Skip to content

Test your webcam and microphone

Check that your camera and microphone work before a call, with real resolution, frame rate and a live sound meter; the test runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.

Camera

Your browser will ask for permission. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.

Microphone

Your browser will ask for permission. Sound stays on this device.

Runs in your browser · no uploadHow it works

How to use Webcam & microphone test

  1. 1

    Start the camera or microphone test

    Click Test camera or Test microphone and allow access when your browser asks. Each one starts on its own.

  2. 2

    Check the picture

    The live preview shows the resolution your camera delivers and the frame rate actually measured, plus its supported settings.

  3. 3

    Check the sound

    Speak normally and watch the level meter, waveform or spectrum. A badge confirms when sound reaches the microphone.

  4. 4

    Listen to yourself

    Record a five-second sample and it plays straight back, so you hear what others will hear on a call.

Limits and Pro

Unlimited tests with any number of cameras and microphones; snapshots at the camera's full resolution; 5-second playback samples.

About Webcam & microphone test

This webcam and microphone test checks your camera and mic before a video call, an interview or a recording, without installing an app. The camera side shows a live mirrored preview, the resolution the camera really delivers (which is often lower than what an app asks for), the frame rate the browser reports and the frame rate measured from the frames actually arriving. A capabilities list shows the modes your webcam supports, such as its maximum resolution, frame-rate range, focus, exposure and zoom controls. You can switch between cameras, request 480p, 720p, 1080p or the best available mode, and save a full-resolution PNG snapshot.

The microphone side has a live level meter in decibels with a peak-hold marker and a clipping warning, a scrolling waveform and a frequency spectrum. It reports the sample rate, channel count and whether noise suppression, echo cancellation and automatic gain are active — all three can be switched off to hear your raw microphone. The five-second sample recording is the quickest way to catch a muffled headset, a wrong input or background noise.

If the browser blocks access, step-by-step instructions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari explain how to allow the camera and microphone again. The test cannot change system settings such as input volume or driver options, and it only sees devices your browser is allowed to use.

Privacy

The camera picture and the microphone sound are analysed inside this page and are never recorded on a server, uploaded or stored. The five-second sample lives only in this tab's memory and disappears when you leave. Nothing extra is downloaded to run the test.

Features

Real resolution and FPS

Delivered resolution plus a measured frame rate, not just the label.

Snapshot

Save a still frame at the camera's full resolution as PNG.

Level, waveform, spectrum

A decibel meter with peak hold, clipping warning and two live views.

Hear yourself

Record five seconds and listen back instantly.

Webcam & microphone test: frequently asked questions

Why does my webcam show a black screen?
Usually another program is holding the camera — close Zoom, Teams, OBS or the Camera app and click Test camera again. Check for a physical privacy shutter or a keyboard key that disables the webcam. On Windows and macOS, the privacy settings must also allow your browser to use the camera, otherwise it stays dark without an error.
What frame rate should a webcam have?
Thirty frames per second looks smooth on video calls; 60 fps helps for streaming fast movement. Many webcams drop to 15 fps or lower in dim light because they lengthen the exposure, so if the measured rate is low, add light in front of you. The measured value here counts the frames that actually arrive, not the advertised figure.
How loud should my microphone be?
Normal speech should mostly move the meter between −30 and −10 dB, with peaks staying out of the red. If it barely reaches −40 dB, raise the input volume in your system sound settings or move closer. If it hits the red and shows CLIP, lower the gain, because clipped audio sounds harsh and distorted to listeners.
Can I test my microphone without recording anything?
Yes. The level meter, waveform and spectrum react live without saving any audio. Recording is optional: the five-second sample is kept in the page's memory only so you can listen back, and it is discarded when you record again, stop the test or close the tab. Nothing is uploaded or written to disk.
How do I unblock the camera or microphone in my browser?
Click the icon at the left of the address bar, set Camera and Microphone to Allow, then reload the page. In Safari, use Settings for This Website in the Safari menu. If access is still refused, your operating system is probably blocking the browser: check Privacy & Security on a Mac or the Camera and Microphone privacy pages in Windows.

Related tools

All file & device tools

Keyboard tester

Test every key, ghosting and rollover

Screen recorder

Record your screen, tab or window with audio

Voice recorder

Record audio from your microphone and save it

What's my IP & DNS lookup

Your public IP address and DNS records for any domain