🎤 Microphone not working with the Virtual Patient?

If you're having trouble using the microphone to speak with our virtual patient, don't worry — this guide will help you troubleshoot the most common issues.

✅ 1. Check your browser permissions

Most microphone issues are due to your browser not having permission to use your mic.

Chrome: Click the padlock 🔒 icon in the address bar → Go to Site settings → Ensure Microphone is set to Allow.
Safari: Go to Safari → Settings for This Website → Make sure Microphone is set to Allow.
Edge or Firefox: Similar to Chrome — look for a padlock icon or settings button near the address bar.

After updating permissions, refresh the page.

🔄 2. Clear cache or try Incognito Mode

Sometimes, corrupted cache or extensions can block mic access.

Try opening the site in Incognito or Private mode.
Or clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload the page.

Tip: If it works in incognito, an extension might be interfering — try disabling extensions one by one.

🛠 3. Check your microphone hardware

Ensure your microphone is connected and working in other apps (e.g. voice recorder or Zoom).
If you're using headphones with a mic, try unplugging and replugging them.

🛠 4. Firewall issues

If you're trying to use the Virtual Patient from your institution's network, they may have firewall restrictions which block some of the data we need to send back and forth
A quick way to check this is to use your mobile device on 4G/5G to see if the issue still occurs - if this resolves the issue, it suggests your wifi/internet has firewall restrictions

🌐 5. Check if the service is down

Rarely, our virtual patient platform might be temporarily unavailable.

Still having issues?

If you’ve tried everything above and it’s still not working, please contact us with the following:

Your browser (e.g. Chrome)
Your device type (e.g. Windows laptop, iPhone)
A description of what happens when you try to speak

We'll do our best to help!



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Updated on: 11/06/2025