/moment/5784601/8a30ee6097f5436defdc1b462b05390d.jpg)
"Sorry, you're on mute" is the most common first sentence on any video call, and the second most common is "I can't hear you." A mic test takes ten seconds and makes sure neither one is yours.
Once your sound is sorted, you can open camera chat online and start talking instead of troubleshooting.
Run the Mic Test
Reading the Level Meter
The bar is your voice measured in decibels, from silence on the left to the loudest the microphone can record on the right. A white tick holds your recent peak so you can see how loud you got, not just how loud you are now.
- Nothing moves. The browser is listening to the wrong input, or the mic is muted.
- Peaks around the middle to three-quarters. That is the sweet spot for normal speech.
- Touching the far right. The signal is clipping, which sounds crunchy to the listener.
Speak at the volume you would use on a call, not a test voice. A meter that looks fine while you whisper will not look fine when you laugh.
Microphone Test on Chrome, Safari and Firefox
If a microphone test will not start, the cause is almost always a saved "block". Each browser lets you undo it in a different place.
- Chrome and Edge. Click the lock icon beside the address bar, open Site settings, and set Microphone to Allow.
- Safari on a Mac. Open Safari, then Settings, then Websites, then Microphone, and set this site to Allow.
- Firefox. Click the permissions icon in the address bar, remove the blocked Microphone entry and reload.
Reload the page after changing it. The same steps apply when you test a microphone before a call on any other site, because permissions are stored per site.
Test My Mic on a Phone
To test my mic on an iPhone, open this page in Safari, tap the aA icon in the address bar, choose Website Settings and set Microphone to Allow. On Android, tap the lock icon in Chrome, open Permissions and turn Microphone on.
Phones pick their own microphone depending on how you hold them, so test once the way you will actually chat. Talking to the front of the phone gives a different result from using wired earbuds, which is worth knowing before you open your first call.
Mic Too Quiet or Echoing?
- Move closer. About a hand's width from your mouth, a little off to the side so breaths do not pop.
- Raise the input volume. On Windows it is under Settings, System, Sound, Input. On a Mac it is System Settings, Sound, Input.
- Wear headphones. Speakers feed your own voice back into the microphone, and that is the echo.
- Close other tabs and apps that use the mic. Some will quietly hold on to it and give the browser silence.
- Try another input. If a headset sounds thin, test the laptop microphone from the list and compare the two.
Sound Good? Check Your Picture
Run the webcam test so what they see is as clear as what they hear. If the browser refuses either one, the guide to a camera not working in your browser covers the permission fixes that apply to the microphone as well.
Mic Test Questions
Does the mic test save my recording?
No. The five-second clip lives in your browser memory so you can play it back, and it disappears when you close or reload the page. Nothing is uploaded to OmegaCam or anywhere else.
Why is the meter flat even though the mic is plugged in?
Usually the browser is listening to a different input than the one you are speaking into, or the site has no permission. Pick the right microphone from the list, check the lock icon beside the address bar, and make sure the mic is not muted by a button on the headset.
Should I wear headphones for the playback?
Yes. Playing the clip through speakers lets the microphone hear itself, which makes a squeal. With headphones on you hear exactly what the other person will hear.
Why does my voice sound worse with Bluetooth earbuds?
Many Bluetooth headsets drop to a lower-quality mode as soon as their microphone switches on. If the test sounds thin, try the laptop or phone microphone with the earbuds only for listening.
Is this microphone test online free?
Yes. It is a free microphone test online that runs in your browser. Pick your microphone, speak, and watch the level meter. There is nothing to install and no account.
How do I do a mic check online?
Pick your microphone in the list, say a few words and watch the level meter. If the bar moves, the mic is picking you up. Then record the five-second clip and play it back to hear how you sound.
Is my mic working?
If the level meter moves when you speak, yes. A flat meter means the browser is not receiving sound. Check that the right microphone is selected, that the site has permission and that the mic is not muted in your system settings.
Can I hear my microphone before a call?
Yes. Record the five-second clip and play it back, ideally with headphones so the speakers do not feed back into the mic. What you hear is close to what the other person will hear.