Testing your microphone on Facebook is an easy way to make sure your microphone is working properly for voice calls, voice messages, and live broadcasts on the platform. With just a few simple steps, you can test your mic directly within Facebook.
Why Test Your Microphone on Facebook?
Here are some key reasons you may want to test your microphone on Facebook specifically:
- To check if your mic is working before making a Facebook call or voice message – This ensures you’ll be heard clearly by the other person.
- To confirm your mic is functioning before going live – This prevents issues or echoing when broadcasting live video.
- To troubleshoot mic problems – If your mic isn’t working on Facebook, testing it can help identify issues.
- To check new mics or audio devices – Verify new mics work with Facebook’s platform.
- To gauge mic quality and volume – Testing helps you set levels and evaluate audio quality.
Testing on Facebook rather than another app is best as it allows you to test the mic in the exact environment where you plan to use it. This way you know for sure your hardware and settings work properly with Facebook.
How to Test Your Microphone on Facebook
Testing your mic on Facebook only takes a few simple steps:
- Access your Facebook account on your computer or mobile device.
- Click on the “Live Video” icon from News Feed or your profile.
- Click “Go Live” then “Check Your Audio.”
- Speak into your microphone and observe the microphone level indicator.
- Adjust your microphone or Facebook audio settings as needed.
- Click “Go Live” when finished to exit the audio test.
The Facebook Live audio test screens provide a quick and easy way to check your microphone without actually broadcasting live. Let’s look at the steps in more detail.
1. Access Facebook
First, access Facebook from the device and account you want to test the microphone on. You can access Facebook on:
- Your iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device using the Facebook app.
- Your PC or Mac using the Facebook website in your web browser.
Make sure you are logged into the correct Facebook account if you have multiple accounts.
2. Click “Live Video”
From your News Feed or profile page, click on the “Live Video” icon. This is shaped like a video camera inside a circle and will be either red or colored. Clicking this opens the Facebook Live broadcasting options.
3. Select “Check Your Audio”
Once in the Live options, click on “Check Your Audio” rather than “Go Live.” This opens the audio test screen rather than starting an actual live broadcast.
4. Speak into Your Microphone
When the audio test screen appears, speak into your microphone at your normal volume and distance. Say a few sentences to generate enough audio for the test.
As you speak, observe the microphone level indicator on the screen. This visual gauge will move and change color based on the volume coming into your mic.
5. Adjust Settings as Needed
If the microphone level seems too low or too high as you test, you can adjust your computer/device’s audio settings or Facebook’s input levels.
On Windows or Mac, increasing the mic volume in System Settings often resolves low microphone issues. On iPhone or Android, use your device’s Audio Settings to raise mic levels if needed.
Within Facebook you can drag the Input Level slider left or right while testing to adjust the gain. Find the optimal level where you are heard loud and clear without peaking.
6. Click “Go Live” to Finish
Once you are satisfied with the audio input levels and quality, click the “Go Live” button to exit the Facebook audio test.
Your mic is now ready for making live broadcasts, calls, or sending voice messages on Facebook. Re-test occasionally to make sure your mic continues working properly.
Tips for Testing Your Microphone
Here are some useful tips to ensure your Facebook mic test is thorough and effective:
- Test in your typical environment – Test your mic in the same room and conditions you plan to use it for calls or livestreams to get an accurate gauge.
- Get close to the mic – Position yourself at your normal distance from the mic when testing. This provides a real-life example of how you’ll sound to others.
- Count to 10 – Counting from 1 to 10 gives a good quick sample of your voice with both low and high frequencies.
- Say a short sentence – “Testing 1 2 3” is a simple phrase you can repeat to ensure consistent input levels.
- Read a full paragraph – Reading a paragraph tests sustained speech and identifies inconsistencies in levels.
- Sing or hum – Try singing, humming, or whistling to check microphone response across different pitches.
- Tap the mic – Gently tapping or flicking the mic checks for distracting physical or mechanical noises.
- Whisper and shout – Whispering and shouting demonstrates the mic’s sensitivity range and ability to avoid distortion.
- Check video mic – If using a webcam, verify its built-in mic works well or plug in another audio source.
Troubleshooting Microphone Issues on Facebook
If you encounter issues with your microphone while testing on Facebook, here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve common problems:
Microphone Not Working
- Inspect your mic hardware for damage, loose wires, or a poorly connected jack.
- Check mic privacy settings and make sure it’s not disabled system-wide or specifically for Facebook.
- Toggle your mic on and off under Facebook app settings or website permissions.
- Update your audio drivers and restart your PC/device to refresh mic functionality.
- Plug your mic into a different USB or audio input port if using a wired connection.
Microphone Too Quiet
- Increase your microphone or recording device volume in your system settings.
- Boost input levels within Facebook’s audio adjustment sliders.
- Reposition the microphone closer to your mouth when speaking.
- Point cardioid mics towards your face to improve sound pickup.
Microphone Level Spiking
- Lower mic gain/boost levels in system and Facebook settings.
- Move mic farther away from your mouth or audio source.
- Use a windscreen Pop filter to reduce plosives.
- Adjust audio processing settings like noise suppression if available.
Echo or Distorted Sound
- Enable echo cancellation options in system or Facebook settings.
- Reduce input levels until distortion disappears.
- Use headphones or mute speakers to prevent output audio from re-entering the mic.
- Optimize room acoustics by moving to a less reverberant space.
Still having issues? Reach out to Facebook support or consult your audio device manufacturer for further troubleshooting assistance.
Additional Facebook Microphone Tips
Here are some additional tips for using your microphone effectively on Facebook:
- Grant Facebook permission to access your mic in your device privacy settings.
- Know how to quickly mute your mic when not speaking to avoid background noise.
- Learn to tag people and add stickers, filters and text over live broadcasts.
- Be mindful of ambient noise in your location when live or on calls.
- Stream using a stable internet connection to avoid lag and glitches.
- Consider connecting an external high-quality mic for best audio on live videos.
Conclusion
Testing your microphone directly on Facebook using the audio test screens is a fast and convenient way to verify your mic works properly before making calls, voice messages or going live. Make sure to check the input levels visually, adjust settings as needed, and troubleshoot any microphone issues you encounter. With a properly functioning microphone, you can communicate clearly and express yourself in full audio quality on Facebook.