Webcam Test

How to test your webcam

1. Press Start camera. Your browser asks for permission: choose Allow.
2. Look at the live preview. If you see yourself, your webcam works.
3. If you have more than one camera, pick it from the camera list that appears. Use the resolution menu to ask for 4K, 1080p, 720p or 480p.
4. Read the resolution and frame rate boxes. They show what your camera really sends, not what the box says.
5. Use Take snapshot to save a still image, and Stop to turn the camera off when you are done.

What the results mean

Resolution is the size of each video frame in pixels. 1280x720 is HD (720p), 1920x1080 is Full HD (1080p) and 3840x2160 is 4K. Most laptop webcams top out at 720p or 1080p. If you asked for 1080p and see 640x480, the camera, its driver or the USB port cannot deliver more.

Frame rate is measured live from the frames your browser receives. 30 fps is normal and smooth for video calls; 24-29 fps is fine; under 15 fps looks choppy. Many webcams drop to 15 fps or lower in a dark room because they keep the shutter open longer, so try more light before blaming the camera.

Megapixels and aspect ratio follow from the resolution. 16:9 is widescreen; 4:3 is the older, squarer format some cameras use at low resolutions.

Is this webcam test private?

Yes. The webcam test runs entirely in your browser. The video goes from your camera to your screen and nowhere else: it is not recorded, uploaded or stored. Snapshots are created on your device and only saved if you download them. You can check the camera icon in the address bar at any time to see or remove the permission.

Test your webcam for Zoom, Teams and Google Meet

If the camera works here, it works in the browser. If it still fails in a meeting app, the problem is usually that the app has picked the wrong camera or another app is holding the camera. Close other programs that use video (OBS, Zoom, Teams, Discord, Snapchat Camera), then choose the correct camera in the meeting app's video settings.

Common problems and fixes

Permission denied or blocked

Click the camera or lock icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, then reload the page. On Windows also check Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and make sure "Let apps access your camera" and "Let desktop apps access your camera" are on. On a Mac open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and enable your browser.

Camera is in use by another app

Only one program can use most webcams at a time. Quit Zoom, Teams, Skype, OBS and other video apps (check the system tray too), then press Start camera again.

Black screen or no camera found

Check for a privacy shutter or a camera key (often F8, F10 or a key with a camera icon) on laptops. For USB webcams try another port and avoid unpowered hubs. In Windows Device Manager, look under Cameras for a warning sign and update or reinstall the driver.

Image is dark, grainy or laggy

Add light in front of you, not behind you. Low light lowers the frame rate and adds noise. Clean the lens with a soft cloth, and pick a lower resolution if your computer struggles.