How to Block Camera and Microphone Access for Websites in Your Browser? (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)

Introduction

When you open a website, it may request access to your camera or microphone — for example, for video calls or equipment testing. However, not all web pages can be trusted. To protect your privacy, it's useful to know how to block or restrict this access.

1. Why Restrict Access

  • Some websites may use your camera without explicit notification.
  • Attackers can gain access through browser vulnerabilities.
  • You maintain control over which resources can "see" and "hear" you.

Important: you can always allow camera and microphone access only to trusted sites (for example, DoCam.io).

2. How to Block Camera and Microphone Access in Google Chrome

  1. Open the menu ⋮ → Settings → Privacy and security → Site Settings.
  2. Select Camera or Microphone.
  3. Toggle the option "Sites cannot use your camera (or microphone)".
  4. If needed, remove permissions from the "Allowed" list for specific sites.

Tip: the next time you visit, the site will request access again, and you can manually confirm or deny it.

3. How to Disable Access in Mozilla Firefox

  1. Go to the menu ≡ → Settings → Privacy & Security.
  2. Scroll down to the Permissions section.
  3. Next to Camera and Microphone, click Settings….
  4. Uncheck "Request permission to access" or remove sites from the list.

You can also completely reset permissions so that each site requests access again.

4. How to Block in Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Settings → Cookies and site permissions.
  2. Select Camera or Microphone.
  3. Disable the toggle "Ask before accessing" and add sites to the block list.

Edge uses a permission system similar to Chrome but allows flexible management of each site individually.

5. How to Check Who Already Has Access

  • In Chrome — open: chrome://settings/content/camera and chrome://settings/content/microphone.
  • In Firefox — go to: about:preferences#privacy.
  • In Edge — open: edge://settings/content/camera.

6. Complete Device Blocking

If you want to completely disable the camera:

  • Open Device Manager → Cameras → right-click → Disable device.
  • For microphone: Sound → Input → Disable.

Alternative — simply stick a physical cover or sticker on the camera if you rarely use it.

Conclusion

Now you know how to completely control camera and microphone access in your browser. This is especially important when using public Wi-Fi networks or working on someone else's PC. Trust access only to verified services, such as DoCam.io.

Tip: before granting access — test your equipment safely on DoCam.io.