Webcam Tester

Checking a camera without joining a call

The usual way to find out whether your webcam works is to join a meeting and find out in front of other people. This shows you the same picture they would see, privately, with the resolution and frame rate the camera is actually delivering.

What the numbers tell you

• Resolution is what the browser negotiated, not necessarily the camera's maximum. Conferencing software often requests something lower to save bandwidth, so a 1080p camera may well report 640 × 480 in a call and 1280 × 720 here.
• Frame rate is measured from the browser's own draw loop, so treat it as approximate. What it is useful for is spotting a camera delivering far less than it should — a webcam dropping to 10 fps usually means poor light rather than a fault.

Why low light looks like a broken camera

Almost every webcam lengthens its exposure when the light drops. Longer exposures mean fewer frames per second, so the picture becomes both dark and stuttery at once, and the sensor's noise reduction smears the detail trying to compensate.

The fix is light rather than hardware: a window or a lamp in front of you rather than behind. A cheap camera in good light beats an expensive one in the dark, reliably.

How to use it

1. Press start and allow access. Nothing is requested until you do.
2. Check the picture. If it is black, the camera may have a physical shutter or a privacy switch.
3. Watch the resolution and frame rate to see what is actually being delivered.
4. Take a snapshot if you want to look at the image closely, or download it to compare cameras.
5. Press stop when you are done. The camera is released and its indicator light will go out — which is also a useful way to confirm the light is working.

Common uses and tips

If the camera does not start

• Another application has it. This is the most common cause. Most systems allow only one program to use a camera at a time, so close any conferencing software first.
• A physical shutter or switch. Many laptops have one, and it is easy to forget.
• Browser permission, visible in the address bar.
• System permission, a separate layer on Windows and macOS.
• Driver or connection. For a USB camera, try another port before assuming the worst.

Getting a better picture

• Light from in front, never from behind. A window behind you turns you into a silhouette.
• Raise the camera to eye level. A laptop on a couple of books is a genuine improvement over any upgrade.
• Clean the lens. They collect dust and fingerprints, and a hazy picture is often just that.
• Tidy what is behind you rather than relying on background blur, which struggles at the edges of hair and glasses.

What stays private

The video never leaves your browser. There is no server here to receive it. Snapshots are created in the page and only saved if you choose to download them. Pressing stop releases the camera immediately.

Questions people ask

Is my video recorded or uploaded?

No. The stream stays in your browser, and there is no server here to send it to.

The camera will not start.

Most often another application is already using it — close any conferencing software first. Then check for a physical shutter, the browser permission, and your operating system's camera permission.

Why is the resolution lower than my camera supports?

The browser negotiates a resolution rather than always taking the maximum. Conferencing software often requests less again to save bandwidth.

Why is my picture dark and stuttery?

Low light. The camera lengthens its exposure to compensate, which drops the frame rate. Light from in front of you fixes both.

Does the camera light go off when I stop?

Yes. Stopping releases the track, and the indicator should go out — which is a useful way to confirm the light itself works.