Headset Test
Check your gaming headset end to end — microphone input and left/right stereo output — in one place. Ideal before a raid, a call or a stream.
1 · Microphone
2 · Stereo output (left / right)
How to test your headset
- Microphone: click Start mic test and allow access. Speak — the level bar should rise and fall. If the boom mic has a mute switch or flips up to mute, make sure it is active.
- Stereo output: click Left ear, Both and Right ear. A 440 Hz tone should play from the matching side. If left and right are swapped, your headset is on backwards or the channels are reversed in software.
Boom-mic mute — the most common "dead mic"
Most gaming headsets mute the microphone in hardware, and it never shows in software. Check three things: a physical mute button on the earcup or inline remote, a flip-to-mute boom (raising the arm mutes it), and a mute LED on the mic tip. A headset that connects fine but shows a flat level here is almost always muted at the hardware level.
Bluetooth headsets: the profile trap
Wireless headsets face a Bluetooth limitation: when the microphone is active, the headset switches from the high-quality A2DP audio profile to the low-bandwidth Hands-Free (HFP) profile, and your game or music audio drops to a tinny, muffled quality at the same time. If your headset sounds great for music but bad on voice chat, this is why. Options:
- Use the headset wired, or with its USB dongle, for both good audio and a good mic at once.
- On Windows, check Sound settings → make sure the "Stereo" (A2DP) output is selected for listening, and only switch to the "Hands-Free" device when you need the mic.
- Newer LE Audio headsets and dongles avoid the trade-off.
If one side is silent
If only one ear plays during the stereo test, check the audio balance slider in your OS (it may be pushed fully to one side) and inspect the cable near the plug. Our guides on headphones working on one side and testing headphone channels walk through the fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my headset connect but the mic is silent?
Most gaming headsets have a hardware mute — a button on the earcup, an inline mute switch, or a flip-to-mute boom arm. A muted mic never shows in software, so check all three if the level bar stays flat here.
Why does my Bluetooth headset sound bad on voice chat?
When the microphone activates, Bluetooth switches from the high-quality A2DP profile to the low-bandwidth Hands-Free profile, which drops audio quality too. Use the headset wired or with its USB dongle to get good audio and mic at once, or choose an LE Audio headset.
How do I test the left and right sides of my headset?
Use the stereo output section: play the Left, Both and Right tones and confirm the sound comes from the matching ear. If they are swapped, the headset is on backwards or the channels are reversed in software.
Is my headset audio recorded?
No. The microphone level is processed locally in your browser and nothing is uploaded or saved to a server. The stereo tones are generated on your device.
Only one ear works during the test — how do I fix it?
Check the audio balance slider in your operating system, which may be pushed fully to one side, and inspect the cable near the plug for damage. Our headphone-channel guides cover the full fix.
Can I test a USB or wireless-dongle headset here?
Yes. Any headset your operating system recognises works — USB, 3.5 mm, Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz dongle. Select it as your default device first if you have several connected.