Manage your camera, microphone & location settings

Important: If your Chromebook has a physical camera switch, make sure it’s turned on to enable the camera.

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls.
   • To give camera access on your Chromebook: Turn on Camera access.
     • If you turn off Camera access on "Privacy controls," it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your camera: Select the apps you want to grant camera access.
     • Under “Privacy controls,” select the type of permission you want:
       • On: If the Camera access is turned on, apps and system services can access your camera. If the permission is on, Chrome browser and web applications may read this as "Allow,” and Android apps may read this as "Allowed - while in use."
       • Off: Apps with this permission can’t access your camera even if the Camera access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For Chrome browser or web applications:
           • Ask: To access your camera every time they start, Chrome browser needs to ask for your permission.
           • Block: Chrome browser can’t access your camera even if the Camera access is on.
         • For Android applications:
           • Ask every time: To access your camera every time they start, applications need to ask for your permission.
           • Denied: Applications can’t access your camera even if the Camera access is turned on.

Tips:

• The camera permissions in Privacy controls for the app sync with the corresponding permissions in Chrome browsers and the Android Preference Center's App Permissions.
• For web applications in the Chrome browser, you can change camera permissions either in Chrome browsers or in Privacy controls. To change camera permission in Chrome browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• If you turn camera access on or off in a webpage or app and encounter issues, refresh it and follow the on-screen instructions to resolve.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Center: Next to the app you want to change camera permissions for, select the Launcher .

Important: If your Chromebook has a physical microphone switch, make sure it’s turned on to enable the microphone.

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls.
   • To set microphone access on Chromebook: Turn on Microphone access.
     • If you turn off the Microphone access on "Privacy controls,” it blocks access on all levels and services.
   • To grant permissions to your microphone: Select the apps you want.
     • Under “Privacy controls,” select the type of permission you want:
       • On: If the Microphone access is turned on, apps and system services can access your microphone. If the permission is on, Chrome browser and web applications may read this as "Allow,” and Android apps may read this as "Allowed - while in use."
       • Off: Apps with this permission can’t access your microphone even if the Microphone access is turned on. If the permission is off, it could be read as:
         • For Chrome browser or web applications:
           • Ask: To access your microphone every time they start, Chrome browser needs to ask for permission.
           • Block: Chrome browser can’t access your microphone even if the Microphone access is turned on.
         • For Android applications:
           • Ask every time: To access your microphone every time they start, applications need to ask for permission.
           • Denied: Applications can’t access your microphone even if the Microphone access is turned on. Access will be blocked all the time.

Tips:

• The microphone permissions in Privacy controls for the app are in sync with corresponding permissions in Chrome browsers and the Android Preference Center's App Permissions.
• For web applications in the Chrome browser, you can change microphone permissions either in Chrome browsers or in the Privacy controls. To change microphone permission in Chrome browser, in the address bar, enter chrome://settings/content.
• To change permissions for Android applications, you need to go to the Android Preference Center: Next to the app you want to change microphone permissions for, select the Launcher .

Important: When the location setting is off for your device, apps and services can't get your device's location and system features may not work properly. You can get search results and ads based on information such as your IP address. Learn how to manage your location when you search on Google.

1. On your Chromebook, at the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. On the left, select Privacy and security Privacy controls Location access.
4. Select Change Access.
5. Select one from the following:
   • Allowed: Allow apps and websites, with permission, and system services to use your location while in use.
   • Only allowed for system services: No app and websites are allowed to use your location.
     • System services that are allowed:
       • Automatic time zone
       • Sunset schedule
       • Local weather
       • Auto light or dark mode
   • Off: Your device's location isn't shared with any apps or system services. Features that use location may not work properly.
     • Your location may still be visible to apps and websites through your IP address.
6. Next to the app name, turn on Location access.

If location access is turned off

• If location services are set to “Blocked for all” or “Only allowed for system services,” apps and websites can't get your device’s location, even with granted permission. When apps or websites with the permission want to access your device’s location, you’ll get a notification to turn on location access at the bottom right.
• If the time zone is set to “Use Wi-Fi or mobile networks to determine location” and location access is “Blocked for all,” the system can’t use the automatic time zone anymore and will display an error message. The device will revert to the last manually selected timezone.