How to test your webcam
- Click Start webcam test. Your browser will ask for permission to use the camera.
- Choose Allow. If you have more than one camera, pick the one you want to test.
- Look at the preview. If you see a live picture, your camera works in this browser.
This live camera test works on laptops, desktops, tablets and phones in any modern browser. Use the device and browser you plan to use for your call or exam, because passing in one browser doesn’t guarantee the same result in another.
What a good result looks like
- A live, moving picture. If the image is frozen, the camera may be in use somewhere else.
- Your face is clear and lit from the front. Face a window or a lamp. With the light behind you, your face will look dark.
- Your face and shoulders are in frame. Put a laptop on a stack of books to bring the camera up to eye level.
- The picture is sharp. Give the lens a wipe. Fingerprints are the most common reason a laptop camera test looks blurry.
Camera not working? Quick fixes
- Permission blocked. Click the icon next to the web address, set Camera to Allow and reload the page.
- Camera in use. Close video-call apps and any other tabs using the camera. Most cameras only work in one app at a time.
- Black picture. Look for a privacy shutter over the lens or a camera on/off key on your keyboard.
- No camera found. On Windows or Mac, open the system privacy settings and give your browser permission to use the camera.
- External webcam. Unplug it, plug it back in and select it from the camera list.
- Still stuck. Restart the browser, then the computer, and run the test again.
Webcam test for an online exam
For an online exam, a camera test has to cover more than the picture. A proctored exam may also use your microphone, record your screen and depend on a steady upload connection. Before exam day, run the full system check for online exam readiness on the device, browser and network you’ll use.
New to proctored exams? Read what is a proctored exam to find out what happens before, during and after one.
Your privacy
This webcam check runs entirely in your browser. We don’t record, upload or store your video, and the picture disappears when you close the page.
For institutions: candidates who check their devices before exam day need less help when the day comes. See how Proctorly runs online proctoring, with a person reviewing every flag.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my webcam online?
Open this page, click Start webcam test and choose Allow when your browser asks for camera access. A live, moving picture of yourself means your webcam works in this browser. If the preview stays black or shows an error, work through the quick fixes above, starting with camera permissions and closing any other app that might be using the camera.
Why is my camera not working in the browser?
Most often it is a blocked browser permission, another app already using the camera, a closed privacy shutter, or system privacy settings that keep the browser out. Check each one in turn. Windows and Mac have a camera permission of their own, separate from the browser’s, and both have to allow access.
Is this webcam test recorded?
No. The test runs in your browser and only you see the picture. We don’t record, upload or store your video, and it stops as soon as you close the page. A real proctored exam is different: your institution decides what is captured, and you are told what will be recorded before the exam starts.
Is a webcam test enough before a proctored exam?
It is a good start, but a proctored exam usually needs your microphone, screen sharing and a steady connection too. Run the full system check on the same device, browser and network you’ll use for the exam. It tests all four in about two minutes and shows you a fix for anything that fails.