About the Webcam Test
This Webcam Test shows live video from your camera so you can check that it works. Press the start button, allow the camera when your browser asks, and you see yourself straight away. Beside the picture are the resolution the browser is receiving, a quality label such as HD (720p) or Full HD (1080p), the aspect ratio, the camera's name and a frame rate that the page measures itself by counting real video frames. You can switch between cameras, ask for 640 × 480, 1280 × 720 or 1920 × 1080, turn the mirror view on or off and take a picture to download as a PNG. The video stays on your device, and the picture is created in the page and never uploaded. The test does not check the microphone. It shows what your browser receives, which may be lower than what the camera can do.
Updated September 2026
How to use the Webcam Test
- 1Press Start camera test and allow the camera in your browser.
- 2Check that the live picture appears, and read the resolution, quality and frame rate beside it.
- 3Choose another camera or a different resolution if you like.
- 4Press Take a picture, then Download picture to save a PNG, and press Stop camera when you are done.
Testing your camera in the browser
Your browser asks for permission before a page can see the camera, and it shows an indicator while the camera is on. Once you allow it, the live picture appears and the details are filled in. Wave a hand and check that the picture keeps up and looks sharp.
The mirror view flips the preview like a bathroom mirror, which feels natural, and it does not change the picture you download. Turn it off if you want to read text held up to the camera.
Resolution and frame rate
Resolution is the number of pixels in the picture, such as 1280 × 720. The quality label names it by the short side of the picture, so 720 means HD and 1080 means Full HD. Frame rate is the number of pictures per second. Video calls usually run at 30 frames per second, and lower numbers look choppy.
The frame rate shown here is measured by the page over two seconds, so it can dip on a slow computer or in dim light, when many cameras slow down to collect more light. If you ask for a size the camera cannot deliver, the tool switches to the best available.
Fixing a camera that won't start
- Close other apps that use the camera, such as video calls and recorders.
- Allow the camera for this site in your browser's address bar or settings.
- Slide open any physical privacy shutter and check the camera is not turned off by a key or switch.
- Choose the right device in the Camera list if you have more than one.
- Check your system's privacy settings for camera access, then restart the browser.
- The camera needs a secure page that starts with https.
Privacy and camera permissions
The page asks for the camera only after you press start. Video is shown on your device and is not sent to a server. Stop camera turns it off, and it is also turned off when you leave the page. To check your microphone, use the Mic Test, and to record your screen use the Screen Recorder.
You can remove a site's camera permission at any time in your browser settings. If a picture is a passport or profile photo, the Passport Size Photo Maker and Round Profile Photo tools can crop it to size.
Features
- Live camera preview with an optional mirror view
- Resolution, quality label and aspect ratio
- Frame rate measured from real video frames
- Switch between several cameras
- Ask for 640 × 480, 1280 × 720 or 1920 × 1080
- Take a picture and download it as a PNG
- The camera is released when you stop or leave the page
- Nothing is uploaded or stored
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my webcam online?
Press Start camera test and allow the camera when your browser asks. If the live picture appears and moves smoothly, the camera works. The details beside it show its resolution and frame rate, and you can take a picture to check the colours and focus.
Why does the camera show a black screen?
Common causes are a cover or privacy shutter over the lens, another app using the camera, the wrong camera being selected, or blocked permission. Open the Camera list and try another one, close video-call apps, and check the site permission in your address bar.
Is my video sent anywhere?
No. The video is shown in this page on your device, and nothing is uploaded. If you take a picture, it is drawn in the page and only saved to your device when you press Download picture. Press Stop camera when you finish so the camera light goes off.
How do I check my webcam resolution?
Start the test and read the Resolution line, for example 1280 × 720 at 30 fps, and the quality label such as HD (720p). You can request 640 × 480, 1280 × 720 or 1920 × 1080. If the camera cannot do that size, the tool falls back to the best it has and tells you.
Why is my webcam blurry?
Low light, a smudged lens, a low resolution setting or an app that compresses the video are the usual reasons. Clean the lens, add light in front of you, and try a higher resolution here. Many laptop cameras are simply limited to 720p.
How do I choose another camera?
After the test has started, open the Camera list and pick another device, for example an external webcam or a virtual camera. Names show once permission has been given. The picture restarts with the camera you choose.