How to Review Browser Camera, Microphone and Notification Permissions
Photo by Salah Ait Mokhtar on Unsplash.
A website permission should match something you are trying to do. Joining a video meeting may require a camera and microphone; reading an article usually does not. Reviewing saved permissions helps you keep those decisions deliberate, especially after trying unfamiliar services.
Read the request before choosing Allow
Check which website is asking, what it wants to access and whether that access supports the task in front of you. You can decline a request and reconsider later. If the browser offers a temporary option, consider it when you only need access for one visit.
Camera, microphone and notification permissions are separate. A notification request is not a requirement to prove that you are human, and allowing notifications does not enable video calls. Treat a page that pressures you into unrelated permissions as a reason to pause.
Review camera and microphone access in desktop Chrome
- Open Chrome’s menu and select Settings.
- Open Privacy and security, then Site settings.
- Under permissions, open Camera or Microphone.
- Review sites with saved access and remove permissions you no longer need.
- Check that Chrome has selected the device you intend to use.
Chrome may offer permission for the current visit or a single use, depending on the request and version. If a legitimate meeting cannot access a device, check the relevant site’s permission first. Your computer’s own privacy settings may also need to allow Chrome to use that hardware.
Review camera and microphone access in Firefox
In Firefox Settings, find the permissions controls and open the settings beside Camera or Microphone. Review each listed website, change its saved decision or remove it, then save your changes. Labels can vary by Firefox version and device.
Firefox also lets you clear a site’s saved camera or microphone decision from its address-bar permission controls. The site can then ask again when needed. If you do not want new sites to request access, Firefox provides a setting to block new requests in the relevant permissions panel.
Turn off notifications you do not need
For desktop Chrome, go to Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications. Review the sites allowed to send notifications and block entries you no longer want. You can also adjust the default behavior for future requests.
Notification permissions and pop-up controls are different settings. Changing one may not stop the other. If an alert claims your device has a problem, check the sender before acting; a website notification is not the same thing as a warning from your operating system.
Troubleshoot narrowly, then review again
If a camera or microphone fails during a call, check the call’s mute controls, the selected device, the permission for that website and the operating system’s access settings. Change one relevant setting at a time and test again. This makes it easier to understand what fixed the problem.
When you finish using an unfamiliar service, close its session and remove any permission you do not expect to need again. Revisit saved permissions occasionally, particularly after a one-time meeting, a shared-computer session or a browser update. On work or school devices, an administrator may control some settings.
Sources and further reading
- Google Chrome Help: Use your camera and microphone
- Mozilla Support: Manage camera and microphone permissions
- Google Chrome Help: Manage notifications
For the account-security basics, see our strong passwords and password manager guide.