Camera · No. 02
Webcam Test
See exactly what your camera looks like before a video call or recording. This test opens a live preview in your browser and reports the real resolution, aspect ratio, and measured frame rate, with a snapshot button and fullscreen view.
Nothing is recorded or uploaded. Video and snapshots stay on your device.
The measured FPS can be lower when the tab is in the background or the browser is conserving power.
How to read your webcam test results
A working webcam shows a smooth, well lit preview with the LIVE badge in the corner. The resolution reading tells you how sharp the feed is, and common values are 1280 by 720 or 1920 by 1080 on modern cameras.
The measured FPS shows how many frames per second the camera is delivering. Smooth video usually sits around 30 FPS, and a much lower number can look choppy on calls. This figure can drop when the tab is in the background or the browser is saving power.
The aspect ratio, such as 16 by 9, tells you the shape of the frame and should match a normal widescreen picture with no stretching. If faces look squeezed or too wide, a wrong resolution or a stretched display setting is usually the cause.
The mirror toggle flips the preview like a selfie view. It changes only what you see here and does not affect how others see you in a meeting.
What to do when the camera will not start
If the preview stays black or shows an error, the tool explains the likely cause. A blocked permission is the most common, so allow camera access from the icon in the address bar or your browser site settings, then try again.
On Windows 11, open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Camera, and confirm camera access and browser access are both on. A physical privacy shutter or a laptop camera kill switch will also produce a black image.
On macOS, open System Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Camera, and enable your browser. If the camera is busy or unavailable, close other apps such as a video call or recorder, since only one app can use the camera at a time.
When no camera is found at all, reconnect an external webcam, check the cable, and reload the page so the browser can detect it.
Testing before a video call
A quick check here confirms the hardware works without joining a meeting or calling anyone. If the camera looks good in this tool but fails in one specific app, the problem is usually that app or its camera setting rather than the webcam itself. Many calling apps let you pick the camera in their own video settings, which is the first place to look.
The preview and any snapshot stay on your device and are never uploaded, so you can frame your shot, check lighting, and download a still for reference in private.
A snapshot is also handy proof of a fault. If the image is grainy in low light, out of focus, or discolored, saving a frame gives you something concrete to compare after you clean the lens, improve lighting, or adjust the camera settings in your calling app.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I test my webcam online?
- Select Start camera and allow access when prompted. A live preview appears with the real resolution, aspect ratio, and measured frame rate shown below it. You can also take a snapshot or open a fullscreen preview.
- Why is my webcam showing a black screen?
- The usual causes are a blocked browser permission, a physical privacy shutter or camera switch, or another app already using the camera. Allow camera access in the address bar, open any shutter, and close other apps, then reload.
- Does this webcam test save or upload my video?
- No. The preview and any snapshot stay on your device and are never uploaded. Snapshots are only saved if you choose to download them.
- What resolution and frame rate should my webcam show?
- Many webcams run at 1280 by 720 or 1920 by 1080. Smooth video is usually near 30 frames per second. The exact numbers depend on your camera and the lighting, and the frame rate can dip when the browser is saving power.
- Why does the camera work here but not in Zoom or Teams?
- If the webcam works in this browser test, the hardware is fine. The other app likely has the wrong camera selected or its own blocked permission. Check the camera setting inside that app and close programs that might be holding the camera.
- How do I fix a webcam not working on Windows?
- Open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Camera, and turn on camera access and browser access. Make sure no privacy shutter is closed, reconnect an external webcam, and update the camera driver if the issue continues.