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Free Webcam Test

A free webcam test with no sign-up: see your camera's real resolution, frame rate and lighting in seconds.

Webcam Test showing a live preview with the picture size and frames per second

Your browser will ask for camera access when you click.

Free, no sign-up

Where it works

How to use Webcam Test

  1. Start the camera

    Click Start camera, allow access and pick your camera if you have several.

  2. Read the result

    After a second you get a result for picture size, smoothness and lighting.

  3. Test resolutions

    Optional: check which of eight common sizes your camera really supports.

What is a webcam test?

A webcam test is a quick check of what your camera really gives you: its resolution, frame rate and lighting. Facecam's is free with no sign-up and takes seconds. Your video never leaves your device.

What the result looks like

  • Webcam Test: the camera works well
    The camera works well
  • Webcam Test: works, but the picture is too dark
    Works, but the picture is too dark
  • Webcam Test: the picture is black
    The picture is black

What the webcam test readouts mean

Each number in the Measured panel, and what a good camera shows
ReadoutWhat it tells youWhat to look for
ResolutionThe picture size your browser is getting right now, as a name (720p, 1080p) and in pixels720p (1280×720) or more for calls, 1080p for streaming and recording
SmoothnessFrames per second (fps), counted from the frames that actually reach the page24 or more; most webcams aim for 30
Frame timingHow much the gap between frames varies, in milliseconds. Big swings show up as stutterA small number that stays steady
DroppedAn estimate of the frames that went missing, as a count and a percentageUnder 2%
AspectThe picture's shape, such as 16:9 or 4:316:9 for most calls and streams
Max supportedThe biggest size and highest frame rate the camera reports to your browser. Not every browser shares itIf it's higher than Resolution, click Test resolutions
Set to … fpsThe frame rate the camera says it's running at, under the readoutsSmoothness close to it. Far below usually means the camera is slowing down for low light

The bar under the preview shows the size and frames per second live, so you see the change as soon as you turn on a light or switch cameras. Lighting is graded in the Result panel: even, dim, backlit, overexposed, too dark or black.

Camera not working? Fixes for each browser and system

Where to allow the camera, then reload this page and click Start camera
WhereHow to allow the camera
ChromeClick the icon at the left of the address bar, turn Camera on, and reload. If the site is blocked, open chrome://settings/content/camera, remove it from Not allowed and pick the right camera at the top.
EdgeClick the lock icon in the address bar, open Permissions for this site and set Camera to Allow. The full list is at edge://settings/content/camera.
FirefoxClick the camera icon in the address bar and clear the block, or go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Camera → Settings and remove the site.
Safari on MacChoose Safari → Settings for This Website and set Camera to Allow, or Safari → Settings → Websites → Camera for every site.
Windows 11Settings → Privacy & security → Camera: turn on Camera access, Let apps access your camera and Let desktop apps access your camera. Browsers count as desktop apps.
macOSSystem Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera: turn on your browser, then quit and reopen it. The camera stays blocked until the browser restarts.
ChromebookSettings → Security and privacy → Privacy controls: turn on Camera access. Some Chromebooks also have a camera switch on the side.
iPhone and iPadSettings → Safari → Camera: set it to Ask or Allow. In Chrome on iPhone, go to Settings → Chrome and turn Camera on.
AndroidIn Chrome, tap the icon at the left of the address bar → Permissions → Camera. If that's off too, open Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions → Camera.

Allowed but still nothing? The camera may be busy in another app, unplugged or covered. The fixes for each message the test shows are just below.

Privacy: your video stays on your device

The webcam test measures frames inside your browser tab. Nothing is uploaded, recorded or saved, and there's no account to make. The page can use your camera only after you allow it, and closing the tab turns the camera off.

If it doesn't work

ProblemFix
“Access was blocked”Click the camera icon at the left of the address bar, choose Allow, then click Start camera again. On macOS, also allow the browser in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera; on Windows, check Settings → Privacy → Camera.
“Your camera or mic is busy”Most webcams can only be opened by one app at a time. Quit Zoom, Teams, OBS, FaceTime or other tabs using it, then click Start camera again.
“No camera found”Open the laptop lid or plug the webcam straight into the computer, not a hub, then reload. Check that your computer sees it in the Camera app (Windows) or Photo Booth (macOS).
Lighting says “Black image”Look for a privacy shutter, lens cover, or a camera off switch or F-key on a laptop. OBS Virtual Camera also shows black until you start it.
Frames per second is low, or the note says the camera gives fewer frames than it shouldWebcams slow down in dim light to let in more light, so the video gets choppier. Put a light in front of you, close heavy apps, and use a USB port on the computer itself.
Frame timing or dropped frames failThe video stutters or skips. Plug the camera directly into the computer, try another cable, and close other apps and tabs that use the camera.

