Quick Answer
To see which apps can use your Mac’s camera or microphone, open Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security. Select Camera or Microphone to view the permission list.
- An enabled switch means the app is allowed to use that device.
- An app that is not listed has not requested access, or macOS has not detected its request.
- Turn off an app’s switch to revoke access. You may need to quit and reopen the app before the change takes effect.
macOS normally asks for permission the first time an app tries to use your camera or microphone. Reviewing these settings helps you remove access that an app no longer needs.
Open Camera and Microphone Privacy Settings
The exact layout can vary slightly between macOS releases, but the controls are located in Privacy & Security.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Select System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
- Scroll through the list of privacy controls.
- Select Camera to review camera permissions, or select Microphone to review microphone permissions.
You must unlock some privacy settings before changing them. If macOS displays a lock or asks for authentication, enter your Mac login password or use Touch ID.
Check Which Apps Can Access Your Camera
The Camera page shows apps that have asked to use a camera connected to or built into your Mac.
- Open System Settings.
- Select Privacy & Security.
- Click Camera.
- Review the list of apps.
- Check the switch beside each app.
An enabled switch gives that app permission to use the camera. A disabled switch prevents the app from accessing it through the normal macOS privacy system.
Revoke camera access
To stop an app from using your camera:
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
- Find the app in the list.
- Turn off the switch beside the app.
- Quit and reopen the app if it was running.
Turning off permission does not uninstall the app or delete its settings. It only blocks camera access until you allow it again.
What the camera indicator means
When an app uses your Mac’s built-in camera, macOS displays a green camera indicator in the menu bar. On some Macs, the indicator may appear as part of the Control Center or menu-bar status area.
The indicator tells you that the camera is active, but it does not necessarily identify every app involved. Use System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera to review which apps are authorized.
A permission setting does not mean an app is using the camera constantly. It means the app is allowed to request or use the camera when its features require it.
Check Which Apps Can Access Your Microphone
The Microphone page lists apps that have requested permission to record audio through your Mac’s microphone.
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security.
- Select Microphone.
- Review every app shown.
- Turn off access for apps that do not need to record audio.
This setting covers microphone input, including audio used by video calls, recording tools, voice chat, dictation-related features, and other apps that capture sound.
Revoke microphone access
- Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Locate the app you want to restrict.
- Turn off the switch beside it.
- Quit and reopen the app.
If you are currently in a call or recording, stopping microphone access may interrupt that activity. If the recording or call contains unsaved work, save it first before changing the permission.
What the microphone indicator means
When an app uses the microphone, macOS shows an orange microphone indicator in the menu bar or Control Center area. This indicates that audio input is active.
The orange indicator does not mean that an app has permission to use the camera. Camera and microphone access are separate permissions, so review both lists if you are checking an app used for video calls or recording.
How to Decide Which Permissions to Remove
You do not need to disable every permission. Instead, check whether each app has a reasonable need for camera or microphone access.
Consider turning off access when:
- You no longer use the app.
- The app does not have a camera or audio feature.
- You installed the app for a one-time task.
- You do not recognize the app.
- You prefer to approve access only when needed.
- The app continues using the device when you are not actively using that feature.
Common apps that may legitimately need access include video-conferencing software, web browsers used for online meetings, recording apps, streaming tools, and communication apps. A browser may appear in the list because a website requested camera or microphone access through it.
If you are unsure about an app, turn off its access temporarily. Reopen the app and use the feature that needs the camera or microphone. macOS should ask for permission again if the app needs access and is permitted to request it.
Camera and Microphone Permissions Are Separate
Allowing an app to use your camera does not automatically give it microphone access. The opposite is also true.
For example:
- An app may be allowed to use the camera but blocked from using the microphone.
- An audio recorder may have microphone access but no reason to request the camera.
- A browser may have both permissions because websites can request video and audio.
When checking a video-call app, review both Camera and Microphone. If only one permission is enabled, the app may provide video without audio, or audio without video.
Manage Permissions for Websites in a Browser
A browser can request camera and microphone access on behalf of a website. In that situation, you may need to manage access in two places:
- System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera or Microphone, where you control the browser’s system permission.
