How to test your webcam on Windows 11
Testing a camera on Windows 11 means checking three things: does it show a picture, is that picture at a decent resolution and frame rate, and does the app you're about to use actually have permission to open it. Here's the fastest way to check each.
Step-by-step fix
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Open the CheckMyMic webcam test and click Start camera — you should see a live preview along with the real resolution and FPS it's delivering, not just an app's guess at those numbers.
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Cross-check with the built-in Camera app from the Start menu — if it shows a picture there too, the hardware and driver are fine and any remaining problem is a browser or app permission, not the camera itself.
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Check camera privacy: Settings → Privacy & security → Camera — confirm Camera access is on, and further down, Let desktop apps access your camera is a separate toggle that governs apps like Zoom's desktop client and OBS.
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If the image is black or blocked, check for a physical privacy shutter or tape over the lens first — it's the single most common "camera won't turn on" cause and takes two seconds to rule out.
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Look at what the test reports: a sharp, correctly lit preview at your camera's rated resolution and a smooth FPS number is a healthy result. Consistently low FPS or a tiny resolution means something (light, USB bandwidth, or an app request) is holding it back.
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Still black or not detected? See our webcam not working on Windows 11 guide for the full permission, driver and "another app is holding it" checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my camera on Windows 11?
Open the CheckMyMic webcam test and click Start camera for an instant live preview with resolution and FPS. To confirm the hardware itself, also open the built-in Camera app from the Start menu — if both show a picture, the webcam and its driver are working.
Why does my webcam work in the Camera app but not in the browser?
That's almost always a browser-level permission. Click the lock icon in the address bar, set Camera to Allow, and reload the page — the Camera app doesn't need browser permission at all, which is why it can work while a website can't.
My webcam preview is black on Windows 11 — what should I check first?
Check for a physical privacy shutter or tape over the lens, then close any other app that might already be holding the camera — Zoom, Teams and OBS can each keep exclusive access even in the background. Only after that is it worth checking Settings → Privacy & security → Camera.
I've tested my webcam and it's still not working on Windows 11 — what now?
See our <a href="webcam-not-working-windows-11.html">webcam not working on Windows 11 guide</a> — it covers the privacy toggles, driver issues and "another app is holding the camera" conflicts a test alone can reveal but not resolve.