What this webcam test checks
The test confirms your browser can reach your camera, shows a live preview, and reports the resolution (for example 1280 × 720) and the frame rate (frames per second) your camera is actually delivering. If something is wrong, it tells you the most likely cause and how to fix it.
The lighting check
Once a second, the test looks at a tiny copy of the picture on your device and measures how bright it is and how much contrast it has. It also compares the middle of the picture with the edges, which is how it spots a bright window behind you. Nothing is saved or sent.
- Too dark: add light in front of you. A desk lamp behind your screen works well.
- Backlit: turn so the window is in front of you, or close the blinds behind you.
- Too bright or flat: move out of direct sun, and wipe the lens with a soft cloth.
If the camera is blocked or missing
- Browser: click the camera icon in the address bar and choose Allow.
- Windows: Settings › Privacy & security › Camera. Turn on Camera access and Let desktop apps access your camera.
- Mac: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera. Turn on your browser, then quit and reopen it.
- Laptop hardware: look for a sliding privacy shutter over the lens, a camera key on the keyboard (often F8 or F10 with a camera icon) or a switch on the side.
- Work or school computers: your administrator may have turned the camera off.
When to use it
- Before a job interview, telehealth appointment or important video call
- After installing a new or used webcam
- When Zoom, Teams, Meet or FaceTime shows a black screen
- To compare cameras on the same computer