How to check if your PC is ready for distance learning

A camera that worked last week, a quiet microphone, or an unreliable connection can derail an online lesson. Check the PC you plan to use for class before you need it, and you will have time to fix problems without rushing.

Test Everything guides you through the available tests step by step and gives you a report. Use it to check the computer, then confirm that your browser and class app can use the devices you need.

Check the PC before class

1. Open Test Everything on the computer and in the browser you plan to use for lessons.
2. Follow the test steps. When a test needs your input, do what it asks, such as pressing keys or checking an audio signal.
3. Allow camera or microphone access when the browser asks, if those tests are part of your check. The browser needs permission to test those devices.
4. Read the report and note anything that did not work, seemed unusually slow, or was unavailable. Missing a device is different from a test that reports a problem.
5. Open your class app or website and check its own camera, microphone, speaker and connection settings. A device can pass a browser test but still be unavailable to a particular app.

Run the check with the charger, headset, dock or external monitor you expect to use during class. If you normally join over Wi-Fi from your study area, test there rather than beside the router.

What the results mean

The important tests work

If the camera shows an image, the microphone responds, audio plays, keys register and the network test completes, the basic hardware is responding in this browser. That is a good starting point, not a guarantee that a particular meeting app or school website will work. Test those before class too.

The camera or microphone is missing

The computer or browser may not be able to access the device. Check that a webcam is connected, the camera shutter is open, and the correct microphone is selected. You can test them separately with the Camera Test and Microphone Test. Both ask for permission before using the device.

Audio plays, but you cannot hear it clearly

Check that sound comes from the speakers or headphones you intend to use. A speaker test can help distinguish an output problem from a microphone problem: use the Speaker Test if you need to check the left and right channels or hear a test tone. Also check the volume and mute controls in the class app.

The connection test shows drops or changing delay

A brief speed result does not prove that a connection will stay steady through a full lesson. If calls freeze or voices break up, use Connection Stability for a few minutes. It measures response time, jitter, lost requests and dropouts. Run it from the same place and network you use for class.

The battery test is missing

Battery Meter appears only on devices whose browser reports battery information. A missing battery result does not mean the battery is faulty. For a laptop, begin class with the charger nearby if you are unsure how long it will last.

How to fix problems before a lesson

1. Check the simple controls. Unmute the microphone, raise the speaker volume, open the webcam shutter and reconnect loose cables. If you use a headset, check its mute switch and make sure it is selected in the class app.
2. Allow camera and microphone access. Click the site controls beside the browser address bar and allow camera and microphone access for the class website. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. Turn on access and allow desktop apps to use each device. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone, then allow your browser or class app.
3. Choose the right input and output. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound and select the headset or built-in devices under Input and Output. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound, then choose the device under Input or Output. Check the device selection in the class app as well.
4. Improve the connection. Move closer to the router, reconnect to Wi-Fi, or use Ethernet if available. On Windows 11, check Settings › Network & internet. On macOS, check System Settings › Wi-Fi. Pause large downloads and streaming on other devices during class if the connection becomes unstable when the network is busy.
5. Close apps that may be using a device. Quit other video-call or recording apps, then reopen the class app. If the camera or microphone is still unavailable, restart the browser and check permissions again.
6. Restart and retest. Restart the computer if a device remains missing or the browser stops responding. Run Test Everything again, then make a short test call or preview in the class app before the lesson begins.

What a browser check cannot confirm

A browser test checks how a device responds to the browser. It cannot guarantee that your school account is allowed into a meeting, that a class website supports your browser, or that the service will stay online. Check any school requirements for a supported browser, operating system, camera or connection speed, and sign in to the class platform ahead of time.

Test the computer in the setup you will actually use for class, including the room, headset and network connection.