Webcam Test

About this tool

Check that your webcam works, switch between multiple cameras, and see a live preview with its actual resolution and frame rate — nothing is recorded or uploaded. You can optionally grab a single still snapshot to download, entirely processed locally in your browser.

How it works. This uses the browser's getUserMedia API to request camera access, then reads back the actual negotiated stream settings — resolution and frame rate — from the video track itself, rather than guessing from the camera's advertised specs. Everything shown here (the video feed, the reported numbers) comes directly from your device; the page has no server component and makes no network requests with your video data.

Why it needs HTTPS. Browsers only allow camera and microphone access on a secure origin — an https:// page, or localhost during development — as a security requirement, not a choice this page makes. If camera access silently fails to prompt at all (rather than showing a permission dialog or an error), an insecure connection is the most likely reason.

When the camera won't start. A few common causes, roughly in order of likelihood: another app or browser tab already has the camera locked (video calls, other conferencing software, or even another tab of this same page); the browser previously remembered a "block" decision for this site, which needs resetting from the browser's site settings (usually the padlock or camera icon in the address bar); or an OS-level camera privacy toggle (common on Windows and macOS) is turned off system-wide, which no website can override.

Multiple cameras. If your device has more than one camera (a built-in laptop camera plus a USB webcam, for example), the dropdown lists every one the browser can see and lets you switch between them without restarting the test — useful for comparing image quality or confirming which physical device is actually active.

For testing other input hardware, see the microphone test, speaker test, mouse tester, keyboard tester, or gamepad tester.

Frequently asked questions

Is the video stream ever sent anywhere?

No — the camera feed is only displayed back to you in the preview on this page. Nothing is uploaded, recorded, or stored unless you explicitly click "Take snapshot," which captures a single still frame locally in your browser.

Why does the resolution shown differ from my camera's advertised maximum?

Browsers negotiate an actual capture resolution based on the camera's supported modes and any default constraints — this shows the resolution the browser actually granted, which can be lower than the sensor's maximum rating.

The preview is black or frozen — what should I check?

Make sure you selected the right camera from the dropdown, that no other application (video calls, other browser tabs) is already using it exclusively, and that camera access hasn't been blocked at the OS level.

Why does the browser need to ask permission every time?

Camera access is a sensitive permission, so browsers require an explicit grant per site. Most browsers will remember your choice after the first prompt unless you're in a private/incognito window, or you've previously blocked it and need to reset that from the site's permission settings.

Why is there no audio in the preview?

This tool only requests video, deliberately — testing the camera and testing the microphone are kept as separate, focused tools. Use the microphone test to check audio input.

Does this work on mobile phones?

Yes, in any modern mobile browser that supports getUserMedia — you'll typically be able to choose between the front and rear cameras from the device list.