1. Confirm the physical connection
Check power, cable seating, hardware mute switches, and the selected amplifier or receiver input. Try a known working cable or port when you have one. For wireless equipment, confirm it is connected to this device rather than another nearby phone or computer.
2. Choose the device in system settings
Input and output are separate settings. A webcam may be your default microphone while an HDMI display is your default speaker. Select the device you intend to test for each direction, then use the speaker test or the microphone test to check that path.
3. Check every volume and mute control
Look at the device’s hardware volume, the operating-system master volume and per-app mixer, the browser tab’s mute state, and the tool’s test-volume slider. Start low and increase gradually. A test tone that is hard to hear is not a reason to jump to maximum volume.
4. Check microphone permission
Allow microphone access for soundtesters.com using the site permissions beside your browser’s address bar. Also check your operating system’s app or browser microphone permission. If a permission change needs a reload, stop the test and reload before retrying. Speaker tests do not need microphone permission.
5. Compare a second app
Play a familiar recording or use a trusted local recording app with the same input/output selected. If only one browser fails, check its permissions, mute settings, extensions, and updates. If every app fails on the same device, investigate the operating system, connection, or hardware. Change one variable and retest so you can tell which change mattered.
6. Investigate one-sided or changed sound
Use the headphone left/right test to compare channels. Check stereo balance and mono accessibility settings. Temporarily disable spatial audio, virtual surround, or receiver upmixing when checking routing. Fit and ear seal can also change headphone balance.
7. Watch for Bluetooth mode changes
Starting a call or activating a headset microphone can change the audio path and playback quality on some systems. Close calling apps, select the intended output again, and compare. When possible, compare a wired connection without changing the test volume.
Record a useful comparison
Write down the device, connection, selected input/output, app, and what you heard. “Right channel missing in two apps with this adapter, but working with a different adapter” is more actionable than “sound broken.” These tests offer clues; they do not identify every driver or hardware fault.