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Device guide

Test Your Chromebook Microphone

Press Start, allow the mic and speak. If the meter moves, your Chromebook microphone works. If not, ChromeOS has audio and privacy settings to check.

Press Start, then choose Allow when your browser asks to use the microphone.

Private by design. Audio is processed locally in your browser and never uploaded. There is no server for audio, nothing is recorded unless you press Record, and recordings are never stored: they live in this tab’s memory until you delete them or leave the page. Privacy

Quick answer

Press Start mic test above, allow the microphone and speak. ChromeOS also has its own Mic test in the Audio settings. If the meter does not move, check the input device and volume, then the ChromeOS privacy controls.

1. Choose the input and check the volume

  1. At the bottom right, select the time, then next to the volume slider select Audio settings.
  2. Under “Input”, select your microphone as the device and drag the microphone slider. To mute or unmute, select Microphone.
  3. Speak and watch the meter above; choose the same microphone in the “Microphone” list of the test.

Source: Chromebook Help “Adjust the volume on your Chromebook”, read October 10, 2026.

2. Use the built-in Mic test

  1. At the bottom right, select the time, then select Settings.
  2. On the left select Device, then Audio.
  3. Under Input, use Mic test to test the microphone. The same page also has Volume and Device for the input.

If noise cancellation is on, you can change it under “Input” in Audio settings. Google says only some devices support it; if you do not see it, yours does not.

Source: Chromebook Help “Adjust the volume on your Chromebook”, read October 10, 2026.

3. Check ChromeOS microphone privacy

  1. If your Chromebook has a physical microphone switch, make sure it is turned on.
  2. At the bottom right select the time, then Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls.
  3. Turn on Microphone access. Google says that if you turn it off, it blocks access on all levels and services.
  4. For the browser, make sure the permission shows as allowed. For Chrome and web apps, “Ask” means Chrome asks every time and “Block” means Chrome cannot use the microphone.
  5. To change the permission inside Chrome, enter chrome://settings/content in the address bar. Then reload this page and press Start.

Source: Chromebook Help “Manage your camera, microphone & location settings”, read October 10, 2026.

4. Allow the site in Chrome

Chrome (computer)
  1. Open Chrome menu More (three dots) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings.
  2. Under “Permissions” choose Microphone.
  3. If testthemic.app is listed under “Not allowed to use your camera or microphone”, select it and change Microphone to Allow. (Or select the delete icon next to it so Chrome asks again.)
  4. Reload this page and press Start.

Source: Google Chrome Help, read October 10, 2026.

If you use Chrome at work or school, Google notes that your network administrator can set camera and microphone settings, and you may not be able to change them.

What we left out

We only include steps we could confirm on the vendor’s own help page. We left these out because we could not confirm them there:

  • Headset jack and Bluetooth steps (we did not find them on the Google pages we read).
  • Bluetooth Super Resolution (Google lists it only for some Bluetooth hands-free devices).
  • Menu names on older ChromeOS versions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I test my microphone on a Chromebook?

Use the test on this page, or open Settings > Device > Audio and use Mic test under Input. The page above also shows a live level and a verdict.

Why is the Chromebook microphone not working in Chrome?

Check that Microphone access is on in Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls, that a physical microphone switch (if you have one) is on, and that the site is allowed in Chrome.

How do I change the Chromebook microphone volume?

Select the time at the bottom right, select Audio settings next to the volume slider, and drag the microphone slider under Input.

My school Chromebook will not allow the microphone. Why?

Google says an administrator can set camera and microphone settings in Chrome at work or school, so you may not be able to change them. Ask your administrator.

More microphone help

Sources

  1. Chromebook Help: Adjust the volume on your Chromebook (Audio settings, Input, Mic test). https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/10045949?hl=en
  2. Chromebook Help: Manage your camera, microphone & location settings (Privacy controls). https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/13128177?hl=en
  3. Google Chrome Help: Use your camera and microphone in Chrome (desktop). https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2693767

The level rule behind the verdict (−35 to −8 dBFS is “working”) is our own rule of thumb; see the mic test.

Read and checked: October 10, 2026. Vendors change their menus, so if a name differs on your device, use the vendor page above. Found a mistake? Email info@testthemic.app.