How to Check That Your Microphone Hears You on Windows 11

What you need: A Windows 11 computer with a microphone, either the one built into a laptop or the one on a headset or webcam that is already connected, and speakers or headphones. You will record a few words and listen to them.

Before you begin: Turn up the computer's volume so you can hear the recording. To change the volume, follow How to Change the Volume on Windows 11.

1. Click Start (the Windows logo) on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Type Settings, then click Settings in the search results to open it.
3. Click System on the left, then click Sound on the right.
4. Scroll down to the Input heading. Under Choose a device for speaking or recording, click the name of the microphone you want to check. If you are not sure which one is yours, click the first one listed. Windows now uses that microphone for sound input.
5. Click the right-pointing arrow (>) at the right end of that microphone's row. A page about that microphone opens.
6. On that page, click Start test, then say a few words in your normal voice, such as "Hello, this is a test."
7. Click Stop test. Under Recorded sample, click Play and listen.
8. If you hear nothing, click the left-pointing arrow in the upper-left corner of the Settings window to go back. Click the next microphone in the list, if there is one, and repeat steps 5 to 7.

Expected result: You hear your own voice played back through the computer's speakers or headphones.