Webcam Test
Check that your webcam works: see a live preview and read the resolution the camera really delivers, its measured frame rate and how bright the picture is. It cannot judge image sharpness or colour accuracy, and it needs a camera plus your permission to use it.
Ready to test
Press Start camera. Your browser will ask for permission to use the camera.
- Resolution delivered
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- Frame rate (measured)
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- Brightness
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- Aspect ratio
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- Highest the camera offers
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- Camera name
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What This Webcam Test Checks
This webcam test opens your camera inside the browser and measures what actually arrives, frame by frame. It answers the questions people usually have before a video call or an interview: does the camera turn on at all, which camera is the browser using, how sharp is the stream in pixels, how smooth is it, and is the picture too dark. Everything runs on your device; the page has no server that could receive video.
- Resolution delivered is the width and height of the frames the camera is sending right now, read from the video itself. It is not the number printed on the box, and it can change when you pick a different setting in Ask the camera for.
- Frame rate (measured) counts new frames over the last two seconds. It is not the figure the camera claims. Where the browser shares the camera's own frame count (current Chrome and Edge do), the page uses it and says counted from the camera. Otherwise it counts frames shown on screen, which cannot go above your screen's refresh rate.
- Brightness is the average lightness of the picture on a 0 to 255 scale, using the luma weights from the ITU-R BT.601 standard. A value near zero means the lens is covered or the room is dark.
- Highest the camera offers is the largest size the camera reports to the browser. Chrome and Edge share it; Safari and Firefox often do not, and then the page says so.
- Frozen feed: if the picture stops changing for three seconds, the page warns you. That usually points to a driver problem or a virtual camera showing a still image.
What it cannot do: it cannot tell you whether the image is in focus, whether colours are accurate, or how good the camera is in a way a reviewer would judge. Look at the preview and a snapshot for that.
Webcam Not Working? Fixes by Message
When the camera fails to start, the browser reports a reason, defined in the W3C Media Capture and Streams specification. The page turns that reason into one of these messages:
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Camera permission was refused | Click the camera or lock icon in the address bar, set Camera to Allow, then press Start camera again. On a Mac, also check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera for your browser. |
| The camera is in use or cannot start | Close Zoom, Teams, Skype, OBS or another tab that uses the camera. If nothing else is open, unplug and reconnect the webcam or restart the computer. |
| No camera found | The device reports no camera. Plug in a webcam, or check that a laptop's camera is not switched off with a keyboard key or in the system settings. |
| Black picture | The stream is working, but no light reaches the sensor. Slide open the privacy cover, remove tape, or turn on a light. |
How to Get a Better Picture on Video Calls
- Put the main light in front of you, not behind you. A bright window behind your head makes the camera darken your face.
- Watch the measured frame rate while you add light. Many webcams slow down in dim rooms to collect more light per frame, and the number often climbs once the room is brighter. This page flags anything under 15 frames per second as choppy.
- Try a higher setting in Ask the camera for. If the resolution delivered stays the same, that is the camera's limit, not the browser's.
- Plug a USB webcam straight into the computer rather than a hub, which can share bandwidth between devices.
- Wipe the lens. A fingerprint gives the soft, hazy look people often blame on the camera.
Webcam Test on a Phone or a Laptop
On a phone, the page starts with the front camera. After the first start, the Camera list shows every camera the browser can use, so you can switch to the back camera. Phones often deliver a portrait stream, for example 720 × 1280, which the page names the same way as its landscape version. Laptops and desktops without a built-in or USB camera have nothing to test; the page will say so instead of waiting.
Need to check your microphone at the same time, or other parts of your device?
Last updated: 26 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my video recorded or uploaded?
No. The camera stream goes straight from your device to the video element on this page. Nothing is recorded, and nothing is sent to a server. A snapshot exists only in your browser until you download it or close the page.
Why does my webcam show a black screen?
The stream started but the picture is dark. Check for a sliding privacy cover or tape over the lens, a camera-off key on the keyboard, and the room light. If the test says the camera is in use, close other apps that use the camera.
Why is my frame rate lower than the camera box says?
Many webcams lengthen exposure in dim light, which lowers the frame rate. Asking for a higher resolution can also lower it, as can a busy USB hub. Add light facing you and test again.
Why is the preview mirrored?
A mirrored preview feels natural, like looking in a mirror. Other people in a call see you un-mirrored. Use the Mirror button to switch, and take a snapshot to see the un-mirrored image.
Can this test the camera on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in Chrome or Safari on the phone, press Start camera and allow access. After the first start you can switch between the front and back cameras in the Camera list.
My webcam works here but not in Zoom or Teams. Why?
Then the hardware and driver are fine. Check the camera chosen in that app's video settings, whether the app has camera permission in your system privacy settings, and that no other app is holding the camera at the same time.