Webcam Test
Preview your camera live and verify its real resolution and frame rate.
Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing you do here — audio, video or input — ever leaves your device.
Click below and your browser will ask permission to use the camera. The video stays on this page only — no recording, no upload, no server.
Resolution
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Measured FPS
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Brightness
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Contrast
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How it works
The webcam test streams your camera into a live preview and measures what the camera actually delivers, not what its box claims. Resolution is read from the active video track — we request the maximum the camera offers. FPS is counted from real decoded frames, so poor lighting (which forces longer exposures) shows up as a lower number, exactly as it would on a video call. The brightness and contrast readouts sample the live image: brightness is the average luminance (aim for the middle of the range), and contrast is the spread between dark and bright regions.
The preview is mirrored by default because that's how people expect to see themselves; the mirror toggle shows the un-mirrored view your callers see, and snapshot downloads a full-resolution un-mirrored PNG for checking sharpness. Use the camera picker to test external USB cameras. Seeing a black screen? Our nine black-screen fixes cover the usual culprits, from privacy shutters to apps holding the camera hostage.
Reading your webcam preview
This test previews your camera and reports its real resolution and measured FPS — the frame rate counted from decoded frames, not the number printed on the box. The video never leaves your device. Use it to confirm a new webcam works, check what others actually see on a call, and diagnose the classic "black screen" before an important meeting.
Resolution and FPS, decoded
| You see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Lower resolution than advertised | Browser requested a default size, a USB 2.0 hub is limiting bandwidth, or the cam only exposes full res to native apps |
| FPS drops in dim light | The camera lengthens exposure per frame to gather light — normal; add lighting to recover frame rate |
| Black preview | Another app holds the camera, a privacy shutter is closed, or permission was denied |
| Mirrored image | Preview is mirrored by default; snapshots save un-mirrored (what others see) |
Fixing a black screen
- Close every other app that can use the camera — Zoom, Teams, OBS and even a background browser tab lock the device.
- Check for a physical privacy shutter or a taped-over lens.
- Confirm the browser has camera permission (address-bar icon) and that the OS privacy setting allows camera access.
- Reload, then pick the correct camera in the device picker — laptops list the internal cam and any external ones separately.
Why measured FPS matters
A "60 fps" webcam that measures 24 fps in your room is usually starved of light, not defective. Because we count frames the camera actually delivers, the number reflects your real conditions — the honest figure for judging call quality.
Troubleshooting
› The preview is black
Another app (Zoom, Teams, OBS) may be holding the camera — close it and reload. Also check for a physical privacy shutter and confirm the browser has camera permission.
› Resolution shows lower than advertised
Browsers pick a default stream size. We request the maximum, but some cameras only expose their full resolution to native apps, and USB 2.0 hubs can limit high resolutions.
› The image is mirrored
Preview is mirrored by default because it feels natural, like a mirror. Use the mirror toggle to see what others actually see on a call — snapshots are saved un-mirrored.
Frequently asked questions
› Is my camera feed private?
Yes. The video never leaves your device — there is no server, no recording and no upload. Snapshots download straight to your computer.
› What resolution should my webcam show?
Whatever it advertises: 720p budget cams show 1280×720, 1080p cams 1920×1080. If yours shows less, check USB connection and close other apps using the camera.
› How is FPS measured?
We count real decoded video frames over time, so the number reflects what the camera actually delivers — often lower than advertised in dim lighting.
› Can I test an external USB camera?
Yes — use the camera picker to switch between the built-in and any external cameras.