Introduction
When using the Brave browser for video conferencing or voice calls, you may need to configure your microphone and camera settings to ensure optimal performance. Brave, built on Chromium, offers granular control over site permissions, allowing you to allow, block, or ask each time for mic and camera access. This article provides a step-by-step guide to accessing and adjusting these settings both globally and on a per-site basis.
Accessing Privacy and Site Settings
Using the Address Bar Icon
When you visit a site that requests camera or microphone access, a padlock or info icon appears on the left side of the address bar. To adjust permissions:
- Click the padlock or info icon.
- In the dropdown, locate “Site settings.”
- Click “Site settings” to open the permissions page for that site.
Using the Brave Settings Menu
For global adjustments or to view all site permissions, follow these steps:
- Click the Brave menu button (three horizontal lines or dots) at the top right.
- Select Settings.
- In the left sidebar, click Privacy and security.
- Choose Site and Shields Settings.
- Scroll to the Permissions section to find Camera and Microphone.
Adjusting Microphone Settings
Global Microphone Permissions
Global settings apply to all websites unless a site-specific rule overrides them. To modify the default microphone behavior:
- Within Site and Shields Settings, click Microphone.
- Under Default behavior, select one of:
- Ask before accessing – prompts every time a site requests mic access.
- Allow – grants all sites permission by default.
- Block – denies all sites by default.
Site-Specific Microphone Permissions
To fine-tune microphone access for a particular website:
- Navigate to the site in question.
- Click the padlock/info icon and choose Site settings.
- Under Permissions, find the Microphone dropdown.
- Select Allow or Block as desired.
- Reload the page to apply changes.
Adjusting Camera Settings
Global Camera Permissions
Similar to microphone settings, global camera controls determine default behavior for all sites:
- In Site and Shields Settings, click Camera.
- Under Default behavior, choose:
- Ask before accessing
- Allow
- Block
Site-Specific Camera Permissions
To set camera permissions per site:
- Go to the website needing camera access.
- Click the padlock/info icon and select Site settings.
- In the Permissions list, find Camera.
- Choose Allow or Block.
- Refresh the page to activate the new setting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
No Microphone or Camera Detected
- Ensure your device’s drivers are up to date.
- Verify the hardware isn’t muted or disabled in your operating system’s settings.
- Check that no other application is exclusively using the device.
Permissions Prompt Not Appearing
- Make sure you haven’t previously blocked the site. If so, reset the permission in Site and Shields Settings.
- Clear site data by clicking the padlock/icon, then Site settings gt Clear data.
- Restart Brave to ensure changes take effect.
Quick Reference Table
| Action | Location | Description |
| Global Mic Settings | Settings › Privacy and security › Site and Shields Settings › Microphone | Define default mic behavior for all websites |
| Site-Specific Mic | Padlock icon › Site settings › Microphone | Allow or block mic access per website |
| Global Camera Settings | Settings › Privacy and security › Site and Shields Settings › Camera | Set default camera behavior |
| Site-Specific Camera | Padlock icon › Site settings › Camera | Manage camera permission for a single site |
Conclusion
By mastering Brave’s microphone and camera settings, you ensure both privacy and usability during online meetings, recordings, or chats. Whether granting broad access or tailoring permissions per site, these controls help protect your data while letting you communicate seamlessly. For more on Brave’s privacy features, visit the official Brave privacy page.