Chromebooks have two layers of permission controls: a system-wide switch that governs whether any app or site can use the camera, mic, or location at all, and a per-site setting inside Chrome for individual websites. Knowing which layer you’re dealing with saves a lot of troubleshooting time.
Quick answer: For the system-wide switch, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Privacy controls and toggle Camera access, Microphone access, or Location access. For an individual website’s permission, click the lock/info icon to the left of the address bar while on that site and adjust camera, microphone, or location there directly.
System-Wide Camera, Microphone, and Location Controls
- Click the time in the bottom right, then the Settings gear.
- Select Privacy and security in the left menu.
- Click Privacy controls.
- Toggle Camera access, Microphone access, or Location access on or off.
Turning any of these off blocks access at every level — Chrome sites, Android apps, and Linux apps all lose access, not just the browser.
Per-Site Permissions Inside Chrome
- Go to the website in question.
- Click the lock icon (or info icon) just left of the address bar.
- Click Site settings.
- Find Camera, Microphone, or Location and change it to Allow, Ask, or Block.
You can also manage every site’s permissions in one place by typing chrome://settings/content into the address bar, which lists every site that’s ever requested camera, mic, or location access.
Still Not Working?
- System toggle is on but a site still can’t access the camera: check the per-site permission too — both layers need to allow it.
- Camera doesn’t work anywhere, even with permissions granted: this points to a hardware or driver issue rather than a permissions problem — see our camera not working troubleshooting guide.
- Physical camera/mic switch: some Chromebook models have a hardware privacy switch or shutter — check for one near the webcam if software settings look correct but nothing works.
- Managed Chromebook: schools and workplaces can lock these settings via admin policy, which is normal and not something you can override locally.
FAQ
Does blocking camera access system-wide affect video calls?
Yes — it blocks every app and site from using the camera, including Google Meet, Zoom, and any Android video call app, until you turn it back on.
Why does a site keep asking for location every time I visit?
If the permission is set to “Ask” instead of “Allow” or “Block,” Chrome will prompt every time. Set it explicitly in site settings to stop the repeated prompt.
Can I see every site that has camera or mic access at a glance?
Yes, type chrome://settings/content/camera or chrome://settings/content/microphone directly into the address bar for a full list.
