Online webcam test: see if your camera works and how good your picture really is — resolution, frame rate, lighting and sharpness — with instant tips to look better on video calls.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Camera
Click the button and choose Allow when your browser asks to use the camera.
How to run a webcam test online
Click Test my camera.
Choose Allow when your browser asks to use the camera.
You should see yourself within a second or two. Below the picture you'll find the resolution, the real frame rate and the maximum resolution your camera supports.
Check the picture quality panel. It updates every second, so you can move a lamp or change position and see the result right away.
Optional: switch camera or quality, turn on the framing grid, or take a photo.
Mirror: the preview is mirrored by default, the way most video apps show you to yourself. Turn it off to see the picture the way others see it.
Understanding your results
Resolution
Resolution is how many pixels your camera sends. For video calls:
Resolution
Name
Good for
640 × 480
480p SD
Basic calls on slow connections
1280 × 720
720p HD
Most video calls — the sweet spot
1920 × 1080
1080p Full HD
Sharp video, streaming, recording
3840 × 2160
4K
Recording and high-end streaming
Video apps often use a lower resolution than your camera's maximum to save bandwidth, so don't worry if a call looks softer than this test.
Frame rate (fps)
We count the frames your camera actually delivers each second, which can be lower than the number it reports. 24–30 fps looks smooth. 15–23 fps looks slightly choppy. Below 15 fps, movement stutters — most often because the room is too dark.
Picture quality checks
Lighting — too little light makes video grainy and choppy; too bright washes out your face.
Sharpness — a soft picture usually means a dirty lens, low light, or sitting too close.
Color — a black-and-white picture points to a filter in your camera software or very low light.
Motion — if the picture doesn't change for several seconds, the camera may be frozen or a virtual camera with a still image is selected.
Blank picture — a nearly uniform image usually means the lens is covered.
Camera not working?
If the test shows an error instead of your picture, the message tells you the cause — blocked permission, a camera in use by another app, or no camera found. Follow the step-by-step fixes in camera not working. If the picture is dark or soft, see why your webcam is blurry, dark or grainy.
Tips to look better on video calls
Put the main light in front of you, not behind you.
Raise the camera to eye level — stack a few books under your laptop.
Use the framing grid: keep your eyes near the top third line and your face centered.
Wipe the lens. Fingerprints are the most common cause of a hazy picture.
Choose 720p or 1080p in your meeting app if your connection allows it.
Laptop camera test
To test the camera on your laptop, open this page in Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox, click Test my camera and allow access. The small light next to the lens should turn on and you should see yourself. Nothing to install, and the same test works on Windows laptops, MacBooks and Chromebooks.
What's normal for a laptop camera
Resolution: most built-in cameras are 720p; newer laptops often have 1080p, a few have 1440p or more. The test shows the maximum your camera supports.
Frame rate: 30 fps in a lit room. Laptop cameras have small sensors, so they drop to 15 fps or turn grainy sooner than an external webcam when the room is dim.
Two cameras in the list: laptops with face sign-in (Windows Hello) also have an infrared camera. It shows a dark, grey or flickering picture — pick the other camera in the device menu.
External webcam plugged in: the browser may pick it instead of the built-in camera. Switch in the device menu to test each one.
Laptop camera off by a switch or key
If the picture is black or no camera is found, the camera is often switched off on the laptop itself:
Lenovo: a sliding shutter above the screen (ThinkShutter), or Camera privacy mode in the Lenovo Vantage app.
HP: a key with a crossed-out camera icon, or on some models a slide switch on the side of the laptop.
Dell, ASUS, Acer and others: a shutter above the screen or a camera key in the top row (sometimes with Fn).
Open this page on your iPhone or Android phone, allow camera access, and use the Back camera / Front camera button to test both. The test shows the resolution each camera delivers in the browser.
Run the camera test: click "Test my camera" and allow access. If you see yourself, the camera works. The test also shows the resolution and real frame rate and points out problems like a dark room, a blurry picture or frozen video.
Why is my webcam picture black?
The most common causes are a privacy shutter or cover over the lens, a laptop camera that is switched off with a key, or another app holding the camera. If the test says "Almost blank", check the lens first.
Why is my webcam so blurry or grainy?
Usually it is low light — webcams raise noise and lower sharpness when it is dark. Add light in front of you, wipe the lens with a soft cloth, and don't sit closer than about 12–20 in (30–50 cm).
What resolution is my webcam?
The test shows the resolution your camera is currently sending and, in most browsers, the maximum it supports. Use the quality menu to try 720p, 1080p or 4K and see what your camera actually delivers.
Why is my frame rate low?
Most webcams automatically lower the frame rate in dim light to collect more light per frame. Turning on a light often brings it back to 30 fps. A busy computer or a high resolution on an older camera can also lower it.
Is the webcam test private?
Yes. The video is processed only in your browser and is never recorded or uploaded. Photos you take stay on your device.
How do I test the camera on my laptop?
Open this page, click "Test my camera" and allow access. If the light next to the lens turns on and you see yourself, the built-in camera works. A black picture usually means a privacy shutter or camera key has turned it off.
Can I test my phone camera?
Yes. Open this page on your phone, allow camera access, and use the "Back camera / Front camera" button to switch.
