How to test your mic on a PC

There are three easy ways to check a microphone on Windows 10 or 11. The first one is right here.

Your browser will ask for permission. Choose Allow to start.

Your audio never leaves your device.

Your mic is working

Listening…

–∞ dB

WaitingSay something at your normal speaking volume.

Microphone

Something went wrong

See how to fix it

Record and play back

Hear exactly how you sound to others.

Your recording will show up here.

Hear yourself live

Plays your mic through your speakers or headphones.

Use headphones to avoid feedback. Speakers can cause a loud squeal.

Your microphone

Microphone: —
Sample rate: —
Channels: —
Echo cancellation: —
Noise suppression: —
Auto gain control: —
Estimated latency: —
Level: —

Results are approximate. They show what your browser reports, and can differ from what another app or the people on your call hear.

Three tests, three different answers

Each way of testing a PC microphone answers a slightly different question. The browser test above tells you whether the mic works and whether your browser is allowed to use it. Windows’ own test tells you whether the system is receiving sound. A recording tells you how you actually sound. If you’re troubleshooting, trying more than one helps you find which layer is failing.

The steps below work on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Where the two differ, the step says so. A desktop PC often has no built-in microphone, so you’ll usually need a headset, a USB mic or a webcam with a mic.

How to check your mic on a PC

Test in your browser
Press “Test my mic” above and allow access. Speak and watch the level meter. The “Your microphone” panel shows which device your browser is using, which is the quickest way to spot the wrong microphone.
Test in Windows Sound settings
Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sound settings. On Windows 11, click your microphone under Input and press Start test. On Windows 10, speak while you watch the “Test your microphone” bar under Input. The bar should move.
Record yourself and play it back
Search the Start menu for Sound Recorder on Windows 11, or Voice Recorder on Windows 10. Press record, say a few sentences, stop, and press play. You’ll hear what people on a call hear.
Test in the app you’ll actually use
Open the audio settings in your meeting app or game and select the same microphone. Apps keep their own device setting, so a mic that works in Windows can still be unselected in the app.

Which method should you use?

Browser test: best for a quick yes or no, and for checking permissions and which microphone is selected. It also lets you listen to yourself live.
Windows test: best for checking whether Windows itself is receiving sound, before any app gets involved. If the bar moves here but not in the browser, a browser permission is the likely cause.
Recording: best for judging quality, such as volume, echo and background noise, because you can play it back and listen carefully.

If none of the three shows any movement, the microphone isn’t reaching the PC. Check the cable and any mute switch, then see the guide on a mic that isn’t working.

Questions and answers

How do I check if my mic is working on a PC?

Run the browser test above and speak. If the meter moves, it’s working. For a second opinion, open Sound settings and watch the input bar while you talk, or record a short clip in Sound Recorder and play it back.

The Windows input bar moves but other people still can’t hear me. Why?

Windows is receiving sound, so the problem is in the app. Open the app’s audio settings and pick the same microphone, check that you aren’t muted inside the app, and make sure the app is allowed to use the microphone under Settings, Privacy & security, Microphone.

My microphone isn’t in the list. What should I do?

First reconnect it, or try another port. Then open More sound settings, go to the Recording tab, right-click an empty space and tick Show Disabled Devices. If your microphone appears greyed out, right-click it and choose Enable.

Does it work the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11?

The idea is the same. The screens differ a little: Windows 11 has a Start test button inside the microphone’s properties, while Windows 10 shows a live test bar directly under the Input device. The recorder app is called Sound Recorder on Windows 11 and Voice Recorder on Windows 10.

Does my desktop PC have a built-in microphone?

Usually not. Most laptops have one, but most desktop towers don’t. You’ll need a headset, a USB microphone, or a monitor or webcam with a microphone built in. Plug it in and it should appear as an input device.

Microphone test