Webcam test
The webcam test shows your live picture, its resolution and real frame rate, so you can check a camera. No install needed.
Runs in your browser. Test data stays on your device.
- Resolution
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- Measured frame rate
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- Aspect ratio
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- Reported frame rate
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How to use the webcam test
- Click Start webcam test.
- Allow camera access when your browser asks for it.
- Check the live preview and the numbers next to it: resolution, aspect ratio, reported frame rate and measured frame rate.
- If you have more than one camera, switch between them in the list or with the switch button on the preview.
- Open full screen for a stats overlay with a 10-second frame-rate chart, or take a photo to check sharpness up close.
The measured frame rate settles after about 2 seconds. Click Stop camera when you are done. The camera also turns off when you switch to another tab or leave the page.
What the results mean
Resolution is the largest picture your camera delivers in this browser. Most laptop cameras give 1280 × 720 (HD). Good external webcams give 1920 × 1080 (Full HD) or more. The resolution class goes by the shorter side of the picture, so a phone held upright gets the same label as one held sideways. The label next to the measured frame rate follows the thresholds in this table.
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) or more | The shorter side has 1080 px or more, such as 1920 × 1080 or 1440 × 1080. | Nothing to fix. |
| 720p (HD) | The shorter side has at least 720 px, such as 1280 × 720, common for laptop cameras. | Fine for video calls. If the box promises more, see the questions below. |
| 480p (SD) or less | The shorter side has under 720 px, so the picture is soft: an older camera, or one running in a reduced mode. | Try another USB port, close other apps that use the camera, and start again. |
| 28 FPS or more: Smooth | Movement looks fluid. | Nothing to fix. |
| 20 to under 28 FPS: Acceptable | Calls work, with some stutter on quick movement. | Add light in front of you. |
| Under 20 FPS: Choppy | The picture looks choppy in video calls. | Follow the steps under “Low frame rate” below. |
| 0 FPS | No new frame arrived for 2 seconds: the picture is frozen. | Reconnect the camera and start the test again. |
Reported frame rate is what the camera says it delivers. Measured frame rate is how many frames actually reach the browser each second. When the measured rate stays well below the reported one, fewer frames reach the page than the camera promises: a camera slows down in a dark room, and a busy processor drops frames.
Aspect ratio is the shape of the picture, such as 16:9 or 4:3. A phone held upright shows the same shapes turned, such as 9:16.
Webcam not working?
When the test cannot start, it shows the problem in place of the preview, with steps to fix it. For any other message, reload the page, and try another browser if it keeps happening.
Camera access blocked
The browser or the operating system refuses access to the camera.
- Chrome and Edge: click the icon at the left end of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, and reload the page.
- Firefox: click the crossed-out camera icon in the address bar, clear the block, and reload the page.
- Safari on a Mac: choose Safari > Settings for setupcheck.app…, then set Camera to Allow.
- Windows 11: open Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, and turn on camera access for apps and for desktop apps.
- macOS: open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, and turn on your browser.
- Chrome on Android: open Chrome’s menu, then Settings > Site settings > Camera, and allow this site.
- Safari on iPhone and iPad: tap the page menu in the address bar (aA), open Website Settings and set Camera to Allow. The same setting is in the Settings app, in the Safari section, under Camera.
No camera found
The browser sees no camera, or the camera was unplugged during the test. Check the cable or USB port. On laptops, look for a privacy switch or a function key that turns the camera off. If no other app sees the camera either, reconnect it or restart the computer.
Camera in use by another app
Another app or tab holds the camera, or the system could not start it. Close Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS or other tabs that may be using it, then click Try again.
Camera cannot use these settings
The camera refused the settings the test asked for. This can happen after a camera switch, when the chosen camera has gone. Pick another camera in the list, or reload the page and start again. If another app uses the camera, close it first.
Browser not supported
The test needs camera access through the browser, which current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari offer. Update your browser or open the page in one of them. A browser without requestVideoFrameCallback shows the picture but a dash instead of the measured frame rate.
Low frame rate
Improve the lighting. Many cameras lower the frame rate in dark rooms to collect more light. Close apps that keep the processor busy, and plug an external camera straight into the computer rather than into a hub.
Black or frozen picture
A black picture with a normal frame rate means frames arrive but show nothing, so check for a lens cover or a privacy shutter. A frozen picture at 0 FPS means frames stopped, so reconnect the camera and start the test again.
How we measure
The measured frame rate counts the video frames that reach the page, using requestVideoFrameCallback timestamps over the last 2 seconds, and refreshes every 0.5 seconds. Resolution, aspect ratio and the reported frame rate come from the settings the browser gives the camera track; resolution and aspect ratio are swapped to match the orientation of the picture you see. The full-screen chart plots a 1-second reading every 0.5 seconds for the last 10 seconds. Neither the browser nor the test can see the lens, the sensor or how a video call app compresses the picture, so the numbers describe this camera in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is the webcam test private?
Yes. The video is processed only in your browser, on your device. It is never recorded or sent to a server, and a photo you take is saved only if you download it. The camera turns off when you stop the test, switch to another tab or leave the page.
Why is my resolution lower than the box says?
Usually because the camera gives its top resolution only under certain conditions. Some cameras offer it only in certain apps or only over a USB 3 port. The test asks the browser for up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 FPS and shows the mode the camera returns. Try another port, close other apps that use the camera, and run the test again.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. On a phone, allow camera access, then pick the front or back camera in the list or with the switch button on the preview. The test rotates the resolution to match how you hold the phone, so a portrait picture reads 720 × 1280 rather than 1280 × 720.
Why is my webcam picture mirrored?
Because the preview of a webcam or a front camera works like a mirror, which feels natural when you look at yourself. A phone’s back camera is shown as it is. The photo you take is not mirrored, so text you hold up reads backwards in the preview but correctly in the photo.