Microphone test
Check that your microphone works, see how loud you are, and hear yourself back. If something is wrong, the test tells you what it is and how to fix it.
Input level
Off
Your browser will ask to use your microphone. Choose Allow, then speak and watch the meter.
This test runs entirely in your browser, and your audio never leaves your device.
How to read the results
The test switches off your browser's noise suppression and automatic volume, so you hear your microphone as it really is.
- Input level
- How loud your microphone hears you, in decibels below the loudest sound it can record. 0 dB is the maximum. Normal speech should peak between -30 and -6 dB.
- Silence
- The recording never rose above -50 dB, or your voice was barely louder than the background. The microphone is muted, switched off, or not the one you are speaking into.
- Distortion
- Part of the recording hit 0 dB and clipped. Clipped audio crackles and loses the detail that speech recognition relies on.
- Background noise
- The quiet moments between your words peaked above -35 dB. That is a steady sound like a fan or air conditioner, loud enough to blur your voice.
- Sample rate and channels
- Most microphones record at 44.1 or 48 kHz, which is plenty for speech. One channel (mono) is normal for a voice microphone.
Fix a microphone that isn't working
If the meter stays flat or the browser blocks access, check the browser first, then your system settings.
The test works but the Dictation Daddy app on Windows can't hear you? Read microphone not working on Windows.
In your browser
Chrome
- Click the icon at the left end of the address bar, next to the web address.
- Turn Microphone on, or set it to Allow.
- Reload this page and start the test again.
- Still blocked? Open Chrome settings, go to Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Microphone, and remove this site from the list of sites not allowed to use it.
Edge
- Click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar.
- Choose Permissions for this site and set Microphone to Allow.
- Reload this page and start the test again.
Firefox
- Click the crossed-out microphone icon in the address bar.
- Clear the Blocked setting next to Use the microphone.
- Reload this page, start the test, and choose Allow when Firefox asks.
Safari on Mac
- In the menu bar, choose Safari, then Settings, then the Websites tab.
- Select Microphone in the list on the left.
- Find www.dictationdaddy.com and set it to Allow or Ask.
- Reload this page and start the test again.
In your system settings
Windows 11 and 10
- Open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Microphone.
- Turn on Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone, and Let desktop apps access your microphone. Browsers count as desktop apps.
- Open Settings, then System, then Sound. Under Input, choose the microphone you speak into and check its volume is not at zero.
- If the meter still stays flat, look for a mute switch on your headset cable or a mute key on your keyboard.
Mac
- Open System Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Microphone.
- Turn on the switch next to your browser. Quit the browser and open it again if macOS asks you to.
- Open System Settings, then Sound, then Input. Choose your microphone and drag Input volume up.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the Settings app, then Apps, then Safari. On older versions of iOS, Safari is listed directly in Settings.
- Under Settings for Websites, set Microphone to Ask or Allow.
- Using Chrome or another browser? Open Settings, then Apps, find that browser and turn Microphone on.
- Come back to this page, reload it and start the test again.
Android
- Tap the icon at the left end of the address bar, then Permissions, and allow Microphone.
- If it is still blocked, open the Settings app, then Apps, then your browser, then Permissions, and allow Microphone.
- Android 12 and later also has a Microphone access tile in Quick Settings. Make sure it is on.
Common questions
- How do I test my microphone online?
- Click Test my microphone, allow access when your browser asks, and speak. The meter moves when the microphone hears you. Then record 5 seconds to hear yourself back and get a check for silence, distortion and background noise.
- Why is my microphone not working?
- The usual causes are a blocked browser permission, the wrong input device selected, a mute switch on the headset or keyboard, or another app holding the microphone. The test shows what it heard and the steps for your browser and system.
- Does this mic test record or upload my voice?
- The test runs in your browser. The 5 second recording stays on your device so you can play it back, and it is deleted when you leave the page. Nothing is uploaded.
- How do I test my microphone on Windows 11?
- Open Settings, then System, then Sound, and watch the input volume bar under Input while you talk. This page does the same and also plays your voice back. If your browser can't reach the microphone, open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Microphone, and turn on access for desktop apps.
- What is a good microphone level?
- When you talk, the meter should peak between -30 and -6 dB, the speaking range marked under it. Below -30 dB your voice is close to the background noise and dictation software starts missing words. Above -6 dB you are close to distorting, and above -4 dB the signal starts to clip, which sounds like crackling.
- Which browsers does the mic test work in?
- It works in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Your browser asks for microphone permission the first time you start the test.
Microphone ready? Try it on real dictation
Speak in your browser and watch Dictation Daddy turn your words into punctuated text. When you want it in every app, download it for Mac, Windows, Android or Chrome.
Runs in your browser. No download or signup to try it.