Here is a guide on how to stop Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox from accessing your webcam or microphone in Windows 11/10. Doing so will basically prevent these web browsers from listening or watching you. Each of these browsers has specific settings options that you need to modify in order to block Chrome, Firefox, or Edge from gaining access to your mic or camera. However, the process is somewhat similar. Let us check out the step-by-step procedure to disable mic or camera access in these major web browsers on Windows 11/10.
Our Kaspersky warned us that a browser was trying to access the webcam, hence we decided to write this post.
We are going to discuss steps for each of these web browsers to block them from accessing your camera or microphone.
How do I stop Chrome from accessing Camera and Microphone?
To prevent Google Chrome from accessing webcam or mic in Windows 11/10, here are the main steps you need to follow:
- Launch Google Chrome.
- Go to its Site settings page.
- Scroll down to Permissions.
- Tap on the Camera option.
- Turn on the Don’t allow sites to use your camera option
- Go back to the Site settings page.
- Select the Microphone option.
- Enable the Don’t allow sites to use your microphone option.
Firstly, launch the Google Chrome browser, and in the address bar, type chrome://settings/content and press the Enter button. This will open up Chrome’s Site Settings page.
Next, on the Site settings page, scroll down to the Permissions section. Here, you can set permissions for location, microphone, camera, notifications, and others.
Now, to disable the webcam access permission, click on the Camera option. On the next page, you can set up camera permission and settings. You will be able to see a Don’t allow sites to use your camera option here. Simply turn on this option to block Chrome from accessing your webcam and then go back to the previous Site settings page.
After that, simply click on the Microphone option and then enable the Don’t allow sites to use your microphone.
Google Chrome will now be blocked from accessing your microphone or camera in Windows 11/10. You also customize these permissions for specific websites if you want.
Read: Configure Camera & Microphone in Windows Defender Application
Prevent Firefox from accessing Webcam or Mic
You can also prevent Mozilla Firefox from accessing webcam or mic on Windows 11/10. You can follow the below steps for that:
- Open Firefox.
- Tap on the three-bar menu.
- Press on the Settings option.
- Go to the Privacy & Security tab.
- Under the Permissions section, click on the Settings button next to Camera.
- Enable the Block new requests asking to access your camera option and click on the Save Changes button.
- Go back to the Permissions page.
- Tap on the Settings button present next to Microphone.
- Turn off the Block new requests asking to access your microphone checkbox and press the Save Changes button.
Simply open the Firefox browser and click on the three-bar menu button from the top-right corner. Then, select the Settings option.
On the Firefox Settings page, navigate to the Privacy & Security tab and locate the Permissions section. You will see various permission options under the Permissions section. Click on the Settings button present next to the Camera option.
Now, enable the Block new requests asking to access your camera checkbox and then press on the Save Changes button.
Similarly, you can block Firefox from accessing the microphone. Go back to the Permission settings page and tap on the Settings button present next to Microphone. After that, turn on the Block new requests asking to access your microphone option and then click on the Save Changes button.
From now onwards, your Firefox browser will not be able to access your microphone or camera until you change the settings.
See: How to use Webcam on Xbox One for Video or with Microphone
Stop Edge from accessing Webcam or Mic
Here are the steps to follow to block the Microsoft Edge browser from accessing your camera or microphone on Windows 11/10:
- Open the Edge browser.
- Click on the three-dot menu.
- Select the Settings option.
- Go to the Cookies and sites permissions tab.
- Click on the Camera option under the All permissions section.
- Turn off the Ask before accessing option.
- Go back to the previous page.
- Choose the Microphone option.
- Disable the Ask before accessing option.
Firstly, open Microsoft Edge and click on the three-dot menu button present at the top-right corner. From multiple options, click on the Settings option.
Now, go to the Cookies and sites permissions tab, and then from the right-side panel, scroll down to the All permissions section.
Next, tap on the Camera option and then turn off the Ask before accessing (recommended) option. This will block Edge to access your webcam.
Now, go back to the previous page i.e., the Site settings page, and then select the Microphone option. After that, toggle the Ask before accessing (recommended) option off. This will disable microphone access on Edge.
If you decide to allow Microsoft Edge access to your mic or camera, your can turn on the above option.
Read: How to disable, turn off or mute the Microphone in Windows?
How do I stop a website using my Camera or Microphone on Microsoft Edge?
To stop a specific website from using your camera or microphone in Edge, you can follow the below steps:
- Open Edge and navigate to the website for which you want to block webcam or mic access.
- Click on the Lock icon present next to the web address.
- Select the Permissions for this site option.
- On the next page, click on the drop-down button present next to the Camera or Microphone option.
- Choose the Block option.
Firstly, launch the Microsoft Edge browser and open the website that you want to prevent from accessing your mic or webcam.
Now, click on the lock icon present next to the website address in the address bar. From multiple options, click on the Permissions for this site option. A new tab will open up to set up permissions for the current website.
Here, click on the drop-down button present next to the Camera or Microphone option. And, select the Block option. This will block camera or microphone permissions for this specific website.
Similarly, you can also block a website from accessing your camera or mic on Microsoft Edge.
See: How to turn off Camera when joining Zoom Meeting
Can someone spy on me through my laptop camera?
Webcams are vulnerable to hacking just like any other tech device. If an unauthorized entity has gained access to your computer resources including your webcam, the adversary can spy on you and the people around you. To get access to a user’s webcam, attackers make use of Trojan horse malware or Remote Access Technology (RAT). However, you can avoid such attacks and prevent yourself from being watched through your computer. Just observe any suspicious activity like mouse cursor is moving without touching, or screen keeps blinking every now and then, or there is some suspicious background process running in the Task Manager. All these are signs of someone spying on you through your camera.
How do I stop Chrome from accessing my webcam?
To stop Chrome from accessing your webcam, you need to open the Site settings and click on the Permissions option first. Then, select the Camera option and enable the Don’t allow sites to use your camera option. Alternatively, you can disable your camera or webcam via the Windows Settings panel as well.
How do I turn off my webcam and microphone in Windows 11?
To turn off your webcam and microphone in Windows 11, you need to open Windows Settings and go to the Privacy & security section. Next, open the Camera menu and toggle the Camera access button to turn it off. Next, open the Microphone menu and toggle the Microphone access button to turn it off.
Hope this helps!
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