How to take a photo with your webcam
- Start the camera. Click Start camera and choose Allow when your browser asks to use the camera. On a phone, tap the switch button in the corner of the picture to change between the front and back cameras.
- Frame your shot. Turn on the Grid to line things up, and use Mirror to choose whether the photo is flipped like a selfie or shown the way others see you.
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Set the timer and burst. Choose a 3 or 10 second countdown so you have time to pose, and a burst of 3 or 5 photos to be sure one of them is perfect.
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Take the picture. Press the round shutter button or P. The countdown appears on the picture; press the shutter again to cancel it. In a dark room, turn on Screen flash in Settings to light your face with a white screen.
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Save it. Your photos appear below the camera. Click a photo to open it full size, or use the download button to save it as a JPG file.
Keyboard shortcuts
- P Take photo (or cancel the countdown)
- M Mirror
- G Grid
- F Fullscreen
- Esc Cancel the countdown
Tips for a better webcam photo
- Get the light right. Face a window or lamp. Avoid bright light behind you, which leaves your face in shadow.
- Use the highest resolution. The camera starts at Highest available, so photos are as sharp as your camera allows. The badge on the picture shows the exact size.
- Raise the camera to eye level. Looking down into a laptop camera is rarely flattering. Prop the laptop up on a few books.
- Hold still. Webcams use slower shutter speeds in dim light, so movement causes blur. A burst gives you several tries.
- Clean the lens. A fingerprint on the lens makes every photo look hazy.
Are my photos mirrored?
Photos are saved exactly as you see them in the preview, including mirror, filters, brightness and contrast. If there is text in the picture — a sign, a T-shirt or a document — turn Mirror off before you take the photo so it reads the right way round.
Camera not working? Fix it step by step
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Read the message above the picture. Camera access blocked means your browser or computer is stopping websites from using the camera (steps 2 and 3). Camera is busy means another app is using it (step 4).
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Allow the camera in your browser. Click the icon to the left of the address bar, open Site settings (or Permissions) and set Camera to Allow. Then reload this page and press Start camera again.
Chrome and Edge site settings. In Firefox, click the crossed-out camera icon in the address bar; in Safari on a Mac, open Safari › Settings › Websites › Camera. - Allow apps to use the camera in your system. Windows 11: Settings › Privacy & security › Camera — turn on camera access for apps and for desktop apps (Windows 10: Settings › Privacy › Camera). Mac: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera — turn on your browser, then quit and reopen it.
- Close apps that may be using the camera, such as Zoom, Teams, Skype or the Camera app, then press Start camera again.
- Photos black? Open the privacy shutter or remove the lens cover, and check for a camera on/off key on the keyboard (often F8, F10 or Fn + a function key).
- Phones and tablets: allow the camera for your browser — Android: Settings › Apps › Chrome › Permissions › Camera; iPhone and iPad: Settings › Apps › Safari › Camera — then reload the page.
Other ways to take a photo on your computer
- Windows 11 and 10: open the Camera app from the Start menu, choose Photo and click the shutter button. Photos are saved to Pictures › Camera Roll.
- Mac: open Photo Booth from the Applications folder and click the red shutter button. It counts down from three before taking the picture.
- Chromebook: open the Camera app from the Launcher and click the shutter button.
- Phones: the built-in Camera app takes the best photos. This page is handy when you want the photo straight from your browser, without installing anything.
About this online camera
This online camera runs entirely in your browser. Photos are created on your own device — nothing is uploaded, stored or sent to a server. They stay in this tab until you download them or close the page.
It works with built-in laptop cameras, USB webcams and the front and back cameras of phones and tablets, in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS. Some browsers can show filters in the preview but can’t add them to saved photos; you’ll see a note when that happens.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take a picture with my webcam?
Click Start camera, allow camera access and press the round shutter button. Your photo appears below the camera, ready to download as a JPG.
Where are my photos saved?
Photos stay in your open browser tab until you download them. Downloaded photos go to your usual downloads folder. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Can I take a photo with a timer?
Yes. Choose a 3 or 10 second timer next to the shutter button. A countdown appears on the picture, and you can press the shutter again to cancel it.
Why is my webcam photo mirrored?
Selfie previews are flipped like a mirror, and photos are saved the way the preview looks. Turn Mirror off before taking the photo to save it the way others see you.
What resolution are the photos?
By default the camera runs at the highest resolution it supports, and photos are saved at that size. The size is shown on the picture and under each photo.
Is this online camera free?
Yes. It’s free, there’s nothing to install and no sign-up, and your photos never leave your device.