Camera or Microphone Not Working in Video Chat? Fix Browser Permissions
A black screen or silent microphone can interrupt a video chat before the conversation starts. The problem might be a blocked website permission, a device setting, the wrong camera or microphone, or something unrelated to permission altogether.
Start by identifying the symptom. Then check the website’s permission, your browser’s access at the operating-system level, and the device selected for the call. Change one thing at a time so you can tell which check helped.
This guide covers common browser checks for Chrome and Safari on desktop and mobile. Menu labels vary by browser and operating-system version. Device access does not by itself confirm that a website or calling feature is supported on your device or in your region.
Match the symptom to the next useful check
| What you notice | Check next |
|---|---|
| A message says camera or microphone access is blocked | Review the individual website’s permission, then the browser’s system permission. |
| Your camera preview is black | Check the selected camera, a privacy cover, and whether another app is using the device. |
| You can hear the other person, but they cannot hear you | Check mute controls and the selected microphone; speaker output is a separate setting. |
| They can hear you, but you cannot hear them | Check volume and speaker or headphone output; ask them to check their microphone. |
| Video and audio start, then freeze or drop | Check connection stability and device load before treating it as a permission problem. |
These are starting points, not a diagnosis. A permission change will not repair every connection, account, or hardware problem.
1. Review camera and microphone permissions in your browser
Chrome on a Windows computer or Mac
- Open Chrome’s menu and choose Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings.
- Open Camera, then review the permission for the website you intend to call from. Change that site’s blocked permission if you want to grant access.
- Do the same under Microphone. Camera and microphone permissions are separate.
- Return to the calling page and try again. If Chrome asks, select the access option appropriate for that visit.
Review the individual site rather than broadly allowing access to every website. Google documents the current controls in Chrome’s camera and microphone guide.
Safari on a Mac
Choose Safari → Settings → Websites. Select Camera, find the calling website, and review its setting. Repeat for Microphone. Ask makes the site request access; Deny blocks it; Allow grants access for that site. Return to the page and respond to any permission request you intend to approve.
Apple explains these controls in Safari Websites settings. A setting on your Mac is not a substitute for checking permission on your phone.
Chrome on Android
Open Chrome → More → Settings → Site settings, then select Camera or Microphone. If the website is listed as blocked, open its entry and allow access if you want to use it. Check both permissions. If Android has denied access to Chrome itself, review the browser’s app permissions in Android Settings too.
See Google’s Android permission instructions for the current options. Your device manufacturer may use different labels.
Safari on iPhone
Open Settings → Apps → Safari and review Camera and Microphone. The options include Ask, Deny, and Allow. You can keep prompting enabled and approve the website you intend to use rather than allowing all websites by default.
For an individual website, open it in Safari and look for its website settings in the page menu; some versions place this under an additional menu. Check camera and microphone access there, then return to the call. Apple’s Safari privacy and website-settings guide describes the controls. Labels and menu locations can change between iOS versions.
2. Check whether your operating system allows the browser to use the device
Permission for a website and permission for a browser are different layers. A site can be allowed in the browser while the operating system still prevents the browser from using the device.
Windows 11
Open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera, then review device access and the controls for desktop apps such as your browser. Repeat under Microphone. Available controls depend on the Windows version and app type; a desktop browser may not appear in the same list as Microsoft Store apps.
Use Microsoft’s camera, microphone, and privacy guidance if you need help identifying the relevant control. If your device is managed by an employer or school, ask its administrator about unavailable settings.
macOS
Open Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security. Review Camera and Microphone for the browser you are using, where it appears. If the system asks you to quit and reopen the browser after a change, follow that prompt before trying again.
Apple provides separate guidance for camera access and microphone access. For Safari, also check the website controls described above.
3. Check the selected camera, microphone, and audio output
A laptop may have a built-in microphone, a headset microphone, and another input from a connected device. Permission can be correct while the call is listening to the wrong one.
- Check the physical controls. Open the camera cover and review a headset’s mute switch.
- Choose the device you mean to use. Review the browser’s camera and microphone selection or the call’s device menu, if one is available.
- Check output separately. If you cannot hear anything, sound may be going to connected headphones rather than the speaker you expect.
- Close another app that may be occupying the device. Then return to the calling page and retry.
- Change one connection at a time. If you reconnect a headset or webcam, check that the selected device updates too.
If a camera or microphone also fails in a trusted local app that normally uses it, the issue may extend beyond the video-chat website. Continue with your device maker’s troubleshooting rather than repeatedly changing the site’s permission.
4. Separate permission problems from connection problems
If your picture and sound appear initially, a later freeze does not automatically mean access has been revoked. Ask whether the other person sees the same problem, check your connection, and pause bandwidth-heavy activity before retrying.
Consider what changed: did the problem start after connecting a headset, changing networks, or switching devices? That detail is more useful than changing several unrelated settings at once. Account access, feature availability, and service issues also need different checks from a camera permission problem.
5. Run a short check before your next call
- Confirm that you are on the intended website and can access your account.
- Review the camera and microphone selected for the call.
- Check the preview or device controls available to you, without assuming the call is already connected.
- When a call starts, ask a simple confirmation: “Can you hear me clearly?”
- Once the equipment works, choose one video chat conversation starter and focus on the person rather than continuing to adjust settings.
On Mixu, sign in and check the connection options and any coin or VIP requirements displayed in your account. Mixu is for adults aged 18 and over, and availability may vary by location and device. The 1v1 video chat guide explains the format; the official Mixu download page lists available app options.
If the problem continues, send a useful support report
Before contacting Mixu Support, note the device, operating-system and browser versions, the website address, the time of the problem, and the exact error message. Describe what worked, what failed, and which checks you tried. A report such as “I can see my preview, but the other person cannot hear my selected headset microphone” gives support a clearer starting point than “video chat is broken.”
Redact personal details from screenshots. Do not send passwords or private call recordings. If a setting is locked by device management, contact the administrator instead of trying to override it.
FAQ
Why is my camera not working even after I allowed access?
The website permission is only one part of the setup. Check operating-system access for your browser, the selected camera, a physical privacy cover, and other apps using the device. If the camera also fails outside the browser, investigate the device itself.
Why can I hear the other person but they cannot hear me?
Check your microphone mute control, the selected input device, and microphone permissions for the website and browser. Your speaker can work while your microphone is blocked or a different input is selected.
Do I need to allow camera and microphone access for every website?
No. Grant access only to the website you intend to use. Where your browser offers it, choose a permission for that visit or review the individual site’s permission. You can change or revoke access later.
Should I change permissions if my video is freezing?
Freezing video does not automatically mean permissions are blocked. If video and sound start successfully, check network stability, device load, and whether the problem affects one participant or both before changing more settings.
What should I send Mixu Support if the problem continues?
Provide your device, operating-system and browser versions, the time of the problem, the affected website address, the exact error message, and the checks you tried. Redact personal information from screenshots and do not send passwords or private call recordings.