Testing Your Connection
How to test if your internet connection, microphone, and browser are ready for BubblyPhone calls. Run a quick diagnostic before your first call.
BubblyPhone includes a built-in connection test that checks whether your device and network can support voice calls. Running this test before an important call can help you avoid connection issues.
Where to Find It
On the Dialer page, look for the "Test Connection" button in the top bar. This opens the connection test panel.
Automatic Check
When you open the Dialer, a quick background check runs automatically. You do not need to do anything for this. The result is shown as a small colored dot on the Test Connection button:
- Green — Your connection looks good. You should be able to make calls without issues.
- Yellow — Your connection may be unstable. Calls might work but could experience audio quality problems.
- Red — An issue was detected. You should run the full manual test to see what is wrong before placing a call.
Manual Test
Clicking the "Test Connection" button runs a thorough check and shows detailed results for each of the following:
Connection
Tests whether your browser can establish a WebRTC connection. This is the core technology BubblyPhone uses for voice calls. A result of "Good" means everything is working. "Failed" may mean a firewall, VPN, or corporate network is blocking the connection. Try disabling your VPN or switching to a different network.
Microphone
Checks that your browser can access your microphone. If this fails, the most common cause is that you have not granted microphone permission to BubblyPhone. Click the lock icon in your browser's address bar and make sure microphone access is set to "Allow." Also check that no other application (Zoom, Teams, Discord) is exclusively using the microphone.
Network
Detects your connection type. The test identifies whether you are on Wi-Fi, 4G, 3G, or 2G. Wi-Fi and 4G connections are ideal for voice calls. A 3G connection may work but could cause audio stuttering or delays. A 2G connection is not recommended for voice calls, as the bandwidth is too low for clear audio.
Latency
An estimate of how fast your connection responds, measured in milliseconds. Under 100ms is great — conversations will feel natural with no noticeable delay. Between 100ms and 300ms is acceptable, though you may notice a slight lag. Over 300ms will likely cause noticeable delays in conversation, making it harder to have a natural back-and-forth.
What to Do If the Test Fails
If any part of the connection test fails, here are steps to try:
- Switch to Wi-Fi — If you are on mobile data, a Wi-Fi connection is generally more stable for voice calls.
- Try a different browser — Chrome is recommended for the best WebRTC support. Firefox also works well. Safari and Edge are supported but occasionally have compatibility issues.
- Close other apps using your microphone — Applications like Zoom, Teams, Discord, or FaceTime may be holding exclusive access to your microphone.
- Disable VPN — Some VPN services interfere with WebRTC connections. Try temporarily disabling your VPN to see if that resolves the issue.
- Try the mobile app — If you are having persistent issues in the browser, our iOS and Android apps can provide a more reliable connection on mobile devices.
For more help with audio and connection problems, see Troubleshooting Common Issues.
The connection test does not use any of your calling credit. You can run it as many times as you want at no cost.