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Mic echo? How to stop it

Echo has a small number of causes, and each has a simple fix. Record a clip below to hear what your mic is really picking up.

Microphone test

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Your audio never leaves your device.

Your mic is working

Listening…

–∞ dB

WaitingSay something at your normal speaking volume.

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Record and play back

Hear exactly how you sound to others.

Your recording will show up here.

Hear yourself live

Plays your mic through your speakers or headphones.

Use headphones to avoid feedback. Speakers can cause a loud squeal.

Your microphone

Microphone
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Sample rate
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Channels
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Echo cancellation
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Noise suppression
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Auto gain control
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Estimated latency
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Level
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Results are approximate. They show what your browser reports, and can differ from what another app or the people on your call hear.

First, work out whose echo it is

Here’s the part that surprises people: if you hear your own voice echoing back on a call, the cause is almost always at the other end. Your voice comes out of the other person’s speakers, their microphone picks it up, and it’s sent back to you. They need the fix, not you.

If other people hear themselves echo when they talk to you, the loop is on your side. Your microphone is hearing your speakers. That’s the situation the steps below fix.

Stop your mic from echoing

  1. Use headphones

    This is the fix that always works. With headphones on, the sound of the call never reaches your microphone, so there’s nothing to echo.

  2. Leave echo cancellation on

    Start the test and check “Echo cancellation” in the panel. Meeting apps have the same feature. Keep it on unless you’re recording music. If you turned on an option like Zoom’s Original sound, turn it off.

  3. Lower your speakers and separate them from the mic

    If you can’t use headphones, turn the speaker volume down and move the microphone away from the speakers, pointing in the opposite direction.

  4. Look for a second device in the room

    Two laptops or a laptop and a phone on the same call in one room will echo badly. Mute the mic and the speaker on all but one of them.

  5. Turn off system monitoring

    On Windows, open More sound settings, the Recording tab, your microphone’s Properties, then the Listen tab, and untick “Listen to this device”. On this page, make sure “Hear yourself live” is switched off.

Questions and answers

What’s the difference between echo and feedback?

Echo is a delayed repeat of a voice. Feedback is a rising squeal or howl. Both come from a microphone picking up a speaker, but feedback happens when the sound loops quickly and gets louder each time around, usually when live monitoring is on.

My recordings sound echoey even though I’m not on a call. Why?

That’s your room, not an electronic echo. Sound bounces off hard walls, floors and desks before it reaches the mic. Move closer to the microphone, and add soft things to the room: curtains, a rug, even a duvet behind you makes an audible difference.

Why do I hear myself in my own headphones?

Something is monitoring your mic: a sidetone feature in your headset’s software, the “Listen to this device” option on Windows, or a monitoring button on a USB mic or audio interface. Our guide on hearing your mic in your headphones explains how to turn each one on and off.

Does echo cancellation hurt sound quality?

Slightly. It can thin out your voice or briefly dip your volume when the other person talks. For conversation the trade is well worth it. With headphones on, you can switch it off for a fuller sound.

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