How to test your webcam
- Press Start webcam test and choose Allow when the browser asks to use your camera. The camera stays off until you press the button.
- Your live picture appears, and after a second or two the box above it confirms the camera works, with the resolution and the frame rate it actually delivers.
- Several cameras — built-in, USB, a phone’s front and back camera? Pick one in the Camera list. Change Requested resolution or Requested frame rate to see what your camera can do; the test restarts the camera with the new request.
- Take snapshot saves a full-resolution PNG of the current frame, ready to download.
- Press Stop camera when you are done. The camera light goes out; leaving the page turns it off as well.
Requested, reported, measured
A website can’t order a camera to use a resolution — it can only ask, and the browser picks the closest mode the camera supports. That is why the table has three rows:
- Requested is what the test asked for.
- Reported is what the browser says the camera is set to.
- Measured is what really arrives: the size of the video frames, and the frames counted per second over the last second (the browser notifies the page each time a new frame is shown).
If you request 4K from a 1080p camera, you get 1920 × 1080 — the camera’s best, not an upscaled picture. When the measured frame rate is well below the reported one, the camera is slowing down, usually because of dim light: many webcams lengthen the exposure of each frame to gather more light, and longer exposures mean fewer frames per second. Turn on a lamp facing you and watch the number rise.
| Name | Resolution | Pixels per frame | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGA | 640 × 480 | 307,200 | 4:3 |
| HD 720p | 1280 × 720 | 921,600 | 16:9 |
| Full HD 1080p | 1920 × 1080 | 2,073,600 | 16:9 |
| 4K UHD | 3840 × 2160 | 8,294,400 | 16:9 |
At 30 frames per second a new image arrives every 33 milliseconds; at 60 fps, every 17 milliseconds. A camera that reaches 720p or 1080p at 30 fps here is ready for everyday video calls.
Why is my picture mirrored?
The preview is mirrored by default, like a bathroom mirror, because that feels natural when you look at yourself. Text on your shirt appears reversed in the preview, but the people you call see it the right way round — in most video-call apps the mirror option changes only your own view. Switch Mirror the preview off to see the camera’s true image. Snapshots follow the switch: what you see is what you save.
Camera not working? Fixes
Black picture
Most often a lens cover or privacy shutter is closed, or a camera-off key on the keyboard (a camera icon on one of the function keys) has disabled it. The test warns you when the picture is completely dark. Also check that the room isn’t simply too dark.
“Camera access is blocked”
Allow the camera for this site with the icon at the left of the address bar, then reload — the test shows the exact steps for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. On Windows 11, open Start › Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and turn on Camera access and Let desktop apps access your camera; Microsoft notes that browsers and meeting apps are desktop apps and need this setting. On a Mac, choose Apple menu › System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and turn your browser on.
“The camera is busy”
Often only one app can use a webcam at a time. Close Zoom, Teams, OBS, the Camera app and other tabs, then press Start again. If the camera is missing from the list, plug it into another USB port, directly on the computer rather than through a hub.
Before a Zoom, Teams or Google Meet call
Meeting apps choose their camera independently of the browser. Note the name of the camera that worked here and select the same one in the app’s video or device settings — or, in Google Meet, on the preview screen before you join. Test your sound too with the mic test, and use the online timer to keep a presentation on schedule.
Privacy
The preview, the measurements and the snapshots are produced by your browser on your device. No video or image is uploaded, streamed or stored on a server. Need a smaller file to email? Shrink the PNG with the image compressor.
Frequently asked questions
Is this webcam test private?
Yes. The video goes from your camera to your browser and nowhere else: nothing is uploaded or recorded on a server. Snapshots are created on your device and saved only if you download them.
Why is my webcam’s resolution lower than advertised?
The browser picks the closest mode the camera supports, so first request a higher resolution in the list. If it stays low, the camera may sit on a slow USB port or hub, or the advertised figure may refer to still photos rather than video.
Why is my frame rate below 30 fps?
Low light is the most common reason: many webcams lengthen the exposure of each frame in a dim room, which lowers the frame rate. Add light in front of you. A busy computer, a USB hub or a high resolution on an older camera can also reduce it.
Why is my camera mirrored?
The preview is mirrored by default so it feels like looking in a mirror. Others on a call usually see you unmirrored. Switch off “Mirror the preview” to see the true image.
Can I test my phone’s front and back cameras?
Yes. Open this page in your phone’s browser, start the test and choose a camera in the Camera list — phones list the front and back cameras separately, sometimes with extra wide or telephoto cameras.
Last updated: October 15, 2026