How to Test My Webcam (Online)

Regardless of whether you have a Windows machine or a Mac, webcam tests are easy. One simple option is to use one of the many free online webcam test sites available on the web. These include WebCamMicTest and WebcamTests. (Others can be found by searching “webcam test” online). We’ll use webcammictest.com for the purposes of the following step-by-step process, although online webcam tests are generally identical irrespective of the site you use.

How to Test My Webcam (Offline)

Some people may not be too comfortable with online webcam tests, not least because some of the above webcam test sites state that users ‘may be recorded’ if they grant access to their webcams. Fortunately, they can use their computers’ operating systems to test their webcams.

Test Webcam on Mac

Test Webcam on Windows

If you’re a Windows 10 user, select the Cortana search box on the Windows 10 taskbar, then type Camera into the search box. The Camera app may ask for your permission to access the webcam before it displays the camera’s feed.

How to Test My Webcam (Skype)

One other popular way of testing a webcam involves using one of the many apps that can use it. For the purposes of this example, we’ll use Skype, but other apps can be used, such as FaceTime, Google Chat, and Facebook Messenger. Here’s the process for Mac and Windows:

Where Is the Webcam?

Most laptops and notebook computers have webcams, but we often don’t use them as much as we could. Most often, they’ll be built into your device (especially if it’s a laptop or notebook), visible only as a small, circular lens that sits just above your device’s screen or monitor. However, they can also be purchased separately and connected via USB to your computer.