Why is my microphone not working?
Nine times out of ten a microphone that has stopped working is muted, or the computer is listening to a different input than you think. Speak into your mic below: if the meter moves, the hardware is fine and the problem is in whichever app was failing.
Permission is only requested when you start the test. Audio is never recorded or uploaded.
This runs locally in your browser. No device data is uploaded.
Work through it in this order
Start with the physical mute. Headset cables, podcast mics and many laptops have a hardware switch or key that cuts the input entirely, and the operating system will happily show a working device that sends silence.
Then check which device is selected. Plugging in headphones, joining a meeting, or connecting a Bluetooth headset all change the default input, and the change often outlives the reason for it. If the meter below does not move, try the other inputs in the device list.
Finally, check for an app holding exclusive control. Video calling software sometimes keeps the microphone after the call ends, which leaves everything else with silence. Quitting that app is usually enough.
If the meter moves here but not in your app
Then the microphone works and the fault is in that application's own settings or permissions. Check its input device, its input level, and on macOS check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone, which blocks apps individually.
Browsers keep separate permission per site, so a mic that works here can still be blocked on a video call site. Open that site's permissions from the padlock in the address bar.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my audio recorded or sent anywhere?
- No. The meter reads the audio stream in your browser and discards it. Nothing is recorded, stored or uploaded, and stopping the test releases the microphone immediately.
- The meter moves but I sound very quiet to other people.
- That is input gain rather than a fault. Raise the input level in your system sound settings, enable microphone boost if it is offered, and move closer — a desk mic an arm's length away reads far lower than a headset.
- Why does the browser keep asking for permission?
- Because permission is only requested at the moment you start the test rather than held open. Allow the site to remember the permission in your browser settings if you would rather not be asked again.
More about this test
The full microphone test page covers how the test works and what the common faults look like.
Open the Microphone Test →