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Mac mic test

Check the microphone on your MacBook, iMac or Mac mini, in Safari, Chrome or any other browser.

Microphone test

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.

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.

Test your Mac’s microphone in seconds

MacBooks and iMacs have good built-in microphones, so when one goes quiet the cause is nearly always a setting. This test shows whether macOS is passing sound to your browser, which microphone is active, and how you sound on a recording.

macOS guards the microphone at two levels. The website needs permission in your browser, and the browser itself needs permission from macOS under Privacy & Security. Safari is allowed by default. Chrome, Edge and Firefox each ask the first time they need the mic.

How to test the mic on a Mac

  1. Press “Test my mic” and allow access

    Click Allow in the browser prompt. If macOS also asks whether your browser may use the microphone, allow that too. An orange dot appears in the menu bar while the mic is on.

  2. Check which microphone is active

    The panel shows the device name, for example “MacBook Pro Microphone”. If you have a headset or display with a mic, use the Microphone menu to switch.

  3. Set the input volume

    Open System Settings, click Sound, then Input. Select your microphone and drag Input volume until normal speech fills about two thirds of the input level bar.

  4. Record and play back

    Record 5 seconds here and listen. Adjust the input volume and try again until the rating reads “Good”.

Questions and answers

How do I allow my browser to use the microphone on a Mac?

Open System Settings, click Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and turn on the switch next to your browser. macOS asks you to quit and reopen the browser before the change takes effect.

Where is the microphone setting in Safari?

In the menu bar choose Safari, then Settings, then Websites, and click Microphone in the sidebar. Set hearmymic.com to Allow or Ask. You can also choose Safari, then Settings for This Website while the page is open.

Why doesn’t my MacBook microphone work with the lid closed?

It’s a privacy feature. Recent MacBooks disconnect the built-in microphone in hardware whenever the lid is closed. If you use your MacBook closed with an external display, you need an external microphone, a headset, or a display or webcam with its own mic.

Why do my AirPods sound worse on my Mac during a mic test?

When the AirPods’ microphone is in use, Bluetooth switches to a lower quality mode that carries sound in both directions. For better sound, set the Mac’s built-in microphone as the input in System Settings, Sound, Input, and keep the AirPods for listening.

Where is the microphone on a Mac?

On MacBooks the microphones are behind small openings near the keyboard or speaker grilles, depending on the model. On an iMac they’re built into the display housing near the camera. A Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro have no built-in microphone at all.

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