Webcam Test

Click Start camera above and allow access when your browser asks. You will instantly see a live preview plus your camera's resolution and frame rate, so you know exactly what others will see. This online webcam test needs no download or sign-up, and if you have more than one camera you can pick the one you want from the dropdown.

Open this webcam test in a fresh tab, click Start camera, and confirm the right camera is selected and your framing and lighting look good. Because the browser preview is the same feed Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet receive, what you see here is what your call will show. Run it a minute before joining so you spend the start of the meeting talking instead of troubleshooting.

The usual causes are denied browser permission, another app such as Zoom or Teams already using the camera, a closed privacy shutter, or outdated drivers. Close any other video apps, check the camera permission in your browser's address bar, then reload and run the test again. If the preview is still blank, the camera may be turned off in your system privacy settings.

A camera can normally only be opened by one app at a time, so close every other program that might be using it, including other browser tabs, Zoom, Teams, Skype and any recording tools. On Windows you can use Task Manager to end stubborn apps; on a Mac, quit them fully rather than just closing the window. Then reload this page and press Start camera to confirm it is free.

Yes. The whole test runs locally in your browser using the standard camera API, so your video never leaves your device. Nothing is recorded, uploaded or sent to any server, and access stops the instant you press Stop or close the page. The only image that ever leaves your device is a snapshot you choose to download yourself.

Once the preview is live, this test reads the actual stream resolution and FPS your browser negotiated and shows them in the status panel, along with the aspect ratio. These are the real figures video apps receive, so they are the most useful numbers to check. Most webcams stream 720p or 1080p at around 30 frames per second.

Browsers and video apps often pick a default capture size below the camera's maximum to save bandwidth, so a 4K webcam can stream at just 720p or even 480p. The figure shown here is the actual resolution your browser negotiated, which is exactly what others will see. It is normal for this to be lower than the sensor's headline specification.

After you start the test, use the camera dropdown in the controls to choose between any cameras connected to your computer, such as a built-in laptop camera and an external USB webcam. The preview switches instantly with no reload, and each camera reports its own resolution and frame rate. This is the quickest way to confirm the right device is the one your call will use.

Once the preview is live, use the Snapshot button to capture the current frame and download it as a PNG. It is a quick way to double-check your framing, background and lighting before an important call. The snapshot is created on your device and is only saved if you download it yourself.

A black image usually means a closed privacy shutter, a denied permission, or another app holding the camera, so check those first and reload the test. Blurriness is most often dirt on the lens, poor lighting or an autofocus that has not settled, so wipe the lens with a soft cloth, add light in front of you, and give it a moment to focus. If it still looks soft, raise the video quality in your call app, since many default to a low-resolution stream.