Multiple ways to test your webcam on Windows 10 and 11. Use the Camera app, Settings, Device Manager, or online tools to verify your camera works.
Windows offers several built-in ways to test your webcam. Here are the most reliable methods, from quickest to most thorough.
Testing methods The quickest way to test your webcam is using our online webcam test . No software installation required.
Open the webcam test page in your browser Click Check webcam Allow camera access when prompted See yourself on screen if the camera works Bonus: The online test also measures FPS, lighting quality, and sharpness - things the built-in Windows tools can't do.
Windows includes a Camera app that can test your webcam:
Press Win key and type Camera Click on the Camera app in the results If your webcam works, you'll see the live video feed You can also take a photo or record video to test further Note: If Camera app shows a black screen, your camera may be blocked by privacy settings or used by another app.
Windows 10 and 11 have a camera preview in Settings:
Windows 11: Press Win + I to open Settings Go to Bluetooth & devices → Cameras Click on your camera to see a preview Windows 10: Press Win + I to open Settings Go to Privacy → Camera Ensure camera access is enabled Use the Camera app (above) to preview Check if Windows recognizes your webcam at the hardware level:
Press Win + X and select Device Manager Expand Cameras or Imaging devices Your webcam should be listed here What you might see:
Camera listed normally: Hardware is recognized correctlyYellow warning icon: Driver issue - try updating the driverCamera not listed: Hardware not detected - check connectionGray arrow icon: Camera is disabled - right-click and enableMost video calling apps have built-in camera tests:
Zoom: Open Zoom → Settings (gear icon) → Video Preview shows your camera feed Microsoft Teams: Click your profile → Settings → Devices Camera preview appears in the settings Google Meet: Go to meet.google.com Click the gear icon before joining a meeting Select Video tab to see camera preview Troubleshooting If your webcam doesn't work in any of these tests:
Check privacy settings: Windows may be blocking camera access. See our camera system settings guide .Close other apps: Another app might be using the camera exclusively.Update drivers: In Device Manager, right-click your camera → Update driver.Check physical connection: For USB webcams, try a different USB port.Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart fixes camera issues.For more detailed troubleshooting, see our complete webcam troubleshooting guide .
Next steps Once your webcam is working, optimize your video quality with our how to look better on video calls guide. You'll learn about lighting, camera positioning, and background setup.