Webcam test
Check that your camera works and see what it really delivers: measured frame rate, frame timing, real resolution, brightness and focus — not just the numbers the driver claims.
Your browser will ask for the camera
Only after you press the button. The picture is analysed on this device and is never uploaded.
Access is already allowed: the test starts right away.
Access was blocked earlier. Press start to see how to unblock it.
This browser cannot reach cameras or microphones from a web page, or the page is not on HTTPS. Try a current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
Camera and microphone are off. Press start to test again.
Result
Press start to get a result. Nothing starts on its own.
What we measured
| Readings appear here once the test is running. |
Short answer
To test a webcam, open this page, press Start camera test and allow access. If you see yourself, the camera works. Then look at the measured frame rate: 25–30 fps or more with few gaps is good for calls. If it is lower in a dark room, add light in front of you.
What to fix
- No picture or “blocked” Allow camera access in the address bar, then reload. On Windows check Settings → Privacy & security → Camera; on macOS check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
- “Device in use” Close Zoom, Teams, OBS and other tabs that use the camera. Only one app can hold most webcams at a time.
- Choppy or slow video Add light in front of you: in low light the camera lengthens exposure and the frame rate halves. Plug the camera directly into the computer instead of a hub.
- Blurry picture Clean the lens, check the focus control below, and keep about an arm's length from the camera.
- Wrong camera Pick the right one in the Camera list under the preview. Virtual cameras from OBS or effects apps appear there too.
Questions
How do I know if my webcam works?
Press Start camera test and allow access. If the preview shows you and the measured frame rate is above zero, the camera works in this browser.
Why is my webcam frame rate lower than advertised?
Most often low light: the camera lengthens exposure and drops from 30 to 15 fps. USB bandwidth, hubs and other apps using the camera can also slow it down. The figure here comes from the capture time of every frame; Firefox and some Safari versions only reveal frames as they are displayed, so there it is shown as “at least” this many fps.
Can anyone else see my camera while I test?
No. This is not a call: the preview goes to this tab only, and the Network box at the bottom of the page shows nothing being sent while it runs.
Why is the resolution lower than my camera's specification?
Browsers ask for a size and the camera, driver or browser may scale it. The resolution check requests each common size in turn and shows which ones arrive natively and which are scaled up. Sensor size, hardware megapixels and lens data never reach a web page, so the native sizes are the most honest answer you can get before a call.
Can I compare two webcams with this test?
Yes, if both face the same scene under the same light. Brightness, sharpness, noise and colour cast are read from small frames twice a second and depend on what the camera is looking at, so numbers taken in different rooms or at different times of day do not compare.
Does mirroring affect what others see?
No. Mirroring is only for this preview. Recordings and calls see the camera's normal picture.
Why does it say my camera looks like a software camera?
OBS, effects apps and phone-as-webcam tools show up as cameras. The test looks at the name, missing focus and exposure controls and frame timing that is too perfectly even. That adds up to a strong hint, not proof — if you know it is a real webcam, trust that and read the frame rate as usual.
Why can I change fewer settings here than in the camera's own app?
A page only gets the controls the browser exposes — zoom, focus, exposure, white balance, and pan and tilt with a separate permission. Vendor apps talk to the driver directly and often offer more. Values here are in the driver's own units, so “exposure 156” means nothing outside this camera.
Also check before the call
- Webcam & mic rehearse a call with camera and microphone running together.
- Mic test see whether people will hear you clearly, not just see you.
How this stays on your device
The preview and every reading are worked out by this page on your own computer. The page may only talk to camera-test.net (its Content-Security-Policy says so), and the Network box below lists any request made after loading — during a test it stays at zero.
Requests after load
Want proof? Open the browser's developer tools on the Network tab and run a test: the list holds only this site's own files.