Webcam Resolution Test.
Find out exactly which resolutions your webcam supports. Press Start, then Probe, and the test walks a ladder from 4K down to 480p, marking each one supported or not — so you can see your camera's true maximum, its default, and switch the live preview to any resolution to inspect it. Everything runs locally; nothing is uploaded.
Click Start, then allow camera access
Resolution probe.
The default is what your camera opens with; the maximum is the sharpest mode it will accept. Both are read live from your device.
What the resolution test tells you
- Your camera's true maximumThe box might say "1080p" or "4K," but the browser only gets what the camera actually delivers. Probing the ladder shows the highest resolution that really works, not the marketing number.
- Why you're not getting it by defaultMost webcams open at 640×480 or 1280×720 to start fast and stay smooth. If your maximum is higher, apps have to explicitly request it — this test proves the higher mode exists.
- The gap between modesSeeing every supported step — 1080p, 720p, 540p, 480p — helps you pick the sweet spot between sharpness and a frame rate your lighting can sustain.
- Whether a mode is real or interpolatedSome cameras report a high resolution but soften badly when you select it. Applying a mode live lets you judge the actual picture, not just the number.
How to test your webcam resolution
- 1Press Start test. Allow camera access. The facts panel immediately shows the default resolution your camera opened with.
- 2Press Probe supported. The test requests each resolution on the ladder in turn and marks it supported or not available — revealing your true maximum and minimum.
- 3Apply a mode. Click any supported resolution in the list to switch the live preview to it, and watch the current-resolution readout confirm what the camera actually gave you.
- 4Compare and decide. Note the sharpest mode your lighting can sustain, then check its smoothness on the FPS test or its clarity on the quality test.
How the resolution probe works
Once your camera is streaming, the test uses the track's applyConstraints method to request each resolution on the ladder with an exact width and height. If the camera can produce that mode the request succeeds and we read back the real getSettings() dimensions; if it can't, the request is rejected and the mode is marked unavailable.
The default is the resolution the stream opened with before any probing. The maximum and minimum are simply the highest and lowest modes that passed. Because browsers sometimes snap to the nearest supported size, we verify the actual returned dimensions rather than trusting that the exact request was honoured — so the list reflects what your camera truly delivers.
Higher resolutions demand more light. In a dim room a camera may technically accept 1080p but drop to a crawling frame rate to keep the exposure usable, which is why the sharpest mode isn't always the best one to use on a call. Everything here happens on your device; no frame is uploaded.
When to test webcam resolution
Buying or reviewing a webcam
Confirm a "1080p" or "4K" camera actually delivers that resolution to the browser before you trust the label.
Fixing a soft picture
If calls look blurry, check whether you're stuck on a low default and a sharper mode is available.
Setting up streaming software
Pick a resolution you know the camera supports so OBS or your meeting app doesn't silently fall back.
Matching bandwidth
On a weak connection, choose a lower supported mode deliberately instead of letting the app guess.
Comparing two cameras
See which device offers the higher real maximum before deciding which to use.
Diagnosing driver issues
A camera that suddenly only offers low modes may have a driver or privacy-setting problem worth chasing.
Resolution test glossary
- Resolution
- The pixel dimensions of the video — width × height, like 1920×1080. More pixels means a sharper, larger image.
- 1080p / 720p
- Shorthand for 1920×1080 and 1280×720. The "p" means progressive scan; the number is the vertical pixel count.
- Default mode
- The resolution a camera opens with automatically — usually a modest one chosen for a fast, smooth start.
- applyConstraints
- The browser method that asks a live camera track to switch to a specific resolution or frame rate.
- Capabilities
- The range of settings a camera reports it can do — the maximum and minimum width, height and frame rate.
- Interpolation
- Upscaling a lower native resolution to a higher number in software — a bigger figure without real extra detail.
Frequently asked questions
What resolution is my webcam?
Start the test to see the resolution your camera opens with (its default), then press Probe to reveal the full ladder of modes it supports and its true maximum. Many webcams default to 720p even when they can do 1080p or more, so the probe is the reliable way to know what your camera can really deliver.
Why is my camera stuck at 640×480 or 720p?
That's usually the default the camera chose for a fast, low-light-friendly start, not its limit. If the probe shows higher modes are supported, your video app simply isn't requesting them — check its video-quality settings, or apply a higher mode here to confirm the camera can do it.
My camera says 4K but the probe won't reach it — why?
A few reasons: the browser or OS may cap the resolution it exposes to web pages, the camera may only hit 4K over a specific USB mode or with enough light, or the "4K" figure may be interpolated. The probe reports what the browser can actually obtain, which is what your calls will use.
Does a higher resolution always look better?
Not necessarily. Higher resolution needs more light and more bandwidth; in a dim room a camera may keep the pixel count but drop the frame rate, making video look choppy. The best choice is the highest resolution your lighting and connection can sustain smoothly.
Is the resolution test private?
Yes. The camera stream and every probe run entirely in your browser. No frame is recorded or uploaded, and the camera is released the instant you stop the test or leave the page.
Why do some resolutions show as not available?
Because your camera can't produce them. When the test requests an exact resolution the camera doesn't support, the browser rejects it and we mark it unavailable — an honest map of the modes that genuinely work on your hardware.