Webcam test
Click Start webcam test and allow camera access. If you see yourself, your camera works — the readout shows its resolution and frame rate, and the menu lets you switch between cameras. Everything runs in your browser.
Your browser will ask for permission — that prompt is the first thing this test checks.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.
Camera works? Put it on screen.
Chairkick records your screen with your camera in the corner — straight from the browser, no download, free for 14 days. Share a link instead of scheduling a meeting.
How to test your webcam online
The test works the same on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, and Android, in Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. It takes about ten seconds.
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1.Start the test
Click "Start webcam test" above. Close video-call apps first — most webcams can only be used by one app at a time.
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2.Allow camera access
Your browser asks for permission. That prompt is the first thing being tested: if it never appears, or the test says access is blocked, jump to the fixes below.
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3.Check the preview and the readout
You should see yourself within a second or two. Underneath, the readout shows the resolution, the approximate frame rate, and the name of the camera in use.
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4.Try your other cameras
Use the device menu to switch between a built-in camera, an external USB webcam, or a phone's front and back camera. The preview and readout update for each one.
What your webcam test results mean
The readout reports what your browser actually received from the camera. The test asks for full HD; if your camera or browser can't deliver it, you'll see the best mode they agreed on.
| Reading | What it tells you | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1920×1080 | Full HD (1080p) | Typical for external webcams and newer laptops. Plenty for calls and screen recordings. |
| 1280×720 | HD (720p) | Common on built-in laptop cameras. Looks fine in a call or as a camera bubble in a recording. |
| 640×480 | Standard definition | Older or very basic cameras. If you expected HD, check you've picked the right camera in the menu. |
| ~30 fps | Smooth video | The usual webcam frame rate. Some cameras offer 60 fps; video calls rarely use more than 30. |
| Under 20 fps | Choppy video | Often caused by dim lighting — many webcams slow down to gather more light — or a busy USB hub. |
| Camera name | Which device is live | Names like "OBS Virtual Camera" or "Snap Camera" are software cameras, not your real webcam. |
Webcam not working? Fix it here.
Work through these in order. Most camera problems are a blocked permission, another app holding the camera, or the wrong device selected.
Allow camera access in your browser
- Chrome: click the camera icon at the right end of the address bar and allow access, then reload. To review every site, open Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Camera.
- Edge: click the camera icon in the address bar, or open Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions → All sites, pick this site, and set Camera to Allow.
- Safari on Mac: open Safari → Settings → Websites → Camera and set this site to "Allow".
- Firefox: click the camera icon in the address bar to clear a block, or open Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to Permissions, and click Settings… next to Camera.
- Work or school browser: if your organization manages Chrome, an administrator may have blocked the camera, and you won't be able to change it yourself.
Check your operating system's privacy settings
- Windows 11: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera. Turn on "Camera access" and "Let desktop apps access your camera" — browsers count as desktop apps.
- Windows 10: Settings → Privacy → Camera. Make sure camera access for this device is on, and turn on "Allow desktop apps to access your camera".
- macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Your browser must be switched on. The green light beside the camera shows when it's in use.
- ChromeOS: Settings → Privacy and security → Privacy controls → turn on Camera access. Need to record on a Chromebook? Chairkick records screen and camera with no install.
- iPhone and Android: allow camera access for your browser app in the phone's settings, then reload this page.
"Your camera is busy" or a black preview?
Only one app can use most webcams at a time. Close video-call apps like Zoom, Teams, or Meet — including browser tabs with an active call — then run the test again. If the preview is black but the device chip shows your camera's name, check for a privacy shutter: many laptops have a physical slider or a function key that disables the camera without any error message.
Wrong camera, or no camera listed?
Pick your real camera in the device menu above — virtual cameras from streaming or effects apps often get selected by default. For an external USB webcam, plug it straight into the computer rather than a hub, try a different port, and on Windows check that it appears under Cameras in Device Manager. Restarting the browser after plugging in a new camera also helps it show up.
Testing your camera for Zoom, Teams, or a recording
If this test works, your camera, its drivers, and your browser are fine. A camera that still fails inside another app is almost always that app's own device setting:
- Zoom: join the test meeting at zoom.us/test, which previews your camera and checks your mic and speakers before a real call.
- Microsoft Teams: open Settings → Devices to see a camera preview and choose the right camera; the desktop app also offers "Make a test call".
- Screen recordings: Chairkick uses the same browser camera you just tested and puts it in a corner of your screen recording, so what you see here is what viewers get.
Quick ways to look better on camera
- Face the light. A window or lamp in front of you beats one behind you; backlight turns you into a silhouette and drags the frame rate down.
- Camera at eye level. Raise a laptop on a few books so the lens isn't looking up at you.
- Leave a little headroom. Keep your eyes about a third of the way down the frame.
- Wipe the lens. A fingerprint is the most common cause of a hazy, soft image.
Frequently asked questions
Is this webcam test private?
Yes. The preview runs entirely in your browser using its built-in camera APIs. No frames are captured, stored, or uploaded — close the tab and nothing remains.
How do I know if my webcam is working?
Start the test above and allow camera access. If a live picture of you appears and the readout shows a resolution, your camera, its drivers, and your browser are all working.
Why do I look mirrored?
The preview is mirrored on purpose, like a mirror, because that feels natural when you adjust your position. Other people — and recordings — see you the right way around.
What resolution should my webcam show?
Most built-in laptop cameras deliver 720p or 1080p; external webcams commonly reach 1080p or 4K. The test asks for full HD, so the readout shows the best mode your camera and browser agreed on.
Why is my webcam blurry or grainy?
Usually dim light, a smudged lens, or a low resolution. Face a window or lamp, wipe the lens, and check the readout — if it says 640×480, choose a different camera or mode in the device menu.
How do I test my laptop camera without installing anything?
Use this page. It needs no download or account and works in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and phones.
Does this work on phones and tablets?
Yes — the test works in mobile Safari and Chrome, and the device picker lets you switch between front and back cameras.
Can I see how my camera looks in a real recording?
Record a short screen recording with Chairkick — your camera appears in the corner of the video. The 14-day free trial needs no credit card, runs in the same browser you just tested, and uses the same camera.
Your camera is ready. Now show your work.
Record your screen with your face in the corner, then share a link that anyone can watch — no downloads for you, no sign-ups for viewers.