Browser compatibility
Feature availability varies by browser and device, but this table provides a practical baseline for running Stim Webtoys.Most toys run on WebGL for broad compatibility, with select experiences leveraging WebGPU for advanced effects on supported browsers.
Compatibility table
| Browser | WebGL toys | Microphone input | WebGPU-only toys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome (desktop/mobile) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (supported hardware/drivers) |
| Edge (desktop) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (supported hardware/drivers) |
| Firefox | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited/experimental |
| Safari (macOS/iOS) | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Version/device dependent |
Feature details
WebGL toys
All modern browsers support WebGL, which powers the majority of Stim Webtoys.
- Chrome 90+
- Firefox 88+
- Safari 14+
- Edge 90+
- Hardware-accelerated graphics
- WebGL 2.0 (most toys)
- Modern GPU drivers
Microphone input
Required for audio-reactive features:- Browser must support the Web Audio API
- User must grant microphone permissions
- Secure context (HTTPS or localhost)
- Live microphone input
- Demo audio fallback
- YouTube tab capture audio (Chrome/Edge)
WebGPU-only toys
Full support:- Chrome 113+ (desktop/mobile) with compatible GPU
- Edge 113+ (desktop) with compatible GPU
- Firefox: Behind
dom.webgpu.enabledflag - Safari: Partial support in Safari 18+ (macOS 14+)
- Multi-Capability Visualizer (
multi) - Aurora Painter (with WebGL fallback)
- 3D Toy (with WebGL fallback)
Many toys marked as requiring WebGPU include a
allowWebGLFallback option and will run on WebGL if WebGPU is unavailable.Troubleshooting
WebGPU fallback warnings
A WebGPU fallback warning means the browser lacked a compatible adapter or device at startup. When this happens:- Toys with WebGL fallback: Will automatically switch to WebGL rendering
- WebGPU-only toys: Won’t run and will prompt you to pick another toy
- Refresh the page after toggling a browser flag
- Restart browser after updating GPU drivers
- Switch to a compatible browser (Chrome/Edge)
Microphone permissions
Permission denied
Permission denied
If the browser denied microphone access:
- Click the lock icon in the address bar
- Change microphone permissions to “Allow”
- Refresh the page or click the start button again
Permission prompt doesn't appear
Permission prompt doesn't appear
Hard-refresh the page (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R) to re-trigger the prompt on most browsers.
Can't enable microphone
Can't enable microphone
Switch to demo audio using the fallback button in the UI. You can explore all toys without mic input.
WebGL support
Chrome/Edge:- Visit
chrome://settings/system - Enable “Use hardware acceleration when available”
- Restart browser
- Visit
about:preferences - Scroll to “Performance”
- Uncheck “Use recommended performance settings”
- Enable “Use hardware acceleration when available”
- Restart browser
- Hardware acceleration is enabled by default
- Update to the latest macOS/iOS version
- Check GPU driver updates
Performance by device
Desktop
Recommended:- Modern GPU (dedicated or integrated)
- 8GB+ RAM
- Chrome or Edge for best WebGPU support
- Integrated GPU (Intel HD 4000+)
- 4GB RAM
- Any modern browser for WebGL toys
Mobile
Recommended:- Flagship or mid-range smartphone (2020+)
- Chrome or Safari
- WiFi connection for faster load times
- Any modern smartphone with WebGL support
- Reduce quality settings in the performance panel
- Use low-power toys like “Pocket Pulse” or “Mobile Ripples”
Testing your browser
Not sure if your browser supports a feature? Visit these test URLs:- WebGL: get.webgl.org
- WebGPU: webgpureport.org
- Web Audio API: webaudio.github.io/web-audio-api
Further reading
Quick start
Get the dev server running locally
Performance guide
Optimize settings for your device
Audio setup
Configure microphone and demo audio
Toy catalog
Browse all available toys