This webcam test is a free online tool that checks whether your camera works right in your browser: a live preview appears instantly, the tool measures the real resolution and frames per second, estimates your lighting, and lets you flip the mirror view, go fullscreen, take a snapshot or record a short test clip. Video is processed locally and never uploaded.
100% local — your video never leaves this device
Click the button and allow camera access
Your browser will ask for permission — the same standard prompt every video-call app uses. The live preview starts immediately after you allow it.
camera: —— × —— fps reported—
Starting camera…
Press Esc to exit fullscreen
Resolution
—
actual capture size
Frame rate
—
measuring…
Megapixels
—
width × height
Lighting
—
brightness estimate
Take a snapshot
Captures one full-resolution frame so you can inspect sharpness, color and noise up close. The photo is saved as others see you (not mirrored) and stays on your device.
The most realistic check: record a few seconds, then watch it back to judge smoothness and quality. The clip stays in your browser's memory — nothing is uploaded.
Click Start webcam test and choose Allow in the browser permission prompt. If you have several cameras (laptop + USB), pick the one you want from the device list.
2
Check the live preview
If you see yourself, the camera works. Watch the stats below the video: actual resolution, measured frames per second and a lighting estimate tell you how good the picture really is.
3
Snapshot or record
Take a full-resolution snapshot to inspect sharpness, or record a short clip and play it back — the same end-to-end pipeline your video calls use.
How to read the test results
A webcam can "work" and still look bad on calls. The three numbers under the preview tell you the difference:
Measurement
Good result
If it's worse than that
Resolution
1280×720 (720p) or higher; 1920×1080 (1080p) for streaming
640×480 means an old or basic sensor — fine for occasional calls, soft and blocky on a large screen. Try the quality selector: many cameras default to a lower mode than they support.
Frame rate
25–30 FPS measured (60 on gaming cameras)
Under ~20 FPS looks choppy. The #1 cause is dim lighting — webcams halve their frame rate in the dark. Add light in front of you and watch the FPS climb in real time.
Lighting
"Good" — your face is clearly brighter than the background
"Too dark" produces noise and low FPS; "Overexposed" blows out your face. Face a window or lamp — light behind you is the classic mistake.
The requested quality selector asks the camera for a specific mode (720p, 1080p, 4K). The badge above the preview shows what the camera actually delivered — if you request 4K and get 1080p, the hardware (or its USB connection) simply doesn't support more, and no app setting will change that.
Webcam mirror — why your image looks flipped
By default this page shows you mirrored, exactly like Zoom, Teams and your phone's selfie camera do. A mirror view feels natural — you've seen yourself in mirrors your whole life, and a non-mirrored preview makes every movement feel reversed. The catch: other people always see the non-mirrored image, which is why text on your t-shirt reads fine to them and backwards to you.
Click the Mirror button to toggle between the two views and check how you actually appear on calls. The snapshot is always saved non-mirrored — that's the real photo others would see. Combined with fullscreen mode, the mirror view also makes this page a handy last-second appearance check before joining a meeting.
Camera test for Zoom, Teams, Meet and online exams
This page requests the camera through the same browser API (getUserMedia) that Zoom Web, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Discord and proctored-exam platforms use — so it cleanly separates hardware problems from app problems:
Preview works here, app shows black? Your camera and permissions are fine — the app is using the wrong device. Select the same camera inside the app: Zoom — Settings → Video → Camera; Teams — Settings → Devices; Meet — gear icon → Video; Discord — User Settings → Voice & Video.
Nothing here either? The problem is below the apps: permission, OS privacy settings, a privacy shutter or the hardware itself. Work through the checklist in the next section.
Before a proctored exam (ProctorU, Examity, Respondus and similar), run this test to confirm the camera delivers a stable picture at the resolution the platform demands — most require at least 640×480, and a choppy frame rate can flag your session for review.
Checking for a call? Test your microphone too — our mic test does the audio half of this check with a live volume meter and playback.
Webcam not working? Fix it step by step
Allow the browser permission. If you clicked Block earlier, the prompt won't reappear — click the camera (or lock) icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, then reload the page.
Open the privacy shutter. Many laptops and external webcams have a physical slider or flip-down cover over the lens; a closed shutter gives a perfectly working camera with a pure black image.
Pick the right device. Systems often expose several cameras (built-in, USB, virtual cameras from OBS or Snap). Try each one in the device list above — a virtual camera shows black unless its host app is streaming.
Close apps that hold the camera. Unlike microphones, a webcam can usually be used by one app at a time. Quit Zoom, Teams, OBS, Discord and any camera app, then click Start again. This is the single most common cause of "camera in use by another application".
Unblock browsers in OS privacy settings. Windows 10/11: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera — both "Camera access" and "Let desktop apps access your camera" must be on. macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera — your browser needs a checkmark.
Check the USB connection. For external webcams, plug directly into the computer rather than a hub, and try another port — bandwidth-starved USB connections cause black screens, low resolution and stutter.
Reinstall the driver. Windows: Device Manager → Cameras → right-click → Uninstall device, then restart — Windows reinstalls a fresh driver automatically. Also check Device Manager for a disabled camera (down-arrow icon → Enable).
If every camera shows black on this page and on another computer or phone the device also fails, the evidence points at hardware — at that point a replacement webcam beats more troubleshooting.
Webcam test FAQ
How do I test if my webcam is working?
Click Start webcam test and allow camera access. If a live picture appears, the camera works — the stats also show real resolution and measured FPS so you can judge quality. For a full check, record a clip and play it back: that verifies the same pipeline Zoom, Teams and Meet use.
Is this webcam test safe — is my video recorded or uploaded?
Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser via the getUserMedia API. Nothing is uploaded; the optional snapshot and recording live only in your browser's memory and disappear when you close the tab — unless you download them yourself. No sign-up, no servers.
Why is my webcam image mirrored or flipped?
Previews are mirrored by default — here and in Zoom, Teams and selfie cameras — because a non-mirrored view of yourself feels reversed. Other people always see the natural image. Use the Mirror button to toggle between your mirror view and what others actually see.
Why is my webcam not working or showing a black screen?
The usual suspects: browser permission denied (allow it via the camera icon in the address bar), a closed privacy shutter, the wrong device selected, another app holding the camera (close Zoom/Teams/OBS), or OS privacy settings blocking browsers (Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera; macOS: Privacy & Security → Camera).
How do I test my camera for Zoom, Teams or an online exam?
Run this test first — it requests the camera the same way Zoom, Teams, Meet and proctoring platforms do. If the preview works here, hardware and permissions are fine; then select the same camera inside the app (Zoom: Settings → Video; Teams: Settings → Devices). If it works here but not there, the app is on the wrong device.
What resolution and FPS should my webcam have?
720p at 30 FPS is the practical standard for calls; 1080p looks noticeably sharper for streaming and recording. If this test measures under 24 FPS in good light, expect a choppy picture — dim lighting, an overloaded USB hub or a busy CPU are the usual causes.