More about Webcam Test

Your video never leaves your device.

Facecam's Webcam Test is a free online tool that checks what your camera really gives you: picture size (resolution), how smooth the video is (frames per second), dropped frames and lighting. Then it tells you what to fix.

Webcam Test: what you need and limits

Webcam Test: what you need and limits
How it worksRight on this page. Nothing is uploaded.
You getResult on the page
You needAny up-to-date browser, a webcam
Phones and tabletsSupported
What it checksPicture size and shape, frames per second, frame timing, dropped frames, lighting
Also shownThe biggest picture size and highest frames per second your camera supports, when your browser shares them
Sizes tested3840×2160, 2560×1440, 1920×1080, 1280×720, 960×540, 640×480, 640×360, 320×240

How the checks are graded

Webcam Test thresholds
CheckPassWarningFail
Picture size720p or more480p to under 720pUnder 480p
Frames per second (fps)24 or more15 to under 24Under 15
Frame timingFrames arrive evenlyA little unevenIn bursts
Dropped framesUnder 2%2% to under 8%8% or more
LightingEvenDim, backlit or overexposedToo dark or black

Frames per second is counted from what you actually see, not from what the camera promises. When the two are far apart, the result says so. Low light is the usual cause.

Why test resolutions?

A camera sold as 1080p may only give 720p in your browser, or crop the picture to a different shape. The test asks for each size and checks what comes back, so “Best confirmed” is a size you know works in online calls and streaming studios.

Embed this tool on your site

Put this tool on your own site or blog for free. Paste this code where you want it to show. Visitors are asked for their camera only when they click Start. The test runs on their device and nothing is recorded.

Webcam Test FAQ

Do I need to sign up or install anything?

No. The webcam test runs in your browser tab, free, with no account and nothing to download. Allow the camera when your browser asks.

Why is my webcam video choppy or laggy?

Usually low light: most webcams lower their frame rate in a dim room to let in more light. Put a lamp or window in front of you. A busy computer, a USB hub or another app using the camera can also cause it. Smoothness shows a low frame rate; Frame timing shows uneven frames.

Why does my webcam look dark or grainy?

The camera is boosting a dim picture, which adds grain. Face a light, don't sit with a bright window behind you, and check the Lighting result. It says whether the picture is dim, backlit or overexposed.

What resolution and frame rate should a webcam have?

For video calls, 720p at 24 to 30 frames per second is plenty, and call apps often send 720p or less anyway. For streaming or recording, 1080p at 30 fps looks sharper. Steady frames and good light matter more than a bigger size.

Which camera is the test using?

The one in the Camera menu. Its name also appears under the readouts with the frame rate it's set to. Pick another camera in the menu to test that one.

Does it work on Mac, Windows and Chromebook?

Yes, in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Test resolutions needs a browser that can resize a live camera; if yours can't, the tool says so. The latest Chrome can.

Is the preview mirrored for other people?

No. Mirroring only changes your own preview here. Others in a call see you the right way round. Turn Mirror off to see that view.

Can I test my webcam and mic together?

This page tests the camera. Use the Mic Test for your microphone. It checks volume, distortion and noise and plays back a recording.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. It works in up-to-date phone browsers, and the Camera menu lists the front and back cameras.

Why does my 1080p webcam show 720p?

Browsers often start at a smaller size. Click Test resolutions to see whether 1920×1080 is confirmed. If it isn't, the camera or its USB cable can't give it to your browser.

Does it work with OBS Virtual Camera or other virtual cameras?

Yes. They show up in the Camera menu like any webcam. To fix OBS problems, use the OBS Virtual Camera checker.

Is an online webcam test safe?

Yes. Your video never leaves your computer. The page can only use your camera after you allow it, and you can turn that off from the address bar at any time.

Try Webcam Test for free

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
  • Nothing is uploaded