Camera Test

Camera Test checks a webcam, a laptop’s built-in camera or a phone’s cameras before a video call, an online exam or an interview. Press Start camera and allow it when the browser asks; the live picture appears, mirrored the way video-call apps show you to yourself (switch that off to see what others see). Beside it you get the camera’s name, the picture size it is sending with its usual name (720p, 1080p, 4K) and megapixels, the frame rate counted from the frames actually shown, the highest size and frame rate the camera says it offers, and which way it faces. When there is more than one camera — a laptop with an external webcam, a phone with front and back cameras — choose between them. Save a still keeps one frame as a PNG on your device.

1. Press Start camera. When the browser asks for permission, choose Allow.
2. Check the picture: focus, light and framing. Turn off Mirror the preview to see what others will see.
3. If you have several cameras, choose one from the list; the preview switches to it.
4. Read the picture size and frame rate below. Press Stop camera when you are done — the camera light goes out.

• The page asks for 1080p and the browser picks the nearest size the camera supports, so a 4K webcam may show 1080p here. Video-call apps also choose their own size, often lower to save bandwidth.
• The frame rate drops in low light because cameras lengthen the exposure. 15 frames a second in a dim room is normal for many webcams; add light before deciding the camera is slow.
• Camera names appear only after you allow access; browsers hide them until then.
• “Highest it offers” comes from the browser’s camera capabilities, which Firefox and Safari do not report.
• If another app (Zoom, Teams, a camera app) is using the camera, most systems will not let the browser start it at the same time.
• The video goes from the camera to this page and nowhere else: it is not recorded, uploaded or sent, and the page works with the network switched off. A still you save is made in your browser and saved straight to your device. The camera is switched off when you press Stop camera or leave the page. The browser remembers your Allow or Block choice for this site; you can change it in the site settings at any time.

The message under the preview says why. The usual causes are: permission refused (allow it in the site settings, the icon left of the address); another app using the camera (close it); the system blocking the browser (macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera; Windows: Settings → Privacy → Camera); or a privacy shutter or keyboard switch covering the camera.

No. The page shows the camera’s picture and reads its settings, and nothing else. Nothing is sent anywhere — you can switch off your internet connection after the page has loaded and it still works.

The preview is mirrored by default because that is how people expect to see themselves. Other people on a call see you the right way round. Turn off Mirror the preview to check text, such as a sign held up to the camera.

Open this page on the phone, press Start camera and allow it, then choose the back camera from the Camera list.