CheckHut

Webcam test: check your camera

Test your webcam or laptop camera online: see the picture, its real resolution and frame rate, and whether your lighting needs fixing. Free, and the video never leaves your device.

Your browser will ask to use your camera. The video stays on your device: nothing is recorded or uploaded.

How to test your webcam

  1. Press Start webcam test and click Allow when your browser asks to use the camera.
  2. You should see yourself within a second or two. If you do, your camera works.
  3. Check the results under the picture: the resolution, the frame rate, and whether the lighting is good enough.
  4. Got more than one camera, like a laptop camera and a USB webcam, or a front and back camera on a phone? Pick another one from the list to compare.

Reading the results

  • Resolution is the size of the picture in pixels. 720p (1280 × 720) is fine for most calls, and many video call apps send about that to save bandwidth. 1080p (1920 × 1080) looks sharper, and 4K is mostly useful for streaming and recording.
  • Frame rate is how many pictures per second the camera sends. 30 fps looks smooth; below about 15 fps, movement starts to look choppy. Many webcams slow down in dim light to let in more light, so a low frame rate often means you need more light, not a new camera.
  • Best supported is the highest resolution and frame rate the camera says it can do (Chrome and Edge show this). Choose Highest available to try it.
  • Lighting: we check the brightness of the picture and warn you if it's too dark, washed out, or completely black.

Camera not working? Try these fixes

The browser blocked the camera

If you clicked Block by accident, the browser remembers it. In Chrome and Edge, click the icon at the left of the address bar and set Camera to Allow. In Safari, open Safari > Settings for This Website. In Firefox, click the crossed-out camera icon in the address bar. Then reload the page.

Windows

  1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and turn on camera access for apps and desktop apps.
  2. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras and check that your camera is listed and turned on.

Mac

Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and turn on your browser, then restart the browser. If the green light next to the camera doesn't come on at all, restart the Mac.

The picture is black

The camera is working but something blocks the view. Look for a sliding privacy shutter or a sticker over the lens. Many laptops also have a camera off key, often F8 or F10 with a camera symbol, or a small switch on the side.

Another app is using the camera

On Windows, most cameras work in only one app at a time. Close Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS and other browser tabs with a call open, then press Try again.

USB webcam

Plug it straight into the computer rather than a hub, and try another port. 4K webcams need a USB 3 port (often blue, or marked SS) to reach their full resolution and frame rate.

Camera works here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord?

If you saw yourself above, your camera and its drivers work. Press Stop test before you try another app: on Windows, most cameras work in only one app at a time. If the app still shows nothing, it's usually set to a different camera, or your computer hasn't allowed it to use the camera. Pick your app.

Discord camera not working

  1. Open User Settings (the gear next to your name, bottom left) > Voice & Video. Under Camera, pick your camera and press Test Video.
  2. Close other apps that might be using the camera, and press Stop test on this page.
  3. Check that your computer lets Discord use the camera. On a Mac, turn on Discord in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then quit and reopen it. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
  4. Preview stays black? Quit Discord completely and reopen it. If that doesn't help, turn off Hardware Acceleration in User Settings > Advanced.
  5. Using Discord in a browser? Click the icon at the left of the address bar on the discord.com tab and set Camera to Allow, then reload.

Zoom camera not working

  1. Click the arrow next to Start Video and pick your camera. Outside a meeting, it's in Settings > Video > Camera.
  2. Close other apps that might be using the camera, and press Stop test on this page.
  3. Check that your computer lets Zoom use the camera. On a Mac, turn on zoom.us in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then quit and reopen it. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
  4. Blurry? Tick HD in Settings > Video, and untick Touch up my appearance, which smooths the whole picture. Zoom still sends less detail on a slow connection.
  5. Too dark? Turn on Adjust for low light in Settings > Video, and put a lamp or window in front of you.
  6. Mirror my video only changes what you see. Everyone else sees you the right way round.
  7. Using Zoom in a browser? Click the icon at the left of the address bar on the Zoom tab and set Camera to Allow, then reload.

Microsoft Teams camera not working

  1. Open Settings and more (the three dots next to your picture) > Settings > Devices. Under Camera, pick your camera and check the preview. In a meeting, the arrow next to Camera does the same.
  2. Close other apps that might be using the camera, and press Stop test on this page.
  3. Check that your computer lets Teams use the camera. On a Mac, turn on Microsoft Teams in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then quit and reopen it. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
  4. Looking blurry? Turn off background effects and Soft focus. Teams also lowers the quality on a slow connection.
  5. On a work or school computer, your IT team may control the camera. If a switch is greyed out, ask them.
  6. Using Teams in a browser? Click the icon at the left of the address bar on the Teams tab and set Camera to Allow, then reload.

Google Meet camera not working

  1. Meet runs in your browser, but each website needs its own permission. On the Meet tab, click the icon at the left of the address bar and set Camera to Allow, then reload.
  2. Before you join, pick your camera from the camera menu under your preview. During a call, open More options (three dots) > Settings > Video.
  3. Close other apps that might be using the camera, and press Stop test on this page.
  4. Blurry? In Settings > Video, set Send resolution to the highest option: 720p, or 1080p on some paid accounts.

