Check that your camera works before a video call, class or interview, and see the resolution and frame rate it really delivers.
How to test your webcam
- Press Start camera and allow camera access when your browser asks.
- Check the live picture and the readings: resolution, frame rate, megapixels and lighting. "Working ✓" means frames are arriving.
- Switch cameras, ask for a higher resolution, check which sizes work, take a photo or turn the mirror off to see what others see.
What the numbers mean
Resolution is the width × height of each frame in pixels, as the camera actually delivers it to the browser. Megapixels is width × height ÷ 1,000,000, and the aspect ratio is width to height reduced to small numbers. The measured frame rate counts the frames that really arrive over the last two seconds; it can be lower than the rate the camera is set to, especially in dim light, when many cameras use longer exposures. Lighting is the average brightness of the picture.
Example
A camera sending 1280 × 720 frames is HD 720p: 0.92 MP with an aspect ratio of 16:9. At 1920 × 1080 (Full HD 1080p) each frame has 2.07 MP, 2.25 times as many pixels. If 60 frames arrive in 2 seconds, the measured rate is 60 ÷ 2 = 30 fps.
Fixes for common problems
- Blocked: allow the camera in the site settings next to the address bar, and in Windows Settings → Privacy & security → Camera or macOS System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
- Busy: close Zoom, Teams, Skype, the Camera app or other tabs using the camera, then try again.
- Black or frozen picture: check for a privacy shutter or a camera key on the keyboard, reconnect a USB webcam, or pick another camera in the list.
- Dark or grainy: face a window or a lamp; light from behind you makes your face dark.
Testing a call setup? Also run the mic test and the speaker test.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my webcam not working?
The usual causes are a blocked permission (click the camera or lock icon next to the address bar and allow the camera), the camera turned off in Windows or macOS privacy settings, another app such as Zoom or Teams already using it, or a privacy shutter or function key. The test explains which one it is and what to do.
Is my video recorded or uploaded?
No. The picture goes from your camera to this page in your browser and nowhere else. A photo you take stays on your device until you download it, and closing the page turns the camera off.
What resolution and frame rate should a webcam have?
For video calls, 1280 × 720 (HD 720p) at 30 frames per second is plenty; 1920 × 1080 (Full HD) at 30 fps looks sharper for streaming and recording. Many cameras drop to 15 fps or lower in dim light, so check the measured frame rate in the room you'll use.
Why does the test show a lower resolution than my camera's box?
Browsers start most cameras at a modest size. Choose HD 720p, Full HD 1080p or 4K in Ask for, or press Check supported resolutions to see which sizes your camera really delivers in this browser. Video apps also pick their own size, often based on your internet speed.
Why is my picture mirrored?
Video-call apps show you mirrored, like a mirror, because it feels natural; the other people see you the right way round. Turn Mirror off to see what they see. Photos are saved the way they are shown.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in Chrome, Safari and other modern browsers. Phones usually have a front and a back camera: pick one in the Camera list after starting. The picture may come in portrait sizes such as 720 × 1280.
