How to enable camera access in Chrome

To give Chrome access to your camera, allow camera requests in Chrome’s settings, then approve access for the website you want to use. On a Mac, you may also need to allow Google Chrome to use the camera in the Mac’s privacy settings.

Enable camera requests in Chrome

These instructions cover desktop Chrome. Before you start, connect your external webcam if you use one, open any camera privacy shutter, and make sure a physical camera switch is not disabling it. Settings labels can vary by Chrome or operating-system version.

• 1. Open Chrome’s three-dot menu and select Settings.
• 2. Select Privacy and security, then Site settings.
• 3. Under Permissions, select Camera.
• 4. Select the camera you want to use if a camera selector is available.
• 5. Choose the option that lets sites ask to use your camera.
• 6. Return to the website where you need video and start its camera preview or video feature.
• 7. When Chrome asks for camera access, choose Allow.

Letting sites ask does not give every website access automatically. You still need to approve the request for the site you intend to use.

Allow a website you previously blocked

• 1. Open the affected website in Chrome.
• 2. Select the site controls icon to the left of the address bar.
• 3. Open Site settings and find Camera.
• 4. Change the camera permission to Allow.
• 5. Reload the website and start its camera feature again.

Give Chrome camera access on a Mac

• 1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
• 2. Select Privacy & Security, then Camera.
• 3. Turn on camera access for Google Chrome.
• 4. If prompted, quit and reopen Chrome so the change takes effect.
• 5. Return to the website and check its camera permission in Chrome.

If Google Chrome is missing from the Mac’s Camera list, open the website in Chrome and try starting its camera feature to trigger an access request, then check the list again. Older macOS versions may place these controls under System Preferences, Security & Privacy, then Privacy.

Check that the camera actually works

Open the website’s camera preview, if it provides one, and move in front of the camera. A live image that follows your movement confirms that the website is receiving video from the selected camera at that moment. An Allow setting alone confirms permission, not successful video capture.

A working preview does not establish microphone access, intelligible audio, or video quality during a call. If you are preparing for a meeting, check the meeting app’s selected camera and run its available audio and video checks separately.

If access is allowed but video still fails

• Confirm that Chrome and the website’s own video settings select the intended camera.
• Close other apps or tabs that may be using the camera, then retry.
• Recheck the camera’s connection, privacy shutter and physical switch.
• Check your operating system’s camera privacy controls if Chrome still cannot access it.
• Restart Chrome after changing permissions, then reopen the website.
• If a setting is locked or marked as managed by your organization, contact the administrator responsible for the device or browser.

If these checks do not resolve the problem, the next step depends on your operating system, Chrome version and exact error message. The permission setting alone cannot identify whether the remaining problem is with the website, the camera or the operating system.