Manage your camera & 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 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 on "Privacy controls," it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your camera: Select the apps you want to grant camera access.
     • Under “Privacy controls,” select the type of permission you want:
       • On: If the Camera access is turned on, apps and system services can access your camera. If the permission is on, 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 the Camera access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For Chrome browser or web applications:
           • Ask: To access your camera every time they start, Chrome browser needs to ask for your permission.
           • Block: Chrome browser can’t access your camera even if the 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 the Camera access is turned on.

Tips:

• The app permissions to access your camera in Privacy controls are in sync with their corresponding permissions granted in Chrome browsers and in the App Permissions inside of the Android Preference Center.
• For web applications in the Chrome browser, you can change camera permissions either in Chrome browsers or in Privacy controls. To change camera permission in Chrome browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• If you turn on or off camera access when you use a webpage or an application, and if the camera doesn’t seem to work, to refresh the webpage or application, follow the on-screen instructions.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Center: Next to the app you want to change camera permissions for, select the Launcher .

Manage your microphone access

Important: If your Chromebook has a physical microphone switch, make sure 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 the Microphone access on "Privacy controls,” it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your microphone: Select the apps you want.
     • Under “Privacy controls,” select the type of permission you want:
       • On: If the Microphone access is turned on, apps and system services can access your microphone. If the permission is on, 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 the Microphone access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For 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 the 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 the 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 their corresponding permissions granted in Chrome browsers and in the App Permissions inside of the Android Preference Center.
• For web applications in the Chrome browser, you can change microphone permissions either in Chrome browsers or in the Privacy controls. To change microphone permission in Chrome browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Center: Next to the app you want to change microphone permissions for, select the Launcher .

Related Resources

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