Free tool · Meetings
Camera test: check your webcam online before a call
Press Start camera to see what your webcam sees, how sharp it is and how many frames a second it sends. Switch between cameras and take a test photo. The picture stays in your browser.
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A quick camera check before a call saves the awkward first minute of "can you see me?". This webcam test shows your picture right away, tells you its real size and frame rate, and lets you switch cameras and take a test photo. It works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, on computers and phones.
How to test your camera
- Press Start camera and choose Allow when the browser asks.
- Look at the picture. The details under it show the camera's name, the Picture size in pixels and the Frame rate.
- If you have more than one camera, choose another under Camera.
- Press Take a photo to keep a still, then Save photo to download it.
- Press Stop when you are done. The camera light goes off.
The Mirror switch flips the picture like a mirror, as video calls show you to yourself. Untick it to see the picture the way others see it.
What the numbers mean
| Detail | What it tells you | Good for calls |
|---|---|---|
| Picture size | How many pixels the camera sends, such as 1280 × 720 | 1280 × 720 or more |
| Frame rate | How many pictures a second, which decides how smooth you move | 24 to 30 frames a second |
| Camera | Which device the browser is using | The one you meant to use |
The test asks for the camera's best picture up to 1920 × 1080. Some cameras send less in low light, because they slow down to gather more light; a falling frame rate in a dark room is normal.
If the camera does not work
The browser blocked it. Click the icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, and reload the page. In Safari, open Safari → Settings → Websites → Camera.
Your computer blocked it.
- Windows 11: open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera. Turn on Camera access, Let apps access your camera and Let desktop apps access your camera, because browsers count as desktop apps.
- Mac: open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and turn it on for your browser. Restart the browser afterwards.
- Linux: check that the camera shows up as a video device, and that no other app holds it. Browsers installed as a Snap or a Flatpak may need the camera permission in your software center.
Another app is using it. Most cameras work with one app at a time. Quit video call apps, then press Start camera again.
The wrong camera is chosen. Laptops with an external webcam often start with the built-in one. Pick the other one under Camera.
There is no picture at all. Check for a privacy shutter or a camera key on the keyboard, try another USB port, and restart the computer if a driver got stuck.
How to look better on camera
- Face a light. A window or lamp in front of you, not behind you. Light behind you turns you into a silhouette.
- Raise the camera to eye level. Stack a few books under a laptop.
- Clean the lens. A fingerprint makes everything soft.
- Keep the background calm. Fewer things in view means a sharper picture of you, because the camera spends its data on what moves.
Webcam privacy
- Watch for the light. Most webcams have a light that is on whenever the camera is in use. Browsers also show a camera icon in the tab or the address bar while a page uses it.
- Check which sites may use it. In your browser's settings, under site permissions, you can see every website you allowed to use the camera and remove the ones you no longer need.
- Use a cover if you want certainty. A sliding cover or a small sticker costs almost nothing.
- This page asks every time. If you allowed the camera, it still turns on only when you press Start camera, and it turns off when you press Stop or close the page.
Video calls with Barside
When the camera works, you are ready to meet. Barside has free video meetings for up to 6 people, peer to peer, and guests can join from a browser without installing anything. Barside's screen recorder can also put your camera in a round bubble over your screen, with a blurred or replaced background, and save the video into a note. Compare it with other meeting apps in our Zoom alternative guide.
Test your sound too: the microphone test shows your level and lets you hear yourself, and checks your speakers.
FAQ
Questions and answers
Is this webcam test private?
Yes. The video goes from your camera to this page and nowhere else. Nothing is recorded or uploaded, and a test photo is saved only if you press Save photo. The camera turns off when you press Stop or close the page.
Why does the browser ask for permission?
Browsers never let a website use your camera without asking. Choose Allow to run the test. If you chose Block by mistake, click the icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera to Allow, and reload the page.
Why is my picture mirrored?
Video calls show you to yourself like a mirror, because that feels natural. The other people see you the right way round. Untick Mirror to see what they see, for example to check that text on a sign reads correctly.
My camera works here but not in a meeting app. Why?
Another app may be holding the camera, or the meeting app may lack permission. Close other apps that use the camera, then check your system's camera privacy settings for that app, and pick the right camera in the meeting app's settings.
What resolution should my webcam have?
720p (1280 × 720) is enough for most video calls, and 1080p (1920 × 1080) looks sharper on large screens. Light matters more than pixels: a 720p camera in good light beats a 4K camera in a dark room.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in current browsers on Android and iPhone. The camera list shows the front and back cameras when the phone allows switching.