How to test your mic
- Click Start mic test. Your browser will ask for permission to use the microphone.
- Choose Allow. If you have more than one microphone, pick the one you want to test.
- Speak at a normal volume. Count to ten, or read a sentence out loud.
This online mic test works on laptops, desktops, tablets and phones in any modern browser. Use the device, browser and headset you’ll have on exam day, so the result tells you something useful.
Reading your result
- The level meter moves when you speak. Your microphone is working and your browser can hear you.
- The meter stays flat. Either the browser is listening to the wrong device or the microphone is muted.
- The meter jumps when you aren’t speaking. It is picking up background noise. Find a quieter spot or move closer to the microphone.
- Playback. Record a short clip and play it back to hear how you sound. If it sounds muffled, the microphone may be covered, or a headset may be set as the wrong input.
Microphone not working? Quick fixes
- Permission blocked. Click the icon next to the web address, set Microphone to Allow and reload the page.
- Wrong input device. Choose the right microphone in the browser prompt or in your system sound settings. Headsets and webcams often come with their own.
- Muted. Check the mute switch on your headset, the mute key on your keyboard and the input level in your system settings.
- System privacy settings. On Windows or Mac, give your browser permission to use the microphone.
- In use elsewhere. Close any call apps that might be holding on to the microphone.
- Still stuck. Unplug the headset and plug it back in, then restart the browser. If that doesn’t work, restart the computer.
Mic test before an online exam
Many proctored exams record audio along with your camera and screen. A mic check is only one part of getting ready, so before exam day, run the full system check for online exam readiness on the device, browser and network you’ll be using. It tests your webcam, screen sharing and connection as well.
In a Proctorly exam, background noise, reading aloud and household sounds are not misconduct. Any audio signal goes to a person, who reviews it in context. For the rest of what happens on the day, read what is a proctored exam.
Your privacy
The microphone test runs entirely in your browser. We don’t upload or store your audio, and any playback clip is deleted when you close the page.
For institutions: candidates who check their devices before exam day need less help when the day comes. See how Proctorly runs online proctoring, with a person reviewing every flag.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my mic online?
Open this page, click Start mic test and choose Allow when your browser asks for microphone access. Then speak at a normal volume. If the level meter moves with your voice, your microphone works in this browser. If it stays flat, make sure you’ve picked the right input device and the microphone isn’t muted, then test again.
Why can’t my browser hear my microphone?
The usual causes are a blocked browser permission, the wrong input device, a muted microphone, or system privacy settings that stop the browser from using it. Windows and Mac each have a microphone permission of their own, separate from the browser’s. Check them one by one, close other call apps and run the microphone test again.
Is this mic test recorded?
No. The test runs in your browser so you can see and hear whether your microphone works, and your audio is never uploaded or stored. A real proctored exam is different. There, your institution decides whether audio is captured and how long it is kept, and you are told what will be recorded before the exam starts.
Will background noise count against me in a proctored exam?
Not on its own. In a Proctorly exam, unusual audio is raised as a signal for a person to review in context, and it is never treated as a finding. Household noise and reading aloud are not misconduct. Pick the quietest room you can, let the people around you know when your exam starts, and run the full system check beforehand.