Padlock on a translucent permission toggle switch
Safari permission problems usually show up as “Camera blocked,” “Microphone not allowed,” “Location denied,” or a site that just won’t prompt you again.

Let’s reset the right settings without guessing.

Before you start: decide which permission is failing (camera, mic, location, notifications) and whether it fails on one site or every site.

1. Confirm the site is actually asking for permission (and not failing earlier)

Many sites won’t trigger the permission prompt until you click a button like Start call, Join meeting, Enable camera, or Share location.

  • Reload the page and try again from the site’s “Start/Join” button.
  • If the page shows a spinner forever, try a different network (some corporate networks block WebRTC/location endpoints).

If it works in another browser on the same device, you’re likely dealing with Safari settings rather than the website.

2. Check Safari’s per-website permission (the most common “stuck” setting)

Translucent website settings card with camera and mic icons
Safari can remember a prior choice (Deny/Allow) per site, and that can override everything else.

On iPhone/iPad (iOS/iPadOS):

  • Open the site in Safari.
  • Tap the aA button in the address bar.
  • Tap Website Settings.
  • Look for Camera, Microphone, and Location and set them to Ask (or Allow if you trust the site).

On Mac (macOS Safari):

  • Safari menu → Settings (or Preferences) → Websites.
  • Choose Camera, Microphone, or Location in the left sidebar.
  • Find the site on the right and change it to Ask or Allow.

If the site isn’t listed, load it once, then come back to this panel.

3. Check device-level privacy permissions (Safari can’t override these)

If the device has blocked Safari from using a sensor, the site will never get access even if you click “Allow.”

On iPhone/iPad:

  • Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → ensure Safari is enabled (if present).
  • Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → ensure Safari is enabled (if present).
  • Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → ensure it’s ON, then check Safari/Website entries (if shown) and allow while using.

On Mac:

  • Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  • Open Camera, Microphone, and Location Services and confirm Safari is allowed.

One quick test: open a different trusted site that uses the same permission (another video call site, or a simple “what is my location” test). If nothing works anywhere, it’s almost always device-level.

4. Turn off blockers that interfere with permission prompts (temporarily)

Shield icon and blocker piece on glass panels
Content blockers and privacy settings can stop scripts that trigger the permission dialog, especially on embedded video widgets.

  • Temporarily disable content blockers for the site (iPhone/iPad: aA → Turn Off Content Blockers).
  • If you use an extension (Mac), disable it for the site or disable the extension briefly and retry.
  • If the permission is requested inside an embedded frame (like an embedded meeting), try opening the meeting in a new tab directly from the provider.

If it works after disabling a blocker, re-enable it and whitelist only that site.

5. Reset Safari’s stored permissions and website data for just that site

If Safari has an old “Deny” decision or corrupted site data, you may need a clean slate.

On iPhone/iPad:

  • Settings → Safari → Advanced → Website Data.
  • Search for the site and delete it, or remove related entries.
  • Then reopen Safari, load the site, and try again so it prompts fresh.

On Mac:

  • Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data.
  • Search the site → Remove.
  • Reload the site and retry the permission request.

This usually fixes “it never asks again” situations.

6. Check private browsing, multiple tabs, and system restrictions

These edge cases cause a surprising number of “blocked” reports:

  • Private Browsing: some sites behave differently; try a normal tab.
  • Multiple tabs using the camera/mic: close other tabs/apps that might be using the mic/camera (FaceTime, Zoom, Teams) and retry.
  • Screen Time / restrictions: iPhone/iPad Settings → Screen Time can restrict camera, web content, or privacy permissions.
  • Managed devices (work/school): MDM profiles can enforce “deny” for camera/mic/location in Safari.

If it’s a work device and the setting looks locked/greyed out, you’ll need your admin to change the policy.

Final thoughts

Most Safari permission issues come down to a saved per-site “Deny” or a device-level privacy block that Safari can’t override.

Once you set the site to Ask/Allow and confirm Safari is allowed in system privacy settings, the prompt usually returns immediately.