Not sure why your phone sounds quiet, muffled, or distorted? Our free tools can help you check what you hear and narrow down where to look next. You don’t need to install an app.
Here’s how to use each one, what the results can tell you, and where their limits are.
Speaker Test
Open the Speaker Test in a quiet room. Start at a comfortable volume, make sure sound is playing through the phone rather than Bluetooth, and listen to the tones. Do you hear rattling, buzzing, or a sudden drop in volume?
If you check left and right channels, remember that a phone’s speaker layout and audio processing affect what you hear. This is a listening check, not a diagnosis of an individual speaker or proof that a phone is dry.
Microphone Test
Open the Microphone Test, allow access if you’re comfortable doing so, and speak normally. The waveform and level meters should move as your voice gets louder or softer.
The browser test shows live input levels; it doesn’t record or play back your voice. If callers say they can’t hear you, make a short recording with your phone’s recorder and listen to it. A calling app may use a different microphone or audio setting.
Water Eject Sound
After a minor splash, water near the speaker grille can make audio sound dull. First wipe the outside and follow your phone manufacturer’s drying advice. If the phone is otherwise safe to use, a brief Water Eject sound at a moderate, comfortable volume may help move small droplets.
It cannot dry a charging port or repair internal liquid damage. If the phone was submerged, is unusually hot, shows a liquid-warning message, or has other problems, stop testing and get advice from the manufacturer or a qualified repair professional.
If the microphone meter does not move
A flat meter doesn’t always mean your phone’s microphone is broken. Before concluding that there is a hardware problem:
- Check whether you accidentally denied microphone permission. Open your browser’s site permissions and allow microphone access only if you want to use the test.
- Disconnect Bluetooth earbuds, a car connection, or a USB headset to check which microphone the browser is using.
- Close another calling or recording app that might be controlling microphone input, then reload the test page.
- Try your phone’s built-in voice recorder. If it works there but not in the browser, investigate browser permission or compatibility first.
If the browser does not support microphone access, the test may not work even when the hardware is fine. Our meter measures live browser input; it cannot diagnose every microphone or guarantee call quality.
Compare the same way each time
If you’re checking whether the sound has improved, keep it simple:
- Use the same phone, audio clip, and comfortable volume.
- Check that Bluetooth and your audio output haven’t changed.
- Listen in the same quiet place and note what sounds different.
For example, if videos sound clear but calls held to your ear are muffled, start with the earpiece and call settings instead of assuming the bottom speaker is damaged. See our muffled-call guide for those checks.
Frequently asked questions about browser audio checks
Why do I hear no tone in the Speaker Test?
Check the phone’s media volume, whether the browser tab has been muted, and whether sound is going to Bluetooth earbuds or another device. Start at a moderate volume rather than jumping to maximum volume. Try a familiar video for comparison. If other audio works but the test does not, reload the page or try another supported browser.
Does a moving microphone meter mean callers can hear me?
Not necessarily. A moving meter means the browser is receiving some sound input. A phone call can use different audio routing, noise processing, microphones, and network connections. Compare a voice recording and a real call to learn more.
How do I know whether Water Eject worked?
After the phone is safe to use, compare the same piece of familiar audio at the same comfortable volume. Listen for changes in crackling or muffling. Improvement is not proof that the inside of the device is dry. Stop testing if the phone shows a moisture warning, becomes hot, or starts behaving abnormally.
Good to know: Our audio tools can help you check your phone’s sound, but they can’t diagnose hardware damage or confirm that a phone is completely dry. If problems continue after water exposure, see our water-damage warning signs.