How to Check That Your Microphone Hears You on a Mac

What you need: A Mac with macOS Ventura 13 or later and a microphone, either the one built into the Mac or the one on a headset or webcam that is already connected.

1. Click the Apple menu (the Apple logo) in the upper-left corner of the screen, then click System Settings.
2. Click Sound in the list on the left. If you do not see Sound, move the pointer over the list and scroll down.
3. Click Input, below the Sound Effects settings. If you do not see it, move the pointer over the right side of the window and scroll down. A list of microphones appears. An orange dot also appears next to the Control Center icon, which looks like two small switches, near the right end of the menu bar. This is normal: it shows that the microphone is in use.
4. In the list, click the name of the microphone you want to check. A microphone built into your Mac is listed with your Mac's model name followed by Microphone, such as MacBook Pro Microphone. Your Mac now uses that microphone for sound input.
5. Find Input level below the list. It is a row of small bars that light up when the microphone hears sound. Say a few words in your normal voice, such as "Hello, this is a test," and watch the bars.
6. If the bars stay still while you speak, click the next microphone in the list, if there is one, and speak again.

Expected result: The bars beside Input level light up while you speak and settle back when you stop.