Manage your camera and microphone settings

To protect your privacy on ChromeOS, you can manage access to your camera and microphone.

Privacy controls

Manage your camera access

Important: If your Chromebook has a physical camera switch at the top or on the side of the device, make sure that it's turned on.

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls.
   • To give camera access on your Chromebook: Turn on Camera access.
     • If you turn off camera access in 'Privacy controls', it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your camera: Select the apps that you want to grant camera access to.
     • Under 'Privacy controls', select the type of permission that you want:
       • On: If the camera access is turned on, apps and system services can access your camera. If the permission is on, the Chrome Browser and web applications may read this as 'Allow' and Android apps may read this as 'Allowed – while in use'.
       • Off: Apps with this permission can't access your camera even if camera access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For the Chrome Browser or web applications:
           • Ask: To access your camera every time they start, the Chrome Browser needs to ask for your permission.
           • Block: The Chrome Browser can't access your camera even if camera access is on.
         • For Android applications:
           • Ask every time: To access your camera every time they start, applications need to ask for your permission.
           • Denied: Applications can't access your camera even if camera access is turned on.

Tips:

• The app permissions to access your camera in 'Privacy controls' are in sync with the corresponding permissions granted in Chrome Browsers and in the app permissions granted within the Android Preference Centre.
• For web applications in the Chrome Browser, you can change camera permissions in either the Chrome Browser or in 'Privacy controls'. To change camera permissions in the Chrome Browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• If you turn camera access on or off when you use a web page or an application, and if the camera doesn't seem to work, to refresh the web page or application, follow the on-screen instructions.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Centre. Next, go to the app that you want to change the camera permissions for and select the Launcher .

Manage your microphone access

Important: If your Chromebook has a physical microphone switch, make sure that it's turned on.

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time Settings .
2. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls.
   • To set microphone access on Chromebook: Turn on Microphone access.
     • If you turn off microphone access in 'Privacy controls', it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your microphone: Select the apps that you want.
     • Under 'Privacy controls', select the type of permission that you want:
       • On: If microphone access is turned on, apps and system services can access your microphone. If the permission is on, the Chrome Browser and web applications may read this as 'Allow' and Android apps may read this as 'Allowed – while in use'.
       • Off: Apps with this permission can't access your microphone even if microphone access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For the Chrome Browser or web applications:
           • Ask: To access your microphone every time they start, Chrome Browser needs to ask for permission.
           • Block: Chrome Browser can't access your microphone even if microphone access is turned on.
         • For Android applications:
           • Ask every time: To access your microphone every time they start, applications need to ask for permission.
           • Denied: Applications can't access your microphone even if microphone access is turned on. Access will be blocked all the time.

Tips:

• The app permissions to access your microphone in 'Privacy controls' are in sync with the corresponding permissions granted in Chrome Browsers and in the app permissions within the Android Preference Centre.
• For web applications in the Chrome Browser, you can change the microphone permissions either in the Chrome Browser or in 'Privacy controls'. To change microphone permissions in the Chrome Browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Centre. Next, go to the app that you want to change microphone permissions for and select the Launcher .

Related resources

• Manage your screen's privacy
• Use camera features on your Chromebook
• Share your location