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Firefox won't allow me to permanently allow microphone/camera permissions for a site

RandomSurfer
RandomSurfer
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Hello, Community!

I am currently ill and at high risk for serious COVID complications, so I have to do all of my doctors appointments via telehealth. My various doctors use three different sites for video visits, and I want to give those sites permanent permission to access my camera and microphone, but when I follow the steps I've found online and on the Firefox help/support pages, the permissions only last for the duration of the current call.

For example, when I have a telehealth site pulled up and go to Options > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Camera > Settings from the Firefox browser menu, I can see the name of the site next to a drop-down with the options "Allow," "Always Ask," and "Block." I choose "Allow" and then click "Save Changes," but the minute I finish the video call and close the tab, the website is no longer listed on the camera settings page and the permissions have reverted back to the default ("Block").

It is a huge inconvenience to have to set up a new temporary permission for every telehealth visit, and I really need to find a way to fix this immediately. Today a doctor who refused to go ahead with an important appointment because the office didn't send the link until the last minute, so I couldn't go through the permissions process in advance. They didn't want to wait while I screwed around with my browser settings and moved on to the next patient.

What can I do to give a site permanent access to my camera and mic? Should I just get another browser?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, Community! I am currently ill and at high risk for serious COVID complications, so I have to do all of my doctors appointments via telehealth. My various doctors use three different sites for video visits, and I want to give those sites '''''permanent '''''permission to access my camera and microphone, but when I follow the steps I've found online and on the Firefox help/support pages, the permissions only last for the duration of the current call. For example, when I have a telehealth site pulled up and go to '''Options > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Camera > Settings''' from the Firefox browser menu, I can see the name of the site next to a drop-down with the options "Allow," "Always Ask," and "Block." I choose "Allow" and then click "Save Changes," but the minute I finish the video call and close the tab, the website is no longer listed on the camera settings page and the permissions have reverted back to the default ("Block"). It is a huge inconvenience to have to set up a new temporary permission for every telehealth visit, and I really need to find a way to fix this immediately. Today a doctor who refused to go ahead with an important appointment because the office didn't send the link until the last minute, so I couldn't go through the permissions process in advance. They didn't want to wait while I screwed around with my browser settings and moved on to the next patient. What can I do to give a site permanent access to my camera and mic? Should I just get another browser? Thanks in advance for your help!

All Replies (1)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Hi there, another way to set permissions is through the Page Info dialog. Here's how:

While you are on the relevant page, you can call that up using either:

  • Ctrl+i (for Mac, Command+i)
  • right-click a blank area of the page > View Page Info
  • (menu bar) Tools > Page Info

When the dialog comes up, click the Permission icon at the top to show that panel.

Scroll down to "Use the camera" and uncheck the "Use default" box, and then select "Allow". Repeat with "Use the microphone." There's no Save button, you're done and you can close this dialog now.

If that's not saved, what about other site-specific data like pop-up permission, cookie permission, or video auto-play permission? Is there a more general issue with permissions on your Firefox?

Or are you using automatic private browsing mode? To avoid leaving any record of your browsing, I think this mode might not store site-specific permissions. Most people do not turn this on, but you can double-check on the Options page:

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

In the left column, click Privacy & Security. Then on the right side, scroll down to the History section.

Either of these will turn on automatic private browsing:

  • Setting "Firefox will: Never remember history"
  • Setting "Firefox will: Use custom settings for history" + "[x] Always use private browsing mode"

If you have either one of those, that may be causing the problem. We could give suggestions on how to modify your settings to have Firefox handle history the way you want.