Chrome may block a camera or microphone that a trusted site needs, or a site may ask for access when you never expected it. The fix depends on whether you want one-site access or a rule for every site.
Open Chrome's camera and microphone settings, choose Ask, Allow, or Block, then review the saved exceptions and test the page again.
In this guide, I have covered:
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Camera and Microphone Permissions in Chrome on Your Computer
A call starts and Chrome never asks for your camera. Or a site you have never heard of asks for your microphone. Both problems live on the same two settings pages.
Chrome lets you block a device, allow it, or make sites ask first. Most sites need neither. Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams are the exceptions, and they only need access while you are on a call.
The setup that ages best is strict: block both devices by default, then grant access to the few sites you trust. It takes a few minutes and ends the surprise prompts.
Those controls sit under Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings. When the menu feels crowded, the direct Camera and Microphone pages are quicker.
Choose the right permission
Each device has three states, and the difference matters.
- Ask: Chrome asks before a site uses the camera or microphone.
- Block: Chrome denies access without showing a permission prompt.
- Allow: Chrome permits access without a separate answer for each visit, unless a site-specific rule or an operating-system restriction says otherwise.
These controls affect websites in Chrome only. They do not turn off the camera or microphone for other apps, and operating-system privacy settings or a hardware switch can still block access.
Block, Allow, or Ask for Camera Access in Chrome
Chrome asking for your camera when you did not start a video call is a prompt worth refusing. Block camera access globally, then scan for an old site exception. If a trusted call site needs the camera, allow that one site instead of opening the door to every website.
- Open Google Chrome on your computer.
- Paste chrome://settings/content/camera into the address bar.
- Press .
- On the Camera page, choose Ask when you want to use your camera, Don’t allow sites to use your camera, or Allow sites to use your camera.
- Check the lists of sites allowed and blocked from using your camera for an existing site-specific choice.
You’ll know it worked when the blocked site gets no camera access and a site set to Ask shows Chrome’s prompt the next time it requests the device.
A saved site exception overrides the global rule. If the camera still opens somewhere you did not expect, find that site in the allowed list on the same page.
Block, Allow, or Ask for Microphone Access in Chrome
A microphone prompt that shows up mid-meeting usually means Chrome is set to Ask and the site has no saved choice. Block the microphone globally if you never want it used, or allow the one app that records your voice. Everything else stays quiet.
- Open Google Chrome on your computer.
- Paste chrome://settings/content/microphone into the address bar.
- Press .
- On the Microphone page, choose Ask when you want to use your microphone, Don’t allow sites to use your microphone, or Allow sites to use your microphone.
- Check the lists of sites allowed and blocked from using your microphone for an existing site-specific choice.
You’ll know it worked when the calling or recording page either picks up your voice right away or stays silent as blocked, with no extra prompt in between.
Same rule as the camera: a per-site choice wins over the global one. Clear the site from the blocked list before you change the main setting.
Allow Camera or Microphone Access for One Trusted Site
One service needs your microphone and everything else can stay blocked. That is when a per-site permission beats a global Allow. You can set it from the controls beside Chrome’s address bar, without leaving the page.
- Open the website that needs the camera or microphone.
- Click the tune
icon to the left of Chrome’s address bar. - Select Site settings.
- Find Camera or Microphone under Permissions.
- Choose Allow to permit access, Block to deny it, or Ask to show a prompt.
- Click .
Reload the page after you click Done. The site should open the selected device without a prompt, and you’ll know it worked when the call page shows your camera preview or the mic level moves.
Reset Permissions for a Site That Still Has Access Problems
A site keeps acting as though you chose Block, even after you switched it to Allow. Chrome is holding an older choice you cannot see. Reset that site’s permissions and ask again. Resetting permissions does not remove your Chrome profile or browsing history.
- Open the website that is having permission trouble.
- Click the tune icon beside the address bar.
- Select Site settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the site permissions panel.
- Click .
- Click .
- Reload the page and choose the device permission when Chrome asks.
The next request should open a fresh permission prompt. If it does not, check the global camera or microphone setting, then your operating system’s privacy controls.
The settings layout is different on phones. If you also need the same controls in Chrome on Android, the companion guide covers it.
Watch the Video Tutorial
Watch the video version for a visual walkthrough of the same controls.
If a screen in the video does not match yours, your Chrome is probably on a different version. Update Chrome, reload the Camera page, and set your rule again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I allow camera access in Chrome on a computer?
Open the Camera permission page, select Allow sites to use your camera, then check the allowed-sites list for an old override. For a single trusted site, set its Camera permission to Allow from the controls beside the address bar.
How do I allow microphone access in Chrome on a computer?
Use the Microphone page the same way, then set the trusted site’s Microphone permission to Allow. If the site is listed as blocked, reset that site’s permissions before you test again.
Why is a site still blocked after I select Allow?
A site-specific Block choice can override the global setting, and operating-system privacy controls can still deny access. Reset the site’s permissions, then check the global page and your system privacy settings.
Does blocking the camera or microphone in Chrome disable it on my computer?
No. Chrome’s setting only stops websites from using the device through Chrome. It does not disable the hardware for other apps and does not change your operating system’s privacy controls.
Can I allow one trusted site and block other sites?
Yes. Set the global permission to Block, then set the trusted site’s permission to Allow in its site controls. The exception applies to that site only.
Set both devices once and Chrome stops interrupting you. If something still fails, work in order: the site’s own permission, the global Camera or Microphone page, then your operating system.
WRONG! Google no longer allows you to block access to your webcam or microphone from Chrome (only prevent other sites accessing it). I had to install an AV software to block Chrome from accessing it. It’s a completely underhanded practice by Google. Why I stopped using Chrome.
Hi Rob, the Chrome browser act as a gatekeeper between users and the website. We can instruct Chrome to stop giving permissions to the camera or microphone, however, it still has access to these features. But, technically it’s of no use for chrome browser. You can also block Google.com to stop the permissions request.
My camera accessories unlock but then also in omegla it is showing that your camera is blocked what to do