Webcam Test

What this webcam test checks

Seeing your own picture proves that the camera works. This test also tells you how you will look to other people:

• Does the camera work? Your picture appears as soon as you allow the camera.
• What is its real resolution? The size of the image your browser really receives, not the figure printed on the box.
• Is the video smooth? The frame rate is counted on the images actually delivered during three seconds.
• Is the lighting right? The test looks at the brightness of the picture and spots a room that is too dark, too bright, or lit from behind.

You can also take a photo to judge detail and framing. Everything happens on your device: the video is analysed by your browser and is never uploaded.

How to test your webcam

1. Press “Start camera test” and allow the camera when your browser asks. Your picture appears, with the resolution and frame rate shown on the image.
2. Sit as you would in a call. The measurement runs by itself for three seconds and fills the three results below. After moving a lamp or changing a setting, press “Measure again”.
3. Check the camera name under “Device details”. With several cameras, choose the one you want in the list. On a phone, the list contains the front and back cameras.
4. Take a photo to look at sharpness and framing without moving. The photo stays on the page; download it if you want to keep it.
5. Try 720p in “Resolution to test” if you plan a video call: most call apps use that size, and a camera is often smoother there than at its maximum.
6. Save the result to compare another camera, another room or another setting later. Then press “Stop camera”: the camera light goes off.

How to read your results

Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels in each image. The test names it by its number of lines: HD (720), Full HD (1080) or 4K (2160). HD is the standard for video calls, Full HD is sharper, and 4K is mostly useful for recording, because call apps reduce the picture before sending it.

By default the test asks the camera for its highest resolution. If the result is lower than expected, the usual causes are a USB hub or an old cable, another app already using the camera, or a browser that limits the camera. Megapixels are simply width multiplied by height: 1920 × 1080 is about 2.1 megapixels.

Frame rate

The frame rate is the number of images per second. From 24 images per second, motion looks smooth; 30 is the usual target for webcams. Below 15, video looks choppy.

A low frame rate is rarely a defect. Cameras slow down on purpose in low light, to let more light in for each image. They are also slower at their highest resolution. Add light first, then test 720p.

Lighting

The test measures how bright the picture is overall, and how much of it is very dark or very bright.

• Well lit: nothing to change.
• Dim or too dark: the picture becomes grainy and the camera slows down. Add a lamp in front of you or face a window.
• Too bright: parts of the picture are washed out. Soften the light or move it away.
• Backlit: a window or a lamp behind you leaves your face in shadow. Turn around so that the light is in front of you.

This is a judgement on the image, not a measurement of the light in the room: a white wall or dark clothes change the result a little. See how we measure.

Look better in video calls

• Light your face from the front. A window or a lamp behind the screen does more for picture quality than a new camera.
• Raise the camera to eye level. A laptop on a few books avoids the view from below.
• Clean the lens. A fingerprint is the most common cause of a hazy picture.
• Leave a little space above your head and keep your eyes in the upper third of the picture. The framing guide draws these lines.
• Check the background. A plain, tidy background compresses better and keeps the attention on you.

Troubleshooting

The browser never asks for permission, or says access is blocked

You, or a setting, blocked the camera for this site earlier. Open the site settings from the icon at the start of the address bar, set the camera to “Allow” and reload the page. On iPhone and iPad, also check Settings, then your browser, then Camera.

Access is allowed, but the camera cannot be started

Your system may be blocking the browser itself. On Windows, open Settings, Privacy and security, Camera, and allow desktop apps to use it. On a Mac, open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Camera, and enable your browser. On Windows, a camera can usually be used by one app at a time: close call apps and recorders, then try again.

The camera does not start, even with access allowed

If the test waits for several seconds and then says that the camera could not be started, check the camera outside the browser: open your system’s own camera app (Camera on Windows, Photo Booth on a Mac). If it fails there too, the browser is not the cause. Restart the computer, then install the pending system and driver updates; on tablets and 2-in-1 computers, the camera driver comes with the manufacturer’s firmware updates. If the system app works but the browser does not, close every other app that could use the camera and try another browser.

No camera found

Desktop computers often have no built-in camera. Plug in a webcam, then start again. If one is connected, try another USB port, without a hub, and check that the camera is enabled in your system’s device settings.

The picture is black

Many laptops and webcams have a small sliding cover over the lens, and some laptops have a camera key or switch. Open the cover or turn the camera back on. A black picture in a very dark room is normal: add light.

The wrong camera is used

Choose the right one in “Camera to test”, then choose the same one in the app you plan to use: each app keeps its own choice. Virtual cameras created by other software also appear in the list.

The frame rate is low

Add light before anything else. Then test 720p, close other apps that use the camera, and connect the webcam directly to the computer rather than through a hub.

The picture is blurry

Clean the lens first. Cameras with fixed focus are sharp only from about an arm’s length. Cameras with autofocus can hunt in low light: add light and stay still for a moment.

The picture flickers

Flicker comes from lamps that pulse with the mains frequency. Try another light source, or look for a “50 Hz / 60 Hz” or “anti-flicker” setting in your camera’s own software.

Frequently asked questions

Is my video recorded or sent to TestrHub?

No. The picture goes from your camera to your browser and stays there. The photo is drawn on the page and disappears when you close it, unless you download it yourself.

What does a saved result contain?

Only numbers: resolution, frame rate and brightness. The camera name is kept in the history of this browser, and is not included in the link you share.

Why is my picture mirrored?

A mirrored picture feels natural, like looking in a mirror, so call apps show you your own image this way. Other people see the unmirrored picture. Turn off “Mirror view” to see what they see.

My webcam is sold as 4K. Why does the test show 1080p?

The camera may need a faster USB port or cable for 4K, another app may be using it, or the browser may limit it. Select “Highest available” and connect the camera directly to the computer. Some cameras also reach their advertised size only for photos, not for video.

Why is the frame rate lower than on the box?

The advertised figure is the best case, in good light and often at a lower resolution. In a dim room, a camera slows down to brighten the picture.

Does it work on phones and tablets?

Yes, in recent browsers on Android, iPhone and iPad. Use the camera list to switch between the front and back cameras. The picture is shown upright, as the phone is held.

Is this a professional measurement?

No. The values are indicative: they show what your browser receives from the camera at this moment. They are useful to check that your setup is ready for a call and to compare cameras, rooms and settings on the same device.

Which test should I run next?

Before a call, also run the microphone test to check that people will hear you clearly.