Start here: see what Chrome does
Open our webcam test in Chrome and start it. What happens next tells you where the block is:
- Chrome shows a prompt: choose an option (see below) and you’re done.
- No prompt, and the test says access is blocked: Chrome remembers an earlier “no” for that site. Go to “Unblock one site”.
- You allowed it, but the test still can’t open the camera: Windows or macOS is blocking Chrome itself. Go to “When your computer blocks Chrome”.
When Chrome asks
The first time a site wants the camera, Chrome offers three choices:
- Allow while visiting the site lets that site use the camera while you’re on it.
- Allow this time lets it use the camera for now only.
- Never allow blocks it, and Chrome remembers that choice for the site.
If you chose Never allow by accident, the site can’t reach your camera later, even though nothing is wrong with it.
Unblock one site
- Go to the site that needs the camera.
- Click the icon to the left of the web address. Its name is View site information.
- Select Site settings.
- Next to Camera, choose Allow.
- Go back to the site and reload the page.
Changes save on their own. If you see Reset permissions, you can use it to undo the changes you made for that site.
Check all sites in Chrome settings
- Click More (the three dots at the top right), then Settings.
- Select Privacy and security, then Site settings.
- Under Permissions, select Camera.
Here you can:
- Set the default for all sites, so sites can ask to use your camera.
- Find a site under Not allowed to use your camera or microphone, select it and change its permission to Allow.
- Pick the camera Chrome uses. Under Camera, open the drop-down at the top and choose your webcam. This matters if your computer has a built-in camera and a USB one, or a virtual camera from an app.
When your computer blocks Chrome
Even with every Chrome setting allowed, the operating system can stop Chrome from reaching the camera. If Chrome shows a message about this, select Open settings in it to jump straight there.
Windows 11
- Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
- Turn on Camera access.
- Turn on Let desktop apps access your camera. Chrome is a desktop app, so it isn’t in the app list. This switch is the one that covers it.
macOS
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then Privacy & Security.
- Click Camera and turn on Google Chrome.
- If macOS asks you to quit Chrome, do it and reopen Chrome.
On an Android phone or tablet
- In Chrome, tap More (the three dots), then Settings.
- Tap Site settings, then Camera.
- If the site is under Blocked, tap it, then tap Allow.
If you can’t change the setting
On a work or school computer or Chrome profile, an administrator can set camera permissions for you. If the options are greyed out, ask your IT team.
Check that it worked
Reload the webcam test. If you see yourself and a frame rate, Chrome has camera access. If the picture is still black, close other apps and tabs that might be using the camera, restart Chrome, and try once more.