Which test to use
The camera category covers the two devices you need for a video call, and both tests ask for permission only when you press Start.
The microphone test shows a live waveform of the sound your microphone picks up, a level meter with a peak reading in decibels and a clip lamp that lights when the input is too loud. You can pick the input device from a list, then record ten seconds and play it back to hear exactly what other people hear. The result rates the level as too quiet, good or clipping, which is the most common problem before a call or a recording.
The webcam test shows a live preview of your camera and measures what it really delivers: the resolution and the frame rate the browser receives. Those two figures often differ from the box, because the camera lowers its frame rate in dim light and a USB 2 port can limit the resolution. You can flip the mirror, go fullscreen and save a snapshot as a PNG file on your device.
Before you start
Close apps that may hold the device, such as video call apps, streaming software or another browser tab with a call open, because on many systems only one app can use a camera at a time. Check that a laptop has no physical privacy shutter or camera switch turned off, and that the operating system allows the browser to use the camera and microphone. For the microphone test, sit where you normally sit and speak at your normal volume.
Reading the results
A microphone that stays near the bottom of the meter while you speak normally is too quiet: raise the input gain in the system settings or move closer. A clip lamp that lights on ordinary speech means the gain is too high and your voice will sound distorted. A webcam at 15 frames per second or less usually needs more light, not a new camera. If the preview stays black with permission granted, try another USB port and another app; a camera that fails everywhere is a hardware fault worth a warranty claim.
Frequently asked questions
Is my camera or microphone recorded or uploaded?
No. The picture and the sound are processed inside this browser tab and are never sent to a server. The ten-second microphone recording stays in the tab's memory and is gone when you close the page; the webcam snapshot is saved straight to your device as a PNG file. The browser shows its own recording indicator while the device is in use, and it turns off when you stop.
I blocked the permission by mistake. How do I allow it again?
Click the camera or lock icon at the left of the address bar, set the camera or microphone to Allow, and reload the page. On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, then Safari, then Camera or Microphone. On Android, long-press the browser icon, open App info, then Permissions. The test cannot ask again once the browser has remembered a refusal.
Why does the test pick the wrong camera or microphone?
The browser starts with the device the system marks as default, which is often a built-in one even when a USB webcam or a headset is connected. Both tests have a device list: pick the right one there. If the device is missing from the list, close video call apps that may be holding it and reconnect it.
Can I test a phone camera with these tests?
Yes. Open the page in the phone browser and allow access. The webcam test uses the front or back camera the browser offers, and the microphone test uses the phone microphone or a connected headset. The resolution and frame rate shown are what the browser receives, which on phones is often lower than the photo resolution of the camera.