Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: the preview stays black.
Webcam test
Open a local camera preview and inspect the resolution, aspect ratio, delivered frame rate and available camera choices.
Also known as: webcam test, test webcam, test my webcam, webcam test online, webcam tester, camera test. Free, online, and no download required.
camera, permission requiredNothing uploaded
Press start to request camera access and open the local preview.
01
What the webcam test checks
| Check | How it is measured | Fails when |
|---|---|---|
| Permission and device | Permission state is read before the user-triggered media request. | Access is blocked, denied or no camera is exposed. |
| Negotiated stream | Resolution and frame rate come from MediaStreamTrack.getSettings after negotiation. | The track ends, stalls or delivers an unusable mode. |
| Frame delivery | Video frame callbacks count delivered frames and a canvas sample checks sustained black output. | A live track stays black or stops delivering frames. |
If something failed
Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: camera access is refused.
Check the connection and selected device, then repeat the failed check: another application is using the camera.
02
How to read the result
How the webcam test works
The start button first checks the browser permission state and then calls getUserMedia from the same user gesture. Once the stream opens, the page reads the negotiated track settings instead of repeating the requested constraint. Frame delivery uses requestVideoFrameCallback where available and a requestAnimationFrame counter otherwise. A one-pixel canvas sample can flag sustained black output without saving a frame.
What the result can establish
Confirm that the preview changes when the camera moves, compare the reported resolution with the mode offered to the calling application, and record a five-second local clip only when motion continuity needs a second check.
Measurement limits
The browser can report the delivered stream but cannot prove the camera sensor specification. Automatic exposure, application constraints, USB bandwidth and another active application can all reduce the negotiated mode.
03
Webcam test questions
How do I test my webcam online without installing anything?
Press start and allow camera access when the browser asks. The webcam test opens a local preview, reads the resolution and frame rate the camera actually negotiated, and lists the other cameras it can see. Closing the page releases the camera.
The webcam tester shows a black preview. What comes first?
Check the physical shutter or lens cover, then close any other application holding the camera, because most systems give one application exclusive access. If the track is live but every sampled frame is black, the page says so rather than blaming permission.
Does this camera test record or upload any video?
No. The preview stays in this tab, an optional short clip is held in memory as a temporary object URL, and nothing is written to a server. When you stop the test or leave the page, the active track is released and the clip is discarded.