LISTENING GUIDE · 03

Can’t hear the test?

Check the play button, the output device and your browser—in that order. These steps work as a starting point on phones and computers.

1. Press a play button yourself

Earphone Check never plays audio just because you opened a page. Browsers may also restrict sound until you interact with a page. Press Play or tap a headphone control. Switching to another app or locking the screen pauses playback. When you return, tap Resume to continue from the saved position.

iPhone: check Silent Mode

Some versions of Safari and browsers inside other apps can silence browser-generated sound while Silent Mode is on. Try turning Silent Mode off, then press Play again. This site requests media-playback audio when supported. If sound is still silent, open the site directly in Safari and check your media volume and headphone output. Keep the level low.

2. Check where audio is going

Your headphones may be connected while the selected output is still your phone’s speaker or another Bluetooth device. Open your device’s audio output selector and choose the headphones you want to test. On computers, also check the operating system’s output device and whether the browser tab or site is muted. Earphone Check does not automatically identify your headphone model or read its Bluetooth connection status.

3. Check both volume controls

Your device’s media volume and Earphone Check’s Test volume work together. If either is at zero, you may hear nothing. Test volume starts at 12%. Begin quietly in a calm environment, and never increase the level suddenly because a tone is hard to hear. The displayed percentage does not tell you the sound pressure reaching your ears.

4. Try Safari or Chrome outside another app

Browsers built into messaging and social apps may handle audio differently. Copy the address and open it in a current version of Safari or Chrome. A newly connected wireless device may take a moment to begin playback. Let the connection settle, then try again. If the page says Playing but you hear nothing, stop the test before checking the output device.