How to test your camera and microphone before a meeting
- Start the check. Press “Start meeting check” and click Allow when your browser asks to use the camera and microphone.
- Check your camera. Make sure you can see yourself clearly: face lit from the front, camera at eye level, tidy background.
- Check your microphone. Say a few words. The microphone item turns green as soon as we can hear you.
- Check your speakers or headphones. Press “Play test sound” and confirm whether you heard it.
- Join your meeting. When all three items are green, choose the same camera, microphone and speakers in Zoom, Teams or Meet and join.
Pre-meeting checklist: 5 minutes before a work call
- Devices: run the check above until camera, microphone and speakers are green.
- Headphones: use headphones or earbuds. They prevent echo and keep the conversation private.
- Light and framing: face a window or lamp, put the camera at eye level and leave a little space above your head.
- Background: tidy up, or turn on background blur in Zoom, Teams or Meet.
- Internet: pause downloads and cloud sync, and sit close to the Wi-Fi router or use a cable. Upload speed matters as much as download.
- Other apps: close apps that might be using the camera or microphone.
- Notifications: turn on Do Not Disturb (Windows) or Focus (Mac and iPhone).
- Battery: plug in your laptop.
- Join early: open the meeting link 2–5 minutes before it starts.
How to choose your devices in Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex and Slack
If a device works on this page but not in your meeting, the app is set to a different device. Select the one that worked here:
| App | Microphone and speakers | Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom | Settings › Audio (“Test Speaker” and “Test Mic”) | Settings › Video |
| Microsoft Teams | Settings and more (…) › Settings › Devices. Use “Make a test call”. | Settings › Devices › Camera |
| Google Meet | Before joining: “Check your audio and video”. In a call: More options (⋮) › Settings › Audio | More options (⋮) › Settings › Video |
| Webex | Settings › Audio | Settings › Video |
| Slack huddles | Preferences › Audio & video | Preferences › Audio & video |
Keyboard shortcuts to mute and turn off your camera
| App | Mute / unmute | Camera on / off |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom | Alt + A · Mac: ⌘ + Shift + A | Alt + V · Mac: ⌘ + Shift + V |
| Microsoft Teams | Ctrl + Shift + M · Mac: ⌘ + Shift + M | Ctrl + Shift + O · Mac: ⌘ + Shift + O |
| Google Meet | Ctrl + D · Mac: ⌘ + D | Ctrl + E · Mac: ⌘ + E |
Common meeting problems and quick fixes
“They can’t hear me”
Check the mute icon in the app first. If you’re not muted, the app is probably using the wrong microphone. Pick the right one in the app’s audio settings, or run the mic test to compare microphones.
“I can’t hear anyone”
Sound is going to another device, often a monitor connected by HDMI or a Bluetooth headset that’s switched off. Choose your speakers in the app and check them with the sound test.
Echo or feedback
Use headphones. If several people are in the same room, only one device should have its audio on.
Black or frozen camera
Open the privacy shutter, check the camera key on your laptop and close other apps that use the camera. Then try the webcam test.
Robotic audio or choppy video
This is almost always the internet connection. Pause downloads, move closer to the router, or turn off your video to save bandwidth.
This check runs in your browser and never connects to Zoom, Teams or Google. Other meeting participants can’t see or hear it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my camera and microphone before a Zoom meeting?
Run the check on this page. Then, in Zoom, open Settings › Audio and Settings › Video and choose the same devices. Zoom also has a test meeting at zoom.us/test.
Does Microsoft Teams have a test call?
Yes. In Teams, go to Settings and more (…) › Settings › Devices and click Make a test call. If the test call fails, run this check to find out whether the problem is the device or the Teams settings.
How can I check my audio and video before joining Google Meet?
On the “Ready to join?” screen, Google Meet shows a camera preview and an option to check your audio and video. You can also run this page first to confirm that your devices work in the browser.
Can other participants see or hear this test?
No. This page doesn’t connect to any meeting. The camera image and sound are processed only in your browser and are never sent anywhere.
Can I use it on a work laptop?
Usually yes. Nothing is installed: it only needs a modern browser. Some company devices block the camera or microphone by policy. If access stays blocked after you allow it, ask your IT team.
Why do I need to allow camera and microphone access?
Browsers never let a website use your camera or microphone without your permission. You can remove access at any time from the lock icon in the address bar.