Gaming headset with a detachable boom mic
A mic on a boom sits close to your mouth, which usually matters more than the spec sheet.
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Mic Test: Check Your Microphone Online
Check that your microphone works and how loud it is, before you join a lobby or a call. Everything runs in your browser and no audio leaves this page.
Before you press Start: your browser will ask to use your microphone. Allow it for this page only. Audio is analysed in this tab and never uploaded.
Press Start, then say a few words.
Level – dBFS · Peak – · Noise floor –
Runs in your browser. Nothing leaves this page.
Quick answer
Press Start, say a few words at your normal volume, and watch the meter. Peaks that stay in the middle-to-upper part of the bar are good; a bar that barely moves means the mic is quiet or muted; a peak at the very end means clipping.
How to use the Mic Test
Allow the microphone
Press Start. Your browser asks for permission once. Pick the right device from the list if you have more than one.
Talk normally
Speak at the volume you use in chat. Watch the level, the peak and the noise floor.
Record and listen
Record 5 seconds and play it back. That is how your voice sounds after your system settings, before any app processing.
How this mic test works
The test asks your browser for the microphone, then reads the audio stream many times a second. It turns each reading into a level in decibels relative to full scale (dBFS), where 0 is the loudest signal your system can pass on. Quiet rooms sit far below zero. A voice at normal volume usually peaks well above the room noise, and anything that touches the top of the scale is clipped.
We switch off echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain for this test, so you see the signal your hardware actually sends. Voice apps such as Discord apply their own processing on top, so a recording here can sound rawer than what your friends hear.
Nothing is uploaded or stored. The recording lives in your browser tab and disappears when you close or refresh the page.
What the numbers mean
These zones are rule-of-thumb guides for speech, not a standard. Your platform and app will have their own targets.
| Peak level | Zone | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Below −18 | Quiet | Raise the input volume in your system sound settings, move the mic closer, or check the headset mute switch. |
| −18 to −1 | Good | Leave it. Speech peaks here sound clear without distortion. |
| −1 and above | Clipping | Lower the input volume or mic gain, or move the mic slightly further from your mouth. |
The noise floor is the quietest level seen while you were not talking. If it sits close to your voice level, background noise (a fan, a loose cable, a gaming PC) is competing with you. Move the mic away from the noise source, or use a mic with a tighter pickup pattern.
Mic not working? Check your platform
- Windows: Settings → System → Sound → Input. Choose the right device, check the volume slider and make sure the mic is not set to Disabled. Also check Privacy & security → Microphone for browser access.
- Mac: System Settings → Sound → Input. Pick the device and watch the input level bar. Check Privacy & Security → Microphone for your browser.
- PS5: Settings → Sound → Microphone, and check the headset mute button. The PS5 has its own mic level bar to compare with this test.
- Xbox: Settings → Accessories (or Audio & music) and check the chat mixer and the headset mute switch.
- Discord: User Settings → Voice & Video. Select the same input device, then use Let's Check to see the app's own level.
If the test works in the browser but not in a game, the problem is in the game's or app's device setting, not the hardware.
Gear that helps
Category searches on Amazon, picked because they relate to what this tool checks. Compare options and read the listing before you buy.
USB microphone for streaming and chat
Plug-and-play and separate from the headset, so you can place it exactly where you want.
Search on AmazonPop filter for a microphone
Cuts the burst of air from "p" and "b" sounds that cause peaks and clipping.
Search on AmazonAmazon Associates affiliate links: we earn from qualifying purchases. See our affiliate disclosure.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I test my microphone online?
Press Start on this page, allow microphone access when your browser asks, then speak. The level bar should move with your voice. You can also record 5 seconds and play it back to hear how you sound.
Why does the mic test say my microphone is blocked?
Your browser or operating system has denied access. Click the lock or camera icon in the address bar and allow the microphone for this site, then check your system privacy settings so the browser is allowed to use it.
What is a good microphone level?
For speech, aim for peaks that reach well into the upper half of the bar without touching the end. Peaks stuck near the end are clipping, and peaks that stay low mean the mic is quiet. Voice apps can also adjust level for you.
Why is my mic so quiet?
The usual causes are a low input volume in system settings, a muted headset, the mic boom sitting too far from your mouth, or the wrong input device being selected. Check each in that order and re-run the test.
Is this mic test safe? Does it record me?
The audio stays in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and the 5-second recording only exists in your tab until you close it. You can revoke permission from the address bar at any time.
Why does it sound different in Discord or a game?
Those apps add their own noise suppression, echo cancellation and automatic gain. This test turns those off so you can judge the raw signal. Differences usually come from the app's own settings.
Does the mic test work for a PS5 or Xbox headset?
Only if the headset also connects to your computer. A console-only headset that is not recognised by your PC will not appear in the device list. Use the console's own mic level bar for that headset.
This article reflects independent editorial research and disclosed buying criteria, not hands-on lab testing or manufacturer sponsorship. Some links on this page are Amazon Associates affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure.