How to test your webcam
- Press Start camera and choose Allow when your browser asks.
- If you see yourself, the camera, driver and permission all work.
- Read Resolution you get, Measured frame rate and Lighting. Best available asks for the highest resolution, up to 3840 x 2160.
- Pick a size in Resolution to ask for and compare it with what you get.
- Use Camera or Switch camera to change lens, Take snapshot for a full resolution PNG and Stop camera to turn the light off.
What resolution and frame rate mean
Resolution is the pixels in each frame: 1920 x 1080 (1080p) holds 2,073,600 pixels, 2.25 times the 921,600 of 1280 x 720 (720p). Frame rate is frames per second: 30 fps looks smooth for talking and 15 fps looks choppy. This page counts the new frames from the last second and averages three readings. The screen resolution checker shows your display size and the aspect ratio calculator helps you crop a frame.
Why a 1080p webcam shows 720p or 15 fps
Your browser asks for a mode and takes the closest one the camera offers, so a 1080p webcam can arrive as 720p. A busy USB hub has limited bandwidth, so the camera may send a smaller picture or fewer frames. In low light it lengthens each exposure, often cutting the rate to 15 fps.
Improve your webcam picture
Face a window or lamp, and never sit with a window behind you, because the camera then exposes for the bright background. Wipe the lens. Lighting is the average brightness out of 255 (0.2126 red + 0.7152 green + 0.0722 blue, from a 64 x 36 copy of the picture, twice a second): Too dark below 50, Very bright above 200 and Good between.
Before a Zoom or Teams call
If you see yourself, Lighting says Good and the frame rate is near 30, the camera is ready. If the call app still shows no picture, it lacks permission or another program holds the camera. Check your voice with the mic test.
Worked example
We tested a flat gray camera at 1280 x 720 and 30 fps with Resolution to ask for on Best available. Resolution you get showed 1280 x 720 ("720p, 16:9, 0.9 megapixels"), Measured frame rate showed 30 fps and Lighting showed Good ("Brightness 121 of 255"). More about your camera said the closest mode this camera offers is 1280 x 720.
Limits and edge cases
- Some browsers report no highest mode or frame rate, and the tool then says Not reported.
- Lighting is an average of the whole picture, not a professional exposure reading.
Webcam test FAQ
Is my video recorded or uploaded?
No. The picture stays in your browser and nothing is recorded or uploaded. A snapshot becomes a file only if you press Download PNG. Stop camera, or leaving the page, turns the camera off.
Why is my webcam not working?
If the tool says your browser blocked camera access, allow it from the icon at the left of the address bar, then check Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Camera or macOS System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. If it says your camera is in use or blocked, another app probably has it. If it says no camera was found, the computer sees none.
Why is the picture black?
Usually something covers the lens. Check for a privacy shutter and a camera key on your keyboard. A virtual camera such as OBS shows black when nothing feeds it, so pick your real webcam in the Camera list.
Why is the picture mirrored?
Front cameras show a mirror image by default. Zoom, Teams and Meet flip only your own preview, so others see the unflipped picture. Untick Mirror view to see what they see.
Why is my webcam frame rate low?
Low light is the most common cause, since the camera lengthens each exposure. Add light until Lighting says Good. A busy computer, a crowded USB hub or another app using the camera can also slow it.
Sources: MDN, getUserMedia(); Microsoft Support, Windows camera privacy; Apple Support, Mac camera access.