Test the Mic in Your Browser
- Open the webcam test and press Test My Webcam.
- Allow camera and microphone access when your browser asks. It's one prompt for both.
- Talk at your normal volume from arm's length and watch the Microphone bar under the picture.
- Press Record 5-Second Clip and keep talking. The clip plays back with sound when the countdown ends.
The clip stays in your browser's memory and is never uploaded. It's discarded when you record another, press Stop or Done, or leave the page.
What the Level Readings Mean
- Level: good means speech reaches at least −45 dBFS, about normal speech at arm's length.
- Level: quiet means the signal stays below −45 dBFS. Move closer or raise the input volume.
- No sound means nothing above −70 dBFS reached the browser. The mic is muted, blocked, or not the one in use.
- Level: too loud means the signal is clipping. Lower the input volume or move back.
A browser can measure level and clipping. It can't judge how natural your voice sounds, so listen to the clip for that.
Make the Webcam Your Default Microphone
A web page gets your default microphone unless you choose another. MDN notes that browsers list the default capture devices first. On a laptop that is often the built-in mic, not the webcam's.
- Windows 11: select Start, then Settings, then System, then Sound. In Input, go to "Choose a device for speaking or recording" and pick the webcam.
- Mac: choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then Sound. Click Input and select the webcam in the list.
- Chrome: go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Microphone. Pick the webcam from the list at the top.
Then reload the webcam test and talk again. The bar now reads the webcam's own microphone.
If the Bar Stays Empty
- Allow the microphone for the site in your browser. In Chrome, check Site settings, then Microphone, for a blocked entry.
- Windows 11: go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Microphone. Turn on Microphone access and "Let desktop apps access your microphone".
- Mac: choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Microphone. Turn on access for your browser.
- Check that the webcam or headset doesn't have a mute button turned on.
- Close other apps that might be using the mic, such as a call app, then try again.
- Plug the webcam into a different USB port, as Logitech suggests, and make sure the computer detects it.
The camera test still works without a microphone. A clear picture with an empty bar points at the mic, not the camera.
Check the Mic With Your System's Own Test
Windows 11 has a microphone test of its own. Open Settings, then System, then Sound, and select the microphone under Input.
Under Input settings, select Start test and speak normally. Then select Stop test and Play to hear your sample, and adjust the Input volume slider if needed.
On a Mac, the Input tab in Sound settings has an input volume slider. Drag it if your voice is too quiet or too loud.
If the system test hears you but the webcam test doesn't, look at the browser's permission or its choice of microphone.
If the Mic Still Doesn't Work
On Windows, Microsoft suggests reinstalling the audio driver. Open Device Manager and expand "Sound, video and game controllers". Uninstall the audio device, restart the computer, and scan for hardware changes.
If the webcam's mic fails on every computer and port, it may be faulty. Contact the maker's support, or use a headset or desk mic instead.