Published by Online Guitar Tuner. How our guides are maintained · Report a correction
Browser permission
Select the lock or site-settings icon near the address bar and set Microphone to Allow. If the site was blocked earlier, changing the permission may require a reload before the browser creates a new audio session.
Operating-system privacy settings
Phones and computers can deny microphone access to the entire browser. Open system privacy settings, enable the microphone for the browser, and confirm that the intended input device is selected.
Permission works but no pitch appears
Move closer, raise an electric guitar's volume control, choose a clean pickup signal, and pluck one string clearly. Bluetooth headsets and audio-routing software can select an unexpected microphone.
Step-by-step check
- Confirm the URL begins with https://.
- Tap Start listening to trigger the permission request.
- Allow microphone access for the site and browser.
- Reload the page after changing settings.
- Test another browser or input device if no level appears.
Reliable tuning habits
Work with one string at a time, use a moderate and repeatable picking attack, and let the initial pitch settle briefly. Make the final adjustment by approaching the target from below so slack is taken out of the tuning post and nut. After all six strings are close, repeat the entire pass because every tension change can slightly affect the other strings.
Use the input-level bar as a diagnostic
After the status changes to Listening, pluck a string and watch the small level bar. No movement suggests the wrong input, an operating-system block, or a muted microphone. Movement without a stable note usually points to low volume, room noise, Bluetooth routing, or an unclear signal. This distinction helps you decide whether to change permissions or improve how the guitar reaches the microphone.
Related guides
Choose the symptom you actually see
| Symptom | Next step |
|---|---|
| Permission was denied | Allow this site in browser permissions, then reload. |
| No microphone was found | Connect or enable an input device in system settings. |
| Listening, but level bar stays still | Check the selected microphone and its mute switch. |
| Level moves, but the note will not settle | Mute unused strings and reduce room noise. |
| The note seems an octave off | Confirm the preset and compare the open string with a known reference. |
Chrome on a computer
Open Chrome Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Microphone. Check that this website is allowed and select the input you intend to use. Chrome may also need microphone permission in Windows or macOS. After changing a permission or device, reload the tuner and tap Start listening again. Menu names can vary with browser version.
Phones and tablets
Open the website directly in Safari or Chrome rather than inside a social-media app. Tap Start listening before expecting a microphone prompt. If permission was blocked, check the browser's website controls and the device's microphone privacy settings. Disconnect a Bluetooth headset temporarily if you are unsure which microphone is receiving the guitar.
Electric guitars and audio interfaces
An unplugged electric guitar may be too quiet for a phone microphone. Turning up the guitar's volume knob does not make its unplugged acoustic sound louder. Use a clean amplifier at a moderate level near the microphone, or choose a compatible audio interface as the browser input. Avoid distortion while measuring pitch.
Still stuck?
Send the contact page your device, browser version, selected preset, and the exact status message. Describe whether the level bar moves. Do not send a private recording; the tuner does not need your audio to be uploaded.
Primary reference
Google Chrome Help: camera and microphone permissions explains site permissions, input selection and operating-system checks.