No input
The waveform stays flat even when you speak near the microphone.
Avada input lab · waveform + playback
Online microphone test
Watch the live input signal, make a short recording and play it back to check clarity, crackling, drop-outs and background noise.
No server upload60-second limitDeleted on refresh
Browser diagnostic
Live microphone and recording test
Grant permission only when ready. Your browser processes the live waveform and recording locally.
Private by design. Audio stays in this tab’s memory and disappears on refresh.
Input monitor
OFFLive microphone waveform
Start the microphone to see its signal
Input level
Memory recording
0sRecord and play back
Your latest recording will appear here
Detected inputPermission not granted
Used-laptop check
Listen for four common microphone faults.
Use the waveform to confirm input, then trust the local playback for the quality decision.
Crackle or buzz
Electrical noise or loose hardware creates persistent unwanted sound.
Drop-outs
Words disappear or the level repeatedly falls to zero during steady speech.
Heavy distortion
Normal speech sounds harsh, clipped or difficult to understand.
Microphone Test guide
Read the result like a technician
This test uses the browser MediaDevices and MediaRecorder APIs. It can prove that the microphone captures sound and let you judge the result by ear; it cannot measure sensitivity in decibels or certify a frequency response.
How to test a used laptop microphone
Start the microphone and speak normally while watching the waveform — a flat line while you talk means no input reaches the browser at all. Then record for ten to twenty seconds, including a few seconds of deliberate silence, and play it back. Silence exposes hiss and electrical buzz that speech hides, and playback is where crackles, drop-outs and distortion become obvious. Repeat once with the charger connected, since some power supplies inject audible noise.
Why the device name appears late
Browsers hide device labels until permission is granted, which is why the input name appears only after you start. Most built-in and USB microphones then report a usable name, while some virtual devices stay generic. If the wrong input is selected, change the default in your operating-system sound settings and restart the test.
Processing is turned off on purpose
The tester disables echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control. Those filters are useful in calls but they mask exactly the faults you are trying to hear: a noise gate hides a crackle, and automatic gain hides a weak element by amplifying it. The raw signal is the honest one.
Reading the input level
Speak at a normal distance and watch the level meter sit somewhere in the middle. A meter pinned at 100% means the input is clipping and speech will sound harsh; a meter that barely moves means low gain, a blocked port, or a failing element.
Nothing leaves the browser
Recording is capped at 60 seconds, held only in this tab as an in-memory blob URL, and revoked the moment you discard it, leave or refresh. There is no upload endpoint, so the audio cannot reach a server even by accident.
Questions
Microphone Test FAQ
Clear answers about permissions, privacy and what a browser can reliably test.
Is my microphone recording uploaded?
No. Recording chunks and the playback URL exist only in this browser tab. There is no upload request or server storage, and the temporary URL is revoked when you discard it, leave or refresh.
How long can I record?
A recording automatically stops at 60 seconds. You can stop earlier, play it back locally, discard it and create another recording.
Why does the microphone name appear only after I start?
Browsers hide media-device labels until you grant permission. This protects your hardware information from sites you have not trusted.
What should a healthy microphone sound like?
Speech should be clear and stable without loud crackles, repeated drop-outs, heavy buzzing or severe distortion at a normal speaking distance.