Audio & Echo Test
When joining a BigBlueButton meeting, all participants choose their audio mode and configure their microphone and speaker. Learn how to set up your audio devices and troubleshoot common issues.
Choosing Your Audio Mode
When you enter a meeting, BigBlueButton asks you to choose how you want to participate in the audio conference. There are three options:
| Option | Description | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Full audio participation — you can speak and listen. | Recommended for most participants. |
| Listen only | You can hear others but cannot speak. Indicated by a headphone icon in the participant list. | When you only need to listen, e.g. in a large lecture. |
| Phone call | Dial in via phone number and PIN. Press 0 to mute/unmute. | When your computer microphone is not working or unavailable. |
Phone dial-in is an optional feature that depends on your server configuration. When available, you will see the dial-in number and PIN on the audio selection screen.
Selecting Your Microphone and Speaker
Select Microphone as your audio mode.
Your browser may ask for permission to access your microphone. Click "Allow" to grant access.
The device selection screen appears. Use the dropdown menus to choose your input device (microphone) and output device (speaker or headphones).
Your microphone signal is played back through the selected speaker immediately so you can verify both devices are working correctly.
If you hear yourself clearly, confirm the selection and join the audio conference.
If you cannot hear yourself during the device check, try selecting a different microphone or speaker from the dropdown menus.
Audio Controls During the Meeting
Once you are in the meeting, the audio controls are located in the bottom toolbar:
- Microphone button — click to mute or unmute your microphone.
- Small arrow next to the microphone button — opens the audio menu where you can switch your microphone, speaker, or disconnect and reconnect audio.
You can change your microphone or speaker at any time during the meeting through the audio menu — without having to disconnect from the audio conference first.
Chat Audio Notifications
BigBlueButton can play a sound and show a popup notification when a new chat message arrives. This feature is disabled by default but can be enabled in the meeting settings.
In older versions of BigBlueButton, there was a separate echo test step after device selection and a dedicated button to fully disconnect from audio. In current versions (2.7+), these steps have been streamlined into the device selection and audio menu.