- The browser’s own website settings, where you control individual sites.
If a website cannot use your camera or microphone, first confirm that the browser itself is allowed to access the device in System Settings. Then open the browser’s settings and review the permissions for that specific website.
Removing a website’s permission in the browser does not necessarily remove the browser’s macOS permission. For a complete review, check both levels.
What to Do When an App Is Not Listed
An app usually appears in the Camera or Microphone list after it requests access. If it is not listed, one of the following may be true:
- The app has never tried to use the device.
- The app uses a different audio or video input.
- The app is running through another program, such as a browser.
- The app was installed or updated but has not yet requested permission.
- The app is unable to access the device for another reason.
Open the app and use its camera or microphone feature. When macOS displays a permission request, choose Allow or Don’t Allow based on your preference.
If no request appears, check the app’s own settings for an input-device selection. Some apps cannot use the camera or microphone until you select a source or enable a call, recording, or meeting feature.
Troubleshooting Camera and Microphone Permissions
An app cannot access the camera or microphone
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Select Camera or Microphone.
- Confirm that the app’s switch is enabled.
- Quit the app completely and reopen it.
- Check the app’s own audio and video settings.
- Confirm that the correct camera or microphone is selected.
Some apps do not update their permission status until they are restarted. If the problem continues, restart your Mac and test again.
For more camera-specific steps, see How to Fix the Camera Not Working on a Mac. For microphone problems, see How to Fix the Microphone Not Working on a Mac.
The permission switch is unavailable
A switch may be unavailable if:
- You are not using an administrator account.
- A work or school administrator manages the Mac.
- The app is controlled by system or organizational policies.
- macOS needs authentication before allowing changes.
Try authenticating when prompted. If the setting remains unavailable, contact the person or organization that manages the Mac. Do not remove management profiles or alter administrative controls unless you are authorized to do so.
The app keeps asking for permission
Repeated permission requests can occur when:
- You selected Don’t Allow and the app needs access again.
- The app has separate components that request access individually.
- The app was updated or reinstalled.
- A website is requesting access through a browser.
- The app’s settings or installation is damaged.
Check the permission list first. If access is enabled but the request continues, quit the app, reopen it, and install available updates from the developer. For a browser, review the permissions for the specific website as well as the browser’s macOS permission.
The camera or microphone is being used unexpectedly
If the green camera indicator or orange microphone indicator appears when you are not intentionally using either device:
- Stop calls, recordings, and streaming sessions.
- Quit apps that may use audio or video.
- Review System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
- Review System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Turn off access for apps you do not recognize or no longer need.
- Restart your Mac if the indicator remains after all relevant apps are closed.
Also check open browser tabs and web apps. A browser tab may be responsible even when the site is not obvious.
Removing access did not immediately stop an app
Changing a permission may not interrupt an active session immediately. Quit the app and reopen it after changing the switch. If necessary, restart your Mac.
Before quitting an app, save any unsaved documents, recordings, or meeting notes. Force quitting can cause unsaved work to be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off camera access uninstall an app?
No. It only prevents the app from using the camera. The app and its files remain on your Mac.
Does microphone permission allow an app to record whenever it wants?
Permission allows the app to access microphone input, but it does not mean the app is actively recording all the time. The orange microphone indicator appears when the microphone is in use.
Can I block camera access but allow microphone access?
Yes. Camera and microphone permissions are controlled separately in Privacy & Security.
Why is an app missing from the permission list?
The app may not have requested access yet, may use another app such as a browser, or may not support the device feature you are trying to use. Open the relevant feature and look for a permission request.
Will an app ask for permission again after I turn access off?
It may. If the app requests access again, macOS displays a new prompt. You can allow or deny the request based on what the app needs.
How can I check whether a website can use my camera or microphone?
Check the browser’s permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security, then review the individual website’s permissions in the browser. Both settings can affect access.
Final Thoughts
Use System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and Microphone to review Mac camera and microphone permissions. Disable access for apps that no longer need it, and restart an app after changing its permission. For browser-based calls, check both macOS permissions and the browser’s individual website settings.