Tool

Microphone test

Record 5 seconds of your voice. Watch the level meter. Then play the clip back. The test runs in your browser.

What happens when you tap Record

  1. Your browser asks for permission to use the microphone.
  2. The page records 5 seconds. A level meter shows the input.
  3. The microphone turns off. You play the clip back.
  4. You tell us if your voice sounded clear.
Privacy

Nothing is uploaded or stored. The audio stays in the memory of this page. The page deletes it when you leave or record again. The page turns off the microphone when the recording ends.

iPhone: Do not run the water tone while the microphone is on; iOS lowers speaker volume while recording. Finish the recording first.

The test turns off echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain where the browser allows it. This gives a plainer sound.

How to test your microphone

Use the tool above to check that your microphone works. It takes 5 seconds. You record your voice, watch the level meter and listen to the playback. The mic test runs in your browser. Run it before video calls, or after your phone gets wet.

Allow microphone access

Your browser asks for permission to use the microphone. Tap Allow. If you tapped Block, open the settings for this site and allow the microphone. On iPhone, Safari asks for each site. After a block, tap Record again. Safari needs a tap to ask once more.

What a clear recording sounds like

A clear recording sounds like your voice in the room. The words are easy to follow. The level meter moves when you speak. A muffled recording sounds distant, as if you speak through a cloth. A very quiet or crackly recording can point to a blocked microphone opening or a fault. General advice: speak at a hand's width from the phone and test in a quiet room.

If the level meter stays flat

The microphone may be muted, blocked or switched off. Check the permission for this site in your settings. Then check the privacy settings of your system. General advice: with a headset or a USB microphone, check the mute button and select the right input in the sound settings. Close other apps that use the microphone.

Why the test turns off processing

Phones and browsers often use echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control. These features change the audio. The test asks to turn them off, where this is allowed. This gives a plainer sound. Some browsers may ignore the request.

A note for iPhone

When the microphone is on, iOS lowers the volume of web audio. This is an open WebKit bug. The playback of your clip can sound quieter on iPhone. Do not run the water eject tone while the microphone is on. Finish the recording first.

Privacy

The test does not upload, send or keep your audio. The clip stays on your device, in the memory of this page. The page turns off the microphone when the recording ends.

If the microphone is wet or dirty

Apple says water in the speaker port might degrade speaker or microphone performance until it completely evaporates. Apple also says to check the speaker and microphone openings for debris. Use a small, non-metallic, soft-bristled brush. Do not use compressed air. The water eject tone does not clear the microphone.

What to do next

What this microphone test can and cannot show

  • It shows if the microphone picks up your voice and how it sounds.
  • It does not give a loudness number. Phones change the signal in ways a page cannot see.
  • It cannot tell water from dirt or a hardware fault.
  • It does not upload, send or keep your audio.

Sources

  1. Apple: About splash, water and dust resistance of iPhone
  2. Apple: iPhone troubleshooting sound issues (soft brush for debris)
  3. WebKit bug 236219: microphone capture lowers Web Audio volume on iOS
  4. The Verge, Aug 2024: Does the YouTube water-removal sound work? (iFixit dye test)
  5. MDN: MediaDevices.getUserMedia()