Headphone test
Turn your volume down to about 30% before starting.
1. Left and right channels
Press a button, then say where you heard the sound.
2. Frequency range (optional)
Play each tone and tick the ones you can hear.
Result
Answer both channel questions to see your result.
What the result means
No sound on one side usually means a damaged cable, a dirty or loose jack, a Bluetooth earbud that lost pairing, or the system balance set fully to one side.
Left and right reversed is often just headphones worn backwards, or a swapped channel setting in your sound driver.
Weak bass is common with earbuds that do not seal well in the ear. Try a bigger ear tip.
High tones you cannot hear are usually a limit of human hearing, which drops with age, not a headphone fault.
FAQ
How do I test if my headphones are working?
Play the left and right test tones above and confirm you hear each one on the correct side, then play the frequency tones to check bass and treble. The test tells you if a side is silent or the channels are swapped.
Why can I only hear sound from one side?
The most common causes are the balance setting, mono audio, a plug that is not fully inserted, earwax on the earbud mesh, or a broken wire. Our fix guide walks through each check.
Why can I not hear the highest tones?
Most adults cannot hear above about 15 to 17 kHz, and the limit drops with age. Missing only the highest tones is normal and not a headphone fault.
Is this headphone test safe for my ears?
The tones play at a low level with a short fade in and out. Turn your volume down to about 30% before starting and raise it only if needed.