Webcam Test
Preview your camera with its resolution and frame rate. Nothing is recorded or saved.
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Webcam Test: complete guide
Walk through the steps and examples, or jump straight to the topic you need.
At a glance
- Permission
- Needs the browser's camera permission. Works only over a secure connection.
- Sound
- It does not request microphone permission. It turns on video only.
- Information shown
- Shows resolution, frames per second and device name. Known resolutions are shown with their name.
- Frames per second
- Shows the value the camera reported first, then updates it by counting the frames actually played.
- Ending the connection
- Clicking Turn camera off closes the connection right away and clears the preview.
- Where it runs
- The picture is shown only in this browser. It is not recorded or sent to a server.
How to use Webcam Test
Click Turn camera on and allow permission
When you click, the browser asks whether to allow camera use. You must allow it for the preview to appear. If you deny it, the reason and how to fix it are shown on screen and the camera does not turn on.
Check that the picture looks right
See whether your face is clear, the colors look normal and the picture does not freeze. If the lens cover is closed, you only get a black screen.
Check the resolution and frames per second
For video meetings, see whether the resolution is enough. The frames per second first shows the value the camera reported and, after a moment, updates to the frames actually played. If the value is low, the picture looks choppy.
Turn the camera off when you are done
Click Turn camera off and the connection closes right away and the indicator light goes off. It is also cleaned up when you leave the page, but if you want to use the camera in another program, turning it off first is safer.
What it’s good for
Check before a meeting starts
Click Turn camera on and allow the browser's permission request, and a preview appears. Look at the resolution and frames per second to judge whether the quality is good enough. When you have finished checking, click Turn camera off to disconnect right away.
When the screen is black
If another video-meeting program is already using the camera, it will not connect. Quit that program completely and try again. Also check whether your laptop's camera cover or hardware switch is closed.
Worked examples
Checking a laptop's built-in camera
Turn camera on - allow permissionResolution 1280 x 720 HD - frame rate 30fpsWhen permission is denied
Choose Block on the browser's permission requestA blocked notice and how to fix it are shownHow to choose a resolution
Swipe the table sideways to see the rest.
| Resolution | Enough when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 640 x 480 | Short calls that are mostly voice | Your face may look blurry. |
| 1280 x 720 | Ordinary video meetings | Most laptop cameras are at this level. |
| 1920 x 1080 | When recording or showing the picture large | Check that the frames per second do not drop too. |
When the result isn’t what you expected
The screen is only black
Check whether your laptop's lens cover or hardware switch is closed. A black screen can also appear if another video-meeting program is holding the camera.
I denied permission and it does not ask again
Click the lock or camera icon at the left of the address bar and change the camera to Allow in the site permissions. Then refresh the page and it asks again.
The frames per second are low
In a dark place the camera lowers the frame rate to get more light. Brightening the lighting often raises it. It also drops when other programs are using a lot of your computer's resources.
Key terms
- Resolution
- The number of dots across and down in the video. Larger is clearer but uses more resources.
- Frames per second
- The number of pictures shown in one second. When it is low, motion looks choppy.
- Device name
- The name of the camera as recognized by the operating system. Used to tell cameras apart when several are connected.
Webcam Test FAQ
I denied camera permission. How do I make it ask again?
Click the lock or camera icon at the left of the address bar, change the camera to Allow in the site permissions, then refresh the page.
Is the video saved?
No. The camera view is shown only in this browser and is never recorded or sent to a server. When you click Turn camera off, the connection is closed right away.
Does it check the microphone too?
This tool turns on video only. It does not request microphone permission; to check sound, use the speaker test.
The frames-per-second value changes from the first one
At first it shows the value the camera reported, and after a moment it updates by counting the pictures actually played. The later value is more accurate.
Can I check an external webcam?
Yes. The device name tells you which camera is connected. If there are several, you can change the default camera in the browser's site permission settings.
Does the indicator light go off when I am done?
When you click Turn camera off, the connection closes and the indicator light goes off with it. If it does not go off, another program is still using the camera.