Microphone Test — Live Volume Meter
Test your microphone and see a real-time volume meter in your browser. No upload.
How to use this tool
- Open this page — it runs instantly in your browser, no signup or install.
- Allow any permission prompt if asked; everything stays on your device.
- Use the on-screen controls — results update live.
Test your microphone and see a real-time volume meter in your browser. No upload.
How it works
The Microphone Test uses the browser's Web Audio API to capture audio from your chosen input device and display a live volume meter in real time. When you click Start, the browser asks for microphone permission; once granted, the meter updates continuously so you can see whether sound is being picked up.
The meter shows the current audio level as a bar that rises when you speak and falls when you are silent. If the bar never moves, your microphone is muted, set to zero volume in your OS settings, or not the currently selected input device.
Use this tool to confirm a microphone is working before a video call, to identify which of several input devices is active, or to troubleshoot 'no one can hear me' problems without needing a second person on a call.
No audio is recorded or uploaded. The signal is processed entirely inside your browser tab.
Worked example
Confirm a headset microphone works before a meeting
- Plug in your headset and open the Microphone Test page.
- Click 'Start Test' and allow microphone access when prompted.
- Speak at normal conversation volume.
- Watch the volume meter — it should rise clearly when you speak.
- Click Stop when finished.
Confirmed that the headset microphone is detected and picking up voice audio at a healthy level.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dismissing the browser permission prompt — without permission the meter cannot access the microphone and will show no signal.
- Testing the wrong device — your OS may have a different default input than the microphone you just plugged in; check OS sound settings first.
- Concluding the microphone is broken after a flat meter without checking whether a hardware mute button on the headset is engaged.
Key terms
- Web Audio API
- A browser standard that allows web pages to capture, process, and analyse audio without plugins.
- Input device
- The physical or virtual microphone the operating system currently routes audio from — a built-in mic, USB headset, or Bluetooth device.
- Volume meter
- A visual indicator that represents the amplitude (loudness) of an audio signal in real time.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my audio recorded?
- No. Audio is processed entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
- Why does the meter not move?
- Make sure you granted microphone permission and your mic is not muted at the OS level.