How do I check my webcam’s resolution?
Open this page, press Check my camera and allow access, then press Test all common resolutions. Each size is marked Supported or Not supported, and the summary shows the highest one.
Webcam Resolution and Frame Rate Test
Find out which sizes your camera can actually capture, from 4K down to 240p, and the highest frame rate at each. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Check your camera’s resolution
Allow camera access to see the sizes and frame rates your webcam reports, then test each common resolution.
Everything is measured on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Is your webcam really 1080p?
The box says 1080p, but is that what you’re getting? This test asks your camera for twelve common sizes in turn, from 3840 × 2160 down to 320 × 240, and records which ones it delivers and the highest frame rate at each. It also lists what the camera reports about itself: its largest size, its frame rate range and any adjustable controls such as zoom, focus or exposure.
In Chrome and Edge the test asks only for sizes the camera produces itself, so a resized picture doesn’t count. Use it to pick settings for streaming or recording, to check a new webcam matches its specification, or to work out why a call looks soft. For a quick yes-or-no check, the webcam test is faster.
How to check your webcam’s resolution
Allow the camera
Press Check my camera and allow access. The side panel shows the current size, the measured frame rate and what the camera reports about itself.
Run the resolution test
Press Test all common resolutions. The preview pauses while each size is opened in turn, which takes a few seconds.
Read the results
Each row says Supported or Not supported, with the highest frame rate at that size, and a summary gives the top resolution. Pick another camera from the list and press Test again to compare.
Resolution names explained
| Name | Size in pixels | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Ultra HD | 3840 × 2160 | 16:9 |
| 1440p Quad HD | 2560 × 1440 | 16:9 |
| 1080p Full HD | 1920 × 1080 | 16:9 |
| 720p HD | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| 540p qHD | 960 × 540 | 16:9 |
| 480p (VGA) | 640 × 480 | 4:3 |
| 360p | 640 × 360 | 16:9 |
| 240p (QVGA) | 320 × 240 | 4:3 |
The number before the “p” is the picture’s height in rows of pixels. Older and budget webcams often use the squarer 4:3 shape at sizes such as 640 × 480 and 1280 × 960, which the test checks as well.
Why the frame rate is lower than advertised
Webcams usually reach their top frame rate only at certain sizes and only in good light. Many USB 2.0 webcams manage 1080p at 30 fps by compressing each frame, and fall to a handful of frames per second without that compression. In a dim room, automatic exposure slows the camera down further to gather light.
The Max fps column is what the camera agreed to when asked for its fastest rate at that size. The measured frame rate in the side panel counts frames that actually arrive, and can’t go above your screen’s refresh rate.
Why some sizes fail
- The camera has no such mode. Most webcams offer a fixed list of sizes rather than everything up to their maximum.
- A USB hub or extension cable is limiting bandwidth, which hits 4K first. Plug the camera straight into the computer.
- Another app or tab has the camera open at a different size.
- The browser can’t ask for native sizes only. The note under the table says when this applies, and then “Works” may mean the browser resized a larger picture.
What the camera reports
Alongside the test, the side panel lists what the browser learns from the camera directly: its largest size, frame rate range, which way it faces, and controls a website could adjust, such as zoom, focus, exposure, white balance or a phone’s torch. If a control isn’t listed, use the camera maker’s own software to change it.
Some browsers don’t share this list. The resolution test itself still works there, because it asks the camera for each size directly. Once you know what your camera can do, use it at its best in the webcam recorder.
Resolution test questions
What resolution is my webcam?
The largest size marked Supported after the test is your webcam’s top resolution in this browser. The Largest size line in the side panel shows what the camera itself reports.
How do I check my webcam’s FPS?
The side panel measures the live frame rate as soon as the camera starts. After the resolution test, the Max fps column shows the highest frame rate the camera offers at each size.
Why does my 1080p webcam look like 720p on calls?
Call apps choose how much video to send based on your connection and their own limits, and many send 720p or less. The camera can still do 1080p, as this test shows, and recording apps can use it.
Why does my webcam say 30 fps but look choppy?
Low light is the usual cause, since webcams slow down to collect more light. A busy computer or a USB hub can also drop frames. Compare the measured rate with the camera setting in the side panel.
Does the test change my camera’s settings?
No. It opens the camera at each size for a moment, then returns to a normal preview. Nothing is saved to the camera or uploaded.
Can I test my phone’s camera?
Yes. The results show what the camera offers to the browser, which can be less than the phone’s own camera app uses for photos.
More camera and mic tools
- Online screen recorder Record your screen, webcam and microphone together in the browser.
- Webcam test Check your camera works and see its resolution and frame rate.
- Take a photo with your webcam Webcam photo booth with a self-timer and PNG or JPG download.
- Online webcam recorder Record webcam video with background blur, a teleprompter and MP4 download.
- Online mirror Turn your camera into a mirror with zoom, brightness and a screen light.