This webcam test opens your camera in the browser so you can see what other people will see. Press Start, allow access, and you get a live preview, the actual resolution the camera is delivering, and a measured frame rate.
Use it before an interview, a class, a meeting or a stream. You can switch between cameras, mirror the picture, check how the image looks in your room, and take a snapshot to save. If the camera does not start, the page explains the likely cause for your browser and operating system.
The video is processed on your device only. It is not recorded, uploaded or stored, and the snapshot is created in your browser and saved only if you choose to download it.
Reviewed by: CalcMojo Editorial Team
How to use the webcam test
- Press Start camera and choose Allow when the browser asks for permission.
- Check the picture: framing, lighting and focus. The preview is shown mirrored by default because most people find it natural, like looking in a mirror. Untick the mirror box to see it as others see it. Text held up to the camera reads correctly only when the mirror is off.
- If you have several cameras, such as a built-in laptop camera and a USB webcam, choose one from the Camera list. The names appear after permission has been granted.
- Optionally pick a requested quality. The camera may give you less than you ask for.
- Press Take snapshot to capture a still image, then use the download link to save it as a PNG.
- Press Stop when you finish. The camera light should go out.
Actual resolution
The resolution line shows the width and height of the video the camera is really sending, for example 1280 x 720 (720p, 16:9). It can differ from what you asked for. Cameras only offer certain modes, browsers pick the closest one, and some laptops give a smaller picture when the lighting is poor or when another program is also using the camera.
Common sizes:
| Size | Name | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 640 x 480 | 480p, 4:3 | Older or very basic webcams |
| 1280 x 720 | 720p HD, 16:9 | Standard for most built-in laptop cameras |
| 1920 x 1080 | 1080p Full HD, 16:9 | Better webcams, phones, external cameras |
| 3840 x 2160 | 4K UHD, 16:9 | High-end cameras |
Higher resolution does not always mean a better picture. Lens quality, sensor size and light matter as much, and video-call apps often reduce the size to save bandwidth.
Frame rate
There are two frame rate figures. The first is measured: the page counts how many video frames it actually receives over the last couple of seconds, using the browser's video-frame timing where available. The second is set by the camera, the rate the camera reports for the current mode.
Typical values are 30 frames per second, which looks smooth for conversation, and 15 frames per second, which looks choppy when you move. In dim light some cameras lower their frame rate by themselves to gather more light per frame. If the measured value is far below the camera value, the computer may be under heavy load. If your browser does not provide frame timing, the page falls back to the rate reported by the camera.
Improving what the camera shows
- Light from the front. A window or lamp facing you is better than one behind you. Backlight turns you into a silhouette.
- Clean the lens. A smudge on a laptop camera softens the whole image.
- Eye-level framing. Raise a laptop on books so the camera is level with your eyes.
- Close extra apps. Video editors, browser tabs with other calls and screen recorders can slow the camera.
- Check for a privacy shutter. Many laptops have a sliding cover or a function key that disables the camera. A black picture with the camera light on often means the shutter is closed.
A quick pre-call check
Before an interview or a class, run through this once. Start the camera and confirm the picture is not black. Look at the resolution line: 1280 x 720 is enough for video calls, and anything lower will look soft. Move your head and watch the frame rate: if the picture stutters, close other programs and test again. Take a snapshot and open it to judge colour and brightness the way another person will see it. Finally, check the camera list for the right device, because laptops with an external webcam often default to the built-in one.
If your camera does not work
Blocked or denied. Click the icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, and reload. In Firefox, clear the blocked entry from the same panel. In Safari on a Mac, use Safari, Settings for This Website, Camera.
Windows. Open Settings, Privacy and security, Camera. Turn on camera access and the option that lets desktop apps use the camera. If the camera is missing completely, look in Device Manager for a disabled device.
macOS. Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Camera and tick your browser.
Phones and tablets. Allow camera access for your browser in the phone settings, and for this site when prompted.
No camera found. Reconnect a USB webcam, try a different port, and avoid unpowered hubs. Check that the camera is not switched off by a hardware key.
Camera busy. Another application or tab may already be using it. Close video-call apps, camera apps and other browsers, then press Start again.
Page not secure. Browsers allow camera access only on https pages.
Privacy
The camera starts only after you press Start and stops when you press Stop or leave the page. The video is shown on your own screen and is not recorded, uploaded or analysed by CalcMojo. Snapshots are made in your browser and are saved to your device only when you click the download link.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my webcam online?
Press Start camera and allow access in your browser. If you see a live picture, the camera works. The page also shows the real resolution and frame rate so you can check its quality.
Why is my webcam showing a black screen?
Common causes are a closed privacy shutter, a camera switched off by a function key, another app using the camera, or the wrong camera selected in the list. Close other apps, check the shutter and try again.
Is my video recorded or sent anywhere?
No. The preview is shown only on your device. Nothing is uploaded, and a snapshot is saved only if you click the download link.
Why is the resolution lower than my camera's specification?
Browsers choose the closest mode the camera supports, and some cameras use a smaller picture in low light or when another program shares them. Try the 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080 request and check what is reported.
What frame rate should my webcam have?
30 frames per second is the usual target for video calls. 15 frames per second looks noticeably choppy. If the measured value is much lower than the camera reports, close other programs.
Why is the preview mirrored?
Mirroring makes the preview behave like a mirror, which most people find easier to frame themselves with. Others see you un-mirrored. Untick the mirror box to see the same view as they do.
Can I test an external or phone camera?
Yes, any camera your browser can see appears in the Camera list once permission has been given. Connect USB cameras before pressing Start.
Sources & Methodology
- MDN: MediaDevices.getUserMedia() — requesting the camera and the error names handled here
- MDN: MediaStreamTrack.getSettings() — the frame rate the camera reports
- MDN: HTMLVideoElement.requestVideoFrameCallback() — frame timing used to measure the frame rate
- Measured frame rate = (frames received - 1) divided by the time between the first and last frame in a rolling window of about two seconds. The resolution names (480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K) follow the usual naming by the shorter side of the picture.
Data accurate as of: November 2026