Microphone Not Working?
Use the checks below to separate browser permissions, input selection and application settings from a possible hardware problem.
Work through the microphone checklist
Open the microphone testTick a step when you have completed it. Your checklist stays in this page session and is not a hardware pass/fail score.
- Confirm the input
Open the microphone test, click Start and choose the intended input device. Speak normally. A moving meter confirms browser-delivered audio, even if a meeting app is still silent.
- Check website permission
In Chrome, open the site controls beside the address and allow Microphone for Device Tests, then reload and click Start again. Check that the browser itself is allowed to use the microphone in your operating system privacy settings.
- Check mute and input gain
Check a headset mute switch, USB interface gain and the system input volume. Bluetooth headsets may expose more than one input or switch modes during a call.
- Compare recording playback
Use the five-second recording on the microphone test. If playback is silent, confirm the selected input. If it is distorted, reduce input gain and check near-full-scale samples. The meter is not calibrated loudness.
- Check the affected application
Select the same input in your meeting or recording app. Close other apps using the microphone, reconnect the device and restart the affected app after saving work.
- Compare another browser or device
If one browser fails, review its permission and input settings. If the same microphone fails on another device or in the system recorder, inspect cables and hardware. Browser denial alone is not a hardware diagnosis.
0 of 6 steps checked.
Platform permission locations
Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Check device access and access for desktop applications.
macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Allow the browser and restart it if prompted.
Android: Settings → Apps → your browser → Permissions. Labels vary by manufacturer. Also check the browser's site settings.
iPhone and iPad: Check the browser's website settings for microphone access and system privacy permissions where offered. Some in-app browsers restrict media access; open the test in Safari or another full browser.
What this guide cannot establish
These steps identify common permission, input and application issues. They cannot certify a device, inspect its electronics or guarantee repair. Do not install unknown drivers or disable browser security to make a test run.