain advice if nothing comes through.

Runs in this tabFreeNo account

On this page

What you can do here

A clear verdict

Not just a moving bar: the test tells you whether the microphone works and what is wrong if it does not.

Record and play back

Hear your own voice as a call or recording would capture it.

Pick the right device

Switch between laptop, headset and USB microphones without leaving the page.

Waveform and spectrum

See the sound wave live, or the frequencies from bass to treble.

Processing on or off

Compare the microphone with and without noise suppression, echo cancellation and auto gain.

Private

No account, no upload. Audio never leaves your browser.

The sequence

How to test your microphone

  1. 1

    Start the test

    Press Test my microphone. When the browser asks, choose Allow.

  2. 2

    Speak

    Talk at your normal voice. The meter should move and the message should change to Your microphone is working.

  3. 3

    Check the device

    If nothing moves, pick another device under Microphone — the browser may be listening to the wrong one.

  4. 4

    Record a clip

    Press Record, say a sentence, then play it back to hear the quality.

Worth knowing

  • Mic Tester on Toolspire: tests a microphone in this tab: press the button, allow access, and a live level meter shows at once whether sound is coming in.
  • Says plainly what it hears — working, no sound, too quiet, too loud or distorting — and what to do about each.
  • Shows the level in decibels (dBFS), the loudest peak, the background noise, a live waveform and frequency spectrum, and the main pitch.
  • Records up to 30 seconds and plays it back, so you hear exactly what others will hear. The clip can be downloaded.
  • Lets you choose between microphones and switch echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain on or off.
  • Works with built-in, USB, Bluetooth and headset microphones on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iPhone and iPad.
  • The sound is analysed on your device. Nothing is uploaded or stored; a recording stays in the tab until you close it.

What the level means

The meter is in dBFS — decibels below the loudest sound a digital recording can hold. 0 dB is the ceiling; quieter sounds are negative numbers.

Peak levelWhat it means
0 dBThe ceiling. Sound that reaches it is cut off and distorts — lower the input volume.
−12 to −3 dBStrong and clear. Where a confident voice close to the microphone peaks.
−30 to −12 dBNormal speech. Fine for calls and recordings.
Below −30 dBQuiet. Others may struggle to hear you — move closer or raise the input volume.
Below −60 dBSilence, or background noise only.

Microphone not working? Check these

  • Permission — the browser must be allowed to use the microphone for this site. Click the icon at the left of the address bar and set Microphone to Allow.
  • The right device — laptops with a headset or webcam attached have several microphones. Choose the one you are speaking into.
  • Mute — look for a mute switch on the headset cable or boom, and the microphone-mute key on the keyboard.
  • Input volume — in Windows open Settings → System → Sound → Input; on a Mac, System Settings → Sound → Input. Raise the level and watch the meter there.
  • Privacy settings — Windows and macOS can block the microphone for all apps or for your browser. Switch it on under Privacy & security → Microphone.
  • Another app — close Zoom, Teams, Meet or a recorder that may be holding the microphone, then try again.
  • Bluetooth — a Bluetooth headset must be connected in its call or "hands-free" mode for its microphone to work.
  • The cable — unplug it and plug it in again, and try another USB port or the other audio socket.

Echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain

Browsers clean up microphone sound before an app gets it. Echo cancellation removes the sound of your own speakers, noise suppression removes steady background noise such as a fan, and automatic gain raises a quiet voice and lowers a loud one.

Video-call apps keep all three on, so that is how the test starts. Switch them off to hear the microphone as it really is — useful for music, podcasts, or working out whether a thin or "underwater" sound comes from the microphone or from the processing.

Works here but not in your call?

If this test hears you but Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams does not, the microphone itself is fine. The app is usually using a different microphone, or you are muted inside it. Open the app’s audio settings and select the same device that worked here.

FAQ

Questions about Mic Tester

Where does Mic Tester run?

Mic Tester runs in this tab on Toolspire. What you type or drop in is not sent to us and is not stored on a server.

How do I test my microphone?

Press Test my microphone, allow access when the browser asks, and speak. If the meter moves and you see Your microphone is working, it is fine. Record a short clip to check how you sound.

Why is my microphone not working?

The usual causes are a blocked permission in the browser, the wrong input device being selected, a hardware mute switch, or the input volume set to zero. Work through the checklist on this page from top to bottom.

How can I hear myself?

Record a clip and play it back — that is the truest test. You can also switch on Hear yourself to listen live; wear headphones, or the speakers will feed back into the microphone.

What is a good microphone level?

Speech that peaks between about −30 and −3 dB is healthy. Below −30 dB you are quiet; at 0 dB the sound clips and distorts.

Why does my voice sound muffled or robotic?

That is usually noise suppression working hard against background noise, or a Bluetooth headset in call mode. Switch noise suppression off here to compare, and move away from fans and open windows.

Can I test a headset or AirPods microphone?

Yes. Connect them, start the test and choose them in the Microphone list. Bluetooth earbuds switch to a lower-quality call mode while their microphone is in use — that is normal.

Is my voice recorded or uploaded?

No. The sound is measured inside your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. A recording you make stays in this tab and disappears when you close it, unless you download it.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes — in Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone and iPad. Open the page in the browser itself; in-app browsers such as Instagram’s often block the microphone.

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