OBS webcam not showing

  1. Add a Video Capture Device source to your scene, open its properties and pick your camera under Device.
  2. Black box? Another app has the camera. Press Stop test on this page, close other video apps, then press Deactivate and Activate in the source's properties, or restart OBS.
  3. Stuck at 720p or 30 fps on Windows? In the source's properties, set Resolution/FPS Type to Custom and choose the resolution and FPS. Then match them in Settings > Video.
  4. Check that your computer lets OBS use the camera. On a Mac, turn on OBS in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then quit and reopen it. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.

Exam software can't detect your webcam

  1. Run the exam provider's own system check at least a day before, on the same computer, network and room you'll use on the day.
  2. Close every app that might use the camera, like Zoom, Teams, Discord and OBS, and press Stop test on this page. Lockdown browsers often won't start while they're open.
  3. Use the browser or app your exam requires: Honorlock runs as a Chrome extension, Respondus Monitor uses LockDown Browser, ProctorU uses Guardian Browser, and Pearson OnVUE has its own app.
  4. Allow the camera when the exam software asks. On a Mac, that app or browser also needs to be on in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera; quit and reopen it after you turn it on.
  5. Pick the real camera, not a virtual one like OBS Virtual Camera or NVIDIA Broadcast. Proctoring tools often reject virtual cameras.
  6. For the ID check, face a lamp or window and hold your ID still, close to the camera, until it's sharp.
  7. Still failing? Contact the exam provider's support before exam day, and tell them that your camera works in this test.

Camera not working in another app

  1. Open the app's video or camera settings and pick your camera.
  2. Close other apps that might be using the camera, and press Stop test on this page.
  3. Check that your computer lets the app use the camera. On a Mac, turn on the app in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, then quit and reopen it. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your camera in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
  4. Plugged the camera in after opening the app? Quit the app and reopen it: many apps only look for cameras when they start.

How to look better on camera

  • Face a window or lamp. Light from behind turns you into a silhouette.
  • Put the camera at eye level, about an arm's length away.
  • Wipe the lens. A fingerprint makes everything look soft and hazy.
  • Choose 1080p in your video app's settings if it offers it.

Use your phone as a webcam

A phone camera is usually much sharper than a laptop's. Once it's set up, it shows up as a camera like any other, so you can pick it in the camera list above to test it.

  • iPhone with a Mac: Continuity Camera is built in on recent versions of macOS and iOS. Sign in with the same Apple Account on both, mount the iPhone near the Mac in landscape with its back camera facing you, and it appears in the camera list.
  • Android with Windows 11: Windows can use an Android phone as a connected camera through Phone Link. Turn it on in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices.
  • Any phone and computer: webcam apps such as Camo, DroidCam or Iriun Webcam work with an app on the phone and a small program on the computer, over Wi-Fi or a USB cable.

Questions

Is my video recorded or uploaded?

No. The test runs entirely in your browser. The video never leaves your device, and a photo you take only exists on this page until you close it or download it.

Why does my webcam look blurry or grainy?

Usually it's the light: in a dim room, webcams turn up their sensitivity, which adds grain, and slow down, which blurs movement. Add light in front of you first. A dirty lens and a low resolution are the next things to check.

Why is my picture mirrored?

The preview is mirrored by default, like a mirror and like most video call apps, because that feels natural. Other people on a call see you the right way round. Untick Mirror the preview to see what they see.

Why is the frame rate lower than my camera's box says?

Cameras often reach their top frame rate only at lower resolutions or in good light, and some need a USB 3 port. Try 720p, add light, and check the Best supported line.

It works here but not in Zoom or Teams. Why?

Then your camera is fine. Check that the app is set to the same camera in its video settings, and that no other app, including this page, is using the camera at the same time. See the fixes for Zoom, Teams, Discord, Google Meet, OBS and online exams above.

Does this work on my phone?

Yes, in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Pick the front or back camera from the camera list.

Are webcam tests safe?

This one is: the video is shown and measured in your browser and never sent anywhere. You can check for yourself: the camera light goes off when you press Stop test, and the camera icon in your browser's address bar shows whenever a page is using it. On any site, only allow the camera if you trust it, and remove the permission in the browser's site settings when you're done.

Can I test my webcam and microphone together?

Yes. The camera and mic test checks your camera, microphone and speakers in one go, the way a call app uses them, and tells you what to fix.

Checking your whole call setup? Test your microphone with the mic test and your speakers with the sound test.

More tests

Mic testLive level, a recording to play back, background noise and clarity, and fixes for Discord, Zoom and Teams.Sound testLeft and right, crackling, bass, 5.1 and 7.1 surround, and a check of how high you can hear.Call checkCamera, mic and speakers in one go before a call, job interview or online exam, with a list of anything to fix.Keyboard testEvery key on Windows and Mac keyboards: dead keys, keys that type twice, and ghosting.Click speed testClicks per second over 1 to 60 seconds, and a check for a mouse that double clicks.