How to turn on camera permission in Chrome
Chrome asks for permission the first time a website wants to use your camera. A prompt appears at the top of the page with three options: Allow, Block, or Ask again. Click Allow to let that website use your camera. Chrome remembers your choice for that site going forward.
If you missed the prompt or clicked Block by mistake, you can change the setting manually. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on Windows, Mac, or a Chromebook, but the camera permission menu is the same across all devices.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome shows a permission prompt the first time a website requests camera access, and you can click Allow to grant it.
- You can change camera permissions for any website by clicking the lock icon in the address bar and adjusting the camera setting.
- If a website still cannot see your camera after you allow it in Chrome, check your operating system's camera settings — Chrome needs permission from both the browser and your device.
- Resetting Chrome's settings to default will revoke all camera permissions you've granted, so only do this if you're troubleshooting a serious problem.
Allow camera access through the permission prompt
When you visit a website that wants to use your camera — like Google Meet, Zoom, or a video chat site — Chrome displays a permission request at the top of the page. The prompt shows the website's name and asks "Allow [website] to access your camera?"
Click the Allow button to grant permission. Chrome will then access your camera and the website can use it. The browser remembers this choice, so the next time you visit that same website, it will use your camera without asking again.
If you click Block instead, Chrome will refuse to let that website use your camera. You can change this later by adjusting the site's permissions manually.
Change camera permissions for a specific website
To allow or block camera access for a website you've already visited, look for the lock icon in the address bar — it appears to the left of the website's URL. Click it to open a small menu showing the site's permissions.
Find the Camera option in the list. It will show one of three settings: Allow, Block, or Ask. Click the dropdown next to Camera and select Allow. Close the menu, and the change takes effect immediately.
If you don't see a lock icon, the website may not have requested camera permission yet. Visit a feature on that site that uses the camera — like starting a video call — and the permission prompt will appear.
Check your operating system's camera settings
Chrome needs permission from two places: the browser itself and your operating system. Even if you allow camera access in Chrome, your device's settings might still block it.
On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Camera. Make sure the toggle for "Camera access" is turned on. Then scroll down and check that Chrome is listed under "Allow apps to access your camera" — the toggle next to Chrome should be on.
On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Security & Privacy, then click the Camera tab. Look for Chrome in the list and make sure it has a checkmark next to it. If Chrome is not listed, you may need to grant permission the next time a website requests camera access.
On a Chromebook, camera permissions are handled entirely through Chrome, so you only need to allow access in the browser itself.
Reset camera permissions to their defaults
If you want to clear all camera permissions you've granted to websites, you can reset Chrome's settings. This will block camera access for every site and force Chrome to ask for permission again the next time a website requests it.
Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Click Camera. At the top, click Clear all. This removes all camera permissions you've previously granted.
Resetting permissions is useful if you've blocked a website by mistake and want to start fresh, or if you're troubleshooting a camera problem. However, you'll need to re-allow camera access for each website you use regularly.
Troubleshoot when Chrome cannot access your camera
If you've allowed camera access in Chrome but a website still cannot see your camera, the problem usually lies in your operating system's settings, not Chrome itself. Start by checking that your device's camera is turned on and not being used by another program.
Close any other applications that might be using the camera — like Zoom, Skype, or your device's camera app. Some devices only allow one program to access the camera at a time. Then refresh the website in Chrome and try again.
If the camera still doesn't work, go back to your operating system's camera settings (described above) and verify that Chrome is allowed to access it. On Windows, also check that no other privacy settings are blocking the camera. On Mac, restart your computer after changing camera permissions — sometimes the change doesn't take effect until you reboot.
Manage camera access for all websites at once
If you want to block camera access for all websites by default, you can change Chrome's global camera setting. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings. Click Camera.
At the top, you'll see a dropdown that says either "Allow" or "Block". Click it and select Block to prevent all websites from accessing your camera unless you manually allow each one. Select Ask to have Chrome show a permission prompt every time a website requests camera access.
You can also add specific websites to a blocklist or allowlist from this same menu. Under "Block" or "Allow", click Add and type the website's address to set a permanent rule for that site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome keep asking for camera permission?
Chrome asks every time if you selected Ask instead of Allow when the permission prompt appeared. To stop the repeated prompts, click the lock icon in the address bar, find Camera, and change it from Ask to Allow. Chrome will then remember your choice.
Can I allow camera access for one website but block it for others?
Yes. Each website's camera permission is separate. You can allow Google Meet to use your camera while blocking it for other sites. Use the lock icon in the address bar to set permissions individually for each website you visit.
Does allowing camera access in Chrome let websites see me when I'm not using them?
No. Websites can only access your camera when you're actively on that website and have given permission. When you close the tab or navigate away, the website loses camera access. Chrome does not allow background access to your camera.
What if the lock icon doesn't appear in the address bar?
The lock icon only shows up after a website has requested permission or after you've already set permissions for that site. If you don't see it, the website may not have a camera feature, or it hasn't asked for permission yet. Try starting a video call or video chat feature on that website to trigger the permission request.
Will resetting Chrome delete my passwords and bookmarks?
Resetting only camera permissions will not affect your passwords or bookmarks. However, if you use the full "Reset settings" option in Chrome's advanced settings, it will clear more data. To be safe, only clear camera permissions through the Site Settings menu, not through the general reset option.