Common symptoms
- The website cannot request microphone access
- Permission is granted but the input meter stays still
- The microphone works in one app but not the browser
Possible causes
- Site or operating system permission denied
- Wrong default input device selected
- Another application has exclusive access
- Muted microphone, disconnected cable, or low input gain
How to diagnose it
- Run the DeviceTriage Microphone Test and speak normally
- Review both browser site permission and operating system privacy permission
- Close other calling or recording applications
- Select the intended input device in the target app
Solutions to try
- Allow microphone access only for the site you are testing
- Reconnect the device and restart the browser
- Set the correct default input
- Increase input level without adding excessive noise
- Test another application to separate browser and hardware issues
The first 10-minute diagnosis
- Confirm the physical mute switch, cable, adapter, and intended input in system settings.
- Close calling and recording apps that may already use the microphone.
- Run the local microphone level test and speak at a normal distance.
- Compare the operating-system recorder to separate browser permission from wider input failure.
Decision path by result
Permission prompt is denied or absentReview site permission, OS privacy permission, secure context, and whether the page is embedded.
Meter moves but call app is silentSelect the same input inside the call app and check its mute, gain, and processing settings.
Meter is flat but stream opensCheck physical mute, input gain, selected device, exclusive access, cable, and adapter.
No app receives inputContinue with operating-system, driver, cable, port, and hardware diagnostics.
Platform-specific checks
Windows
Check Microphone privacy access for both the browser and desktop apps, then select the intended input in Sound settings. Exclusive-mode apps can complicate comparisons.
macOS and iOS
Review Privacy & Security microphone permission. On iPhone/iPad, the active audio route can change with Bluetooth, calls, adapters, or an embedded browser.
Android
Check browser permission, system microphone privacy control, Bluetooth route, and whether battery/background policy interrupted the page.
What not to do first
- Do not call denied permission a broken microphone.
- Do not raise input gain to maximum before checking distance, device selection, and mute.
- Do not grant microphone access permanently to unrelated sites just to test hardware.
When to move beyond a browser test
- Use manufacturer or operating-system audio diagnostics if every app remains silent with known-good hardware.
- Replace or service hardware only after comparing another port, adapter, cable, or input device where applicable.
Last technical review: 2026-09-01
Frequently asked questions
Does DeviceTriage record my microphone?
No. The microphone test calculates a live level inside the browser and does not record, transcribe, store, or upload audio.
Why does permission denial not mean test failed?
A denied permission only means the browser did not grant access. It does not prove the microphone hardware is faulty.