Inside of the Kapwing editor, you'll be able to see a live feed of your webcam. If you're not seeing anything once you're inside of the webcam testing feature, here's what you can do:
Most issues occur because the external webcam is not properly connected to your device. Start by checking the external webcam to ensure it's properly plugged into your device and that your computer has recognized the webcam and has designated it as your preferred input for recording. You can confirm this in Mac devices by going to About This Mac → scroll down and click System Report → navigate to Hardware and then Camera; your external webcam will be displayed here. If you're using the built-in Mac camera, the green light should be on while it's active. On Windows, select Control Panel → View Devices and Printers to open a list of currently recognized hardware like cameras.
Make sure your Operating System (OS) is current and up to date, along with your web browser. Sometimes, your webcam drivers will need to be updated by heading to the manufacturer's website and downloading new software with the device plugged in. Double-check that the camera you purchased is indeed compatible with your device.
If you're seeing an error message from your camera or some other indication of what's wrong, search for these issues and seek out a help center or forum from the manufacturer.
Click 'Test webcam' to jump into Kapwing's video platform. There's no need to create an account.
Click on 'Record' from the left sidebar in the editor. Then select 'Record Camera' from the options. You'll then be asked to share permissions. Once you accept, you'll see a view from your webcam.
Check out your webcam feed and see if it's to your liking. You don't have to save the recorded footage from your webcam—you can instantly delete it when you're done.
Clicking the 'Test webcam' button will bring you right inside of the Kapwing studio, where you can begin testing your webcam. There is no software to download, plugins to install, settings to change, or account creation needed. You'll be testing your webcam in seconds from your browser. If you'd like to record your test or record a video from your webcam, you can create a free Kapwing account and export your files in a single click. Our webcam features are forever free and our Pro plan unlocks more advanced video editing tools.
Your webcam connection—and what's framed in your background—set the tone for all of your video calls online. Whether you're talking to a client, hosting a live session, attending a meeting, or recording a quick video, you can ensure your webcam feed is ready for primetime with our free webcam tester. And if you are ready, Kapwing also offers both a webcam recorder and screen recorder feature to help you produce videos fast. All of our tools work well with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, Cisco, and other popular video platforms.
When you're ready, Kapwing also offers a full suite of video editing tools that allow anyone to create professional-looking videos for work, fun, or as a content creator. Webcam recordings are great for talking head videos, and with Kapwing's auto subtitles, background removal, green screen editor, and noise removal features, your videos will stand out and look professionally produced.
1. Open Kapwing 2. Click on 'Record' from the left sidebar. 3. Select 'Record Camera' from the options. 4. Share permissions. 5. Review camera feed
The easiest way to test a built-in camera on Mac is to open the FaceTime app. FaceTime will automatically show what your Mac's main camera is able to see, and if you have an external camera installed, it should show a feed from the external camera. Open FaceTime from your Mac's Launchpad.
Open Kapwing and start a webcam recording. Talk for a few seconds while the webcam is recording footage. Play the video back and you'll see and hear what quality your camera is capable of for video and audio. Delete your test recording if you don't need it afterward.
Create a meeting or join an upcoming meeting on your calendar. In the waiting area, Google Meet will display the devices it's pulling from for audio input (what others hear), audio output (what you hear), and your video feed (what everyone sees). You can test all of these devices individually by clicking on them—they're below the main video feed in the waiting area. Click on the camera and select 'Make a test recording' to test everything the other Google Meet attendees will see and hear from your setup.
Kapwing is free to use for teams of any size. We also offer paid plans with additional features, storage, and support.