📷 Webcam Test
Test your webcam online: live preview, the real resolution and measured frame rate your camera delivers, its maximums, and a snapshot. Nothing is recorded.
Start the test to see your camera’s real resolution and frame rate.
What Webcam Test Does
This webcam test shows a live preview and reports what your camera is really delivering: the resolution of the frames arriving in the browser, the frame rate measured from frames actually decoded, the aspect ratio, and — where the browser exposes it — the maximum resolution and frame rate the camera advertises. You can switch between cameras, turn mirroring off to see what others see, and take a snapshot to check sharpness.
The test asks the camera for the largest image it can provide, so the reported resolution is the camera’s real ceiling in this browser rather than a default. Measured frame rate counts frames that reached the page each second, which is what a video call gets; it drops noticeably in low light, when cameras lengthen exposure.
The video goes straight from the camera to this page. Nothing is recorded or uploaded, and Stop camera releases it immediately.
How to Use Webcam Test
- Press Start webcam test and allow camera access
- Check the live preview and the resolution, quality and frame rate readouts
- Switch cameras from the list if you have more than one
- Take a snapshot to check sharpness and color
Common Webcam Resolutions
| Name | Pixels | Megapixels | Aspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD 480p (VGA) | 640 × 480 | 0.31 | 4:3 |
| HD 720p | 1280 × 720 | 0.92 | 16:9 |
| Full HD 1080p | 1920 × 1080 | 2.07 | 16:9 |
| QHD 1440p | 2560 × 1440 | 3.69 | 16:9 |
| 4K UHD | 3840 × 2160 | 8.29 | 16:9 |
Camera Not Working? Where to Look
| Where | Setting |
|---|---|
| Browser | Camera icon or lock in the address bar › Allow, then reload |
| Windows 10/11 | Settings › Privacy & security › Camera — allow access for desktop apps |
| macOS | System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera — enable your browser |
| Any system | Close other apps using the camera (video calls, Camera app, another tab) |
| Laptop | Check for a physical privacy shutter or a camera-off key |
How to Read Your Result
Resolution is not the whole story
A 1080p reading means the camera sends 1920 × 1080 frames, not that the image is sharp. Small sensors, cheap lenses and heavy compression can make a 1080p laptop camera look worse than a good 720p one. Take a snapshot in good light and zoom in to judge detail.
Why video calls often look worse than this test
Video-call apps reduce resolution and frame rate to fit your upload bandwidth and the other person’s screen. If this test shows 1080p at 30 fps but calls look blurry, the limit is usually the connection or the app’s settings, not the camera.
Limitations & Accuracy Notes
- Advertised maximums are only shown in browsers that support MediaStreamTrack.getCapabilities; elsewhere only the delivered resolution is reported.
- Measured frame rate needs requestVideoFrameCallback; in browsers without it the measured figure is not shown.
- Browsers do not expose focus, exposure or white-balance controls consistently, so those are not adjustable here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test my webcam?
Is my video recorded or uploaded?
Why is my webcam grainy or dark?
Why does my 1080p webcam only show 720p here?
Why is the frame rate lower than 30 fps?
Why is the camera “in use” or not found?
Why is my picture mirrored?
References & Further Reading
- MDN Web Docs — Capabilities, constraints, and settings — How the test requests and reads camera resolution
- MDN Web Docs — HTMLVideoElement.requestVideoFrameCallback() — Used to count delivered frames