Operating System Guide

Test Your iPad Camera in the Browser

Run the test below in Safari, then use the iPadOS fixes underneath. Most iPad camera testing happens before an online class, a proctored exam or a telehealth appointment — situations where discovering a problem mid-session is the worst outcome, so it is worth checking properly.

Camera off

Live Readout

What Your Camera Is Actually Delivering

Camera:—
Resolution:—
Frame Rate:—
Aspect Ratio:—
Microphone Detected:—

These are the values your browser negotiated with the camera just now, not the numbers on the box. A difference between the two is exactly what the guidance below is for.

iPadOS camera permission

Safari's per-site settingTap the aA icon in the address bar, choose Website Settings, and set Camera to Allow. Safari records a refusal and will not prompt again for that site.

Global Safari settingSettings > Apps > Safari > Camera, set to Ask or Allow. Older iPadOS versions use Settings > Safari > Camera.

Screen Time restrictionsSettings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps has a Camera toggle. Switched off, the Camera app disappears entirely and browsers lose access without any explanatory error — a common cause on school-issued and family-managed iPads.

Multitasking can suspend your camera

Split View and Slide OverMoving a camera-using page into Split View, or covering it with another app, can suspend the video stream. For an exam or a class, keep the page in full screen.

Stage ManagerOn iPads supporting Stage Manager, an unfocused window may have its camera stream paused. Keep the relevant window in focus throughout.

Screen lock and auto-lockIf the iPad sleeps, the camera stops. Before a long session, set Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock to Never, and set it back afterwards.

Landscape framing and Centre Stage

Camera position varies by modelNewer iPads place the front camera on the landscape edge, older ones on the portrait edge. If you appear to be looking away from the lens in a call, it may simply be positioned on a different edge than you expect.

Centre Stage auto-framingOn supported models, iPadOS can pan and crop automatically to keep you centred. It is normally desirable, but in a proctored exam an image that moves on its own can be unhelpful. It is controlled in Control Centre while the camera is active.

Prop the iPad at eye levelA tablet flat on a desk gives a steep upward angle. Raising it on a stand improves framing more than any software setting.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPad camera not work in Safari?Check Safari's per-site permission by tapping the aA icon and choosing Website Settings, then confirm Settings > Apps > Safari > Camera is set to Ask or Allow, and that Screen Time is not restricting the camera.

Why does my camera stop when I open another app on iPad?Split View, Slide Over and Stage Manager can suspend a background camera stream. Keep the camera page in full screen and in focus during classes and exams.

Is my iPad camera good enough for a proctored exam?Almost always, yes — proctoring services need a clear view of your face rather than high resolution. Test beforehand, prop the iPad at eye level, and make sure Auto-Lock is disabled so the screen does not sleep mid-exam.

What is Centre Stage and should I turn it off?Centre Stage automatically pans and crops to keep you centred in frame. It is useful for calls, but in a proctored exam an automatically moving image may be undesirable. Toggle it in Control Centre while the camera is running.

Supported Browsers on iPadOS

Camera access depends on WebRTC support, which varies by browser even on the same device.

Browser compatibility for camera access on iPadOS
Browser	Support	Notes
Safari	Full support	Native WebRTC implementation
Chrome for iOS	Full support	Required by Apple to use WebKit internally on iPadOS
Firefox for iOS	Full support	Also WebKit-based on iPadOS
Edge for iOS	Full support	Also WebKit-based on iPadOS

Stage Manager, iPadOS's windowed multitasking mode, adds another way a camera session can be interrupted beyond simple backgrounding — moving Safari to a smaller window or overlapping it with another app can suspend an active camera stream in some iPadOS versions, similar to how Split View and Slide Over already do. Running Safari full-screen remains the most reliable way to keep a test running without interruption.

Related Testing Tools

Once the camera is working, these check the things a basic preview cannot: the full diagnostics bench, microphone and room acoustics, and a ranked fix plan built from your results.

Other platforms: Windows 11 · Windows 10 · Mac · a Chromebook · iPhone Camera · Android Camera · Linux