How to Disable Camera and Microphone in Firefox Computer

Almost all web browsers offer functionality allowing users to control how their browser works. You are on the right page if you’re a Firefox user and want to know how to manage camera and microphone permissions.

If you’re among those users who never use their camera and microphone, you might not know how to disable them. Hackers can take advantage of these services without our knowledge; disabling the camera and microphone is best to protect your privacy.

Yesterday, my younger sister asked me how to disable the camera and microphone access on her firefox computer browser. She attends online classes, and this makes her vulnerable to online theft. To protect her privacy, I decided to help her.

Related: How to Enable Privacy and Security in Firefox Computer?

There are different ways to disable the camera and microphone permissions on the Firefox browser. If you need to enable the camera and microphone for any video call, you can also follow these methods to re-enable it.

Don’t Allow Camera and Microphone Prompts

Whenever you open a website that requires access to a camera and microphone, Firefox will send you a prompt notification to ask for your permission. It is better to disable it for untrustworthy sites.

Follow these steps to Deny the camera and microphone access prompts on Firefox: 

1. Launch the Firefox browser on the computer.
2. Head to any site (say Google Hangout) that will request permissions.
3. A prompt will request your permission to allow the camera and microphone.
   
4. Enable the checkbox on the Remember this decision.
5. Click on the Don’t Allow option.

This will help you block the microphone and camera access to protect your privacy. Remember this decision checkbox will permanently deny the request from this particular site.

Manage Permissions using Page Info

Not every website shows a pop-up window to ask your permission to access the camera and microphone. At that time, you can use the Page Info window to set explicit permissions for camera and microphone access for a website.

Here are steps to disable the camera and microphone access using the Page Info window: 

1. Launch the Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. Open any website URL on the browser.
3. Right-click in a blank area on the page and choose View Page Info.
4. Switch to the Permissions tab and scroll down to locate camera and microphone permissions.
5. Uncheck the Use default check box for the camera and microphone.
6. Mark the checkbox available before Block for both camera and microphone.
   

This will block the microphone and camera access to a website. We can also use the page info window to manage various permissions for specific sites on the browser.

Disable Camera and Microphone

Both methods we have discussed will work for specific or single sites. If you want to disable all websites’ cameras and microphones, use Firefox Permissions settings.

Disable Camera Permission

Disabling the camera will block your browser’s camera service and be hidden from all site access. Make sure to disable the camera to protect your online privacy and misuse.

Follow these steps to disable camera permission using Firefox Options: 

1. Launch the Firefox browser on the computer.
2. Click on More  to open the menu list.
3. Choose the Options menu from the list.
4. Switch to Privacy & Security tab from the left side pane.
5. Scroll down to the Permissions section and look up Camera permissions.
6. Hit on the Settings… command option.
   This will display a list of all the websites with access to the camera.
7. You can either control the individual sites or block all sites.
   
8. Click on Remove All Websites to clear the list.
9. Enable the checkbox against Block new requests asking to access your camera.
10. Finally, hit the Save Changes command button.

This will disable the camera access for all the websites on Firefox.

Please note that this will not allow you to make a video call even on Zoom, Google meet, or Microsoft teams. If you plan to use video conferencing, allow those sites and block everything else.

Disable Microphone Permission

The Microphone is an essential service within the browser to pass on audio. Blocking the microphone will block audio and cause issues during conference calls. Hence, make sure to allow the necessary sites and block the rest.

Follow these steps to disable microphone access using Firefox menu options: 

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox on the computer.
2. Click on More  to open the menu list.
3. Choose the Options menu from the list.
4. Switch to Privacy & Security tab from the left side pane.
5. Scroll down to the Permissions section and look up Microphone permissions.
6. Hit on the Settings… command option.
   This will display a list of all the websites with access to the camera.
7. Click on Remove All Websites to clear the list.
   
8. Enable the checkbox against Block new requests asking to access your microphone.
9. Finally, hit the Save Changes command button.

This will block the microphone access for all the websites on the Firefox browser. Like the camera, the microphone will also be blocked from a video or audio conferencing website. Hence, it’s suggested to allow the needy and block the rest.

Bottom Line: Disable Camera Microphone Firefox

Nowadays, most people seem concerned about their privacy. It is best to block unwanted websites from accessing the camera and microphone of those people. Firefox offers several methods to manage the permissions for the camera and microphone.

We suggest you not allow website permissions to access the camera and microphone. Hackers can take benefit of them to gain your personal information. I taught my younger sister how to disable the camera and microphone using all the above methods. She was elated.

Related: How to Allow or Block Sound Autoplay in Firefox Computer?

If you have any queries, drop them in the comments below. Have you disabled your camera and microphone access yet? What sites have you allowed access to camera and microphone permissions in Firefox?