How to test your webcam
- Click Start webcam test and allow camera access when your browser asks.
- If you have more than one camera, pick it from the list. The preview shows what the camera sees, with the real resolution and a measured frame rate next to it.
- Wait a moment for the Image quality score. It checks lighting, contrast, sharpness, grain, resolution and frame rate, and tells you what to fix.
- Click Scan resolutions to see which resolutions the camera really supports, then take a snapshot if you want a still image.
Reading the results
Resolution is the size of the video your browser receives. Browsers start at a modest size unless a site asks for more, so this page requests 1080p. Choose Highest available to see the camera's maximum. The resolution scan asks for each common size exactly: native means the camera itself delivers that size, while scaled means the browser shrinks a larger picture. That works in apps but says nothing about the camera's real modes.
Frame rate is measured by counting the frames that actually arrive, not just read from the settings the camera reports. If the measured value is far below the reported one, the camera is slowing down. The most common reason is low light: webcams lengthen each exposure in a dim room, which can halve the frame rate from 30 to 15 fps. USB bandwidth (a 4K stream on a USB 2 port or hub) and a busy CPU are the other usual causes.
The quality score combines six checks. Lighting uses the average brightness and looks for a bright background behind a darker center (backlight). Sharpness compares fine and coarse detail, corrected for sensor noise, so a grainy image isn't mistaken for a sharp one. Grain is estimated from the flat areas of the picture.
Tips for a better picture on calls
- Light your face, not your back. Sit facing a window or put a lamp behind your screen. A window behind you turns your face into a silhouette.
- Clean the lens. A fingerprint makes everything hazy and soft. Use a microfiber cloth.
- Mind the distance. Many webcams can't focus closer than about 50 cm (20 in). Put the camera at eye level, an arm's length away.
- 720p vs 1080p. Most meeting apps send 720p or less, especially in group calls, and all of them lower the resolution when bandwidth is tight. In Zoom, turn on HD in Settings › Video; 1080p needs specific plans or settings. Teams and Google Meet adapt automatically. A well-lit 720p picture beats a dim 1080p one.
Camera not working?
If the browser can't open the camera, the page explains why and how to fix it. The most common causes are a permission that was blocked once (click the icon at the left of the address bar), operating-system privacy settings (Settings › Privacy & security › Camera on Windows, System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera on a Mac), or another app holding the camera. A black picture while the camera light is on usually means a privacy shutter, a camera key on the keyboard (often F8 or F10), or a lens cover.
Everything runs in your browser: the video is never recorded or uploaded, and snapshots stay on your device until you download them. Setting up for a call or an exam? Also run the microphone test and the speaker and headphone test. To check your screen, try the dead pixel test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my webcam online?
Click Start webcam test and allow camera access. If you see yourself in the preview, the camera works. The page then shows the real resolution and a measured frame rate, scores the image quality (lighting, sharpness, grain) with tips, and can scan which resolutions your camera supports.
Why does my 1080p webcam show a lower resolution?
Browsers and apps only get the resolution they ask for, and many default to 640×480. Pick 1080p or Highest available above. If 1080p still isn't offered, check the resolution scan: the camera may be on a USB 2 hub without enough bandwidth, another app may have opened it at a lower resolution, or the camera is really 720p.
Why is my webcam frame rate so low?
Usually low light: webcams lengthen each exposure in a dim room, which can drop the frame rate from 30 to 15 fps. Add light in front of you first. Other causes are a high resolution over a slow USB connection, a busy computer, or power-saving settings. Try 720p and a USB port directly on the computer.
Why is my webcam showing a black screen?
If the camera light is on but the picture is black, a privacy shutter, lens cover or sticker is usually in the way, or a camera key (often F8 or F10) has turned it off. If the browser can't open the camera at all, another app may be using it or it's blocked in your system privacy settings; this page tells you which.
Why is my webcam blurry?
The most common causes are a smudged lens, sitting closer than the camera can focus (many webcams need about 50 cm or 20 in), and dim light, which makes the camera smooth away detail. Clean the lens, sit an arm's length away, add light, and give autofocus a second to settle.
Do Zoom and Teams use my webcam's full 1080p?
Usually not. Meeting apps send 720p or less in most calls, especially group calls, and lower it further when bandwidth is tight. In Zoom you need to turn on HD in the video settings, and 1080p is limited to certain plans and meeting types. Good lighting improves a call far more than a higher resolution.
Can I use this to check my webcam before an online proctored exam?
Yes. The exam check confirms the camera opens, sends a live picture at a usable resolution and frame rate, and that your face is well lit and in frame. It isn't affiliated with any proctoring service, so also run your exam provider's own system check, and close this tab before the exam starts.
Is my video recorded or uploaded?
No. The video is analyzed in your browser and never leaves your device. Snapshots stay in memory until you download them, and stopping the test or closing the tab turns the camera off.