How to Restore Cancelled Webcam and Microphone Permissions in Mettl

If you clicked Block or dismissed the permission prompt when Mettl asked for your camera and microphone, the browser remembers that choice. Reloading the page usually brings back the error rather than the prompt. To fix it, you must re-allow access for the test page in your browser, and sometimes at the operating system level. This guide covers both.

Before you start

Mettl runs proctored tests through a web service, so the permission you need to restore belongs to the browser or app you take the test in, not to Mettl itself. Your test administrator decides which browsers and tools are allowed. Check your invitation or test instructions before changing anything.

• Know which browser or app you are using for the test. Some tests run in a regular browser; others may require a dedicated secure browser application. If yours uses a separate app, browser site settings do not apply and the operating system controls access.
• Close other programs that may hold the camera or microphone, such as video call apps, recording software or virtual camera tools.
• Connect any external webcam or headset before opening the test page, so it appears in the device list.
• If a test is already in progress, read your administrator's instructions on interruptions before reloading or leaving the page. Rules on resuming differ between tests.

Step-by-step instructions

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge

• Open the Mettl test or system check page.
• Click the site information icon at the left end of the address bar. Depending on the version, it looks like a padlock or a pair of sliders.
• Find Camera and Microphone in the panel and set both to Allow. If they are not listed, open Site settings from the same panel.
• Reload the page so the new camera permission takes effect.
• If the page still reports blocked access, open the browser settings, go to Privacy and security, then Site settings, and check the Camera and Microphone sections. Remove the test site from the blocked list, or add it as allowed.
• In the same Camera and Microphone sections, check the device drop-down at the top. Make sure the selected camera and the microphone are the ones you plan to use.

Mozilla Firefox

• On the test page, click the permissions icon in the address bar. When a permission is blocked, a crossed-out camera or microphone icon usually appears.
• Clear the Blocked Temporarily or Blocked entries for the camera and microphone.
• Reload the page and choose Allow when Firefox asks again. In the prompt, pick the correct camera and microphone from the lists.
• If the prompt does not return, open Settings, go to Privacy and Security, scroll to Permissions, and review the Camera and Microphone settings for the test site.

Safari on macOS

• With the test page open, choose Safari, then Settings, then the Websites tab.
• Select Camera in the sidebar and set the test site to Allow or Ask. Repeat for Microphone.
• Reload the page and accept the prompt if it appears.
• Confirm Safari is a browser your test permits before relying on it.

Operating system permissions

If the browser shows access as allowed but Mettl still cannot see or hear you, the operating system may be blocking the browser itself.

• Windows 10 and 11: open Settings, then Privacy and security (or Privacy on Windows 10), then Camera. Turn on camera access, the option that lets apps use the camera, and the option for desktop apps, then confirm your browser or test app is not switched off. Repeat under Microphone.
• macOS: open System Settings (System Preferences on older versions), then Privacy and Security, then Camera. Enable your browser or test app. Repeat under Microphone. macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app before the change applies.
• After changing system settings, fully close and reopen the browser, then return to the test page.

Check the output

Confirm that both devices work before you start the assessment. If your test includes a system or compatibility check, run it; it is the most reliable confirmation for that specific test setup. Otherwise, use these checks.

• Video preview: you should see a live, moving image from your webcam, not a black frame or a still picture. If you see the wrong view, the browser is using a different input device, such as a virtual camera.
• Microphone: speak at normal volume and watch for an input level indicator responding, if the page shows one. No movement usually means the wrong microphone is selected or it is muted in hardware or system settings.
• Lighting and framing: face a light source rather than sitting with a window behind you, and keep your face fully in frame. Proctoring checks can struggle with dark or backlit images.
• Background noise: choose a quiet room and turn off fans or media where possible, since constant noise can affect audio monitoring.
• The browser tab should show a camera or recording indicator while the test page is using your devices.

Resolution and frame rate are normally set by the test platform and your webcam, not by you. Built-in laptop cameras are generally accepted, but check your test instructions if they list specific camera requirements.

Common problems and next steps

The permission prompt never appears again

The browser is still storing your earlier Block decision. Reset it from the site information icon or the site settings described above, then reload. Opening the test in a private window starts with no saved permissions for that session, but use this only if your test rules allow it.

Camera is allowed but the image is black or missing

Another application may be holding the camera. Close video call and recording apps, then reload. Also check for a physical privacy shutter or a keyboard key that disables the webcam on some laptops. If an external webcam is connected, make sure it is the selected camera in the browser settings.

Microphone is allowed but no sound is detected

Check the system sound settings to see which input device is the default and whether its level is turned down or muted. Headsets with a mute switch or a separate microphone on the cable are a frequent cause. Your choice of output device, such as speakers or headphones, does not affect detection, but use what your test instructions recommend. Sample rate is rarely relevant for an exam check, so leave it at the system default.

Access was cancelled during a live test

Restore the permission as quickly as possible using the steps above. How the platform treats the interruption depends on your test settings, so contact your test administrator or the support contact listed in your invitation. Describe exactly what happened and when.

Work or school managed devices

On computers managed by an organization, camera and microphone access may be locked by policy, and the settings may appear greyed out. In that case, ask your IT department to allow access, or use a personal device if your test rules permit it.

A note on privacy: granting camera and microphone access lets the test page capture video and audio while it is open. How recordings are stored, reviewed and retained is set by the testing service and your administrator. Check their published privacy terms rather than assuming any specific handling.