Browser permissions blocked before an online assessment?

Your assessment is about to start, but the browser says it cannot use your camera or microphone, or it never shows a permission prompt. Check what the browser reports first, then work out whether the block is on the assessment site, in your computer settings, or in the device itself.

The Browser Info tool shows browser-reported permission states. You can also test your camera and microphone separately, so you do not have to guess whether the assessment page or the device is the problem.

Check browser permissions

1. Open Browser Info and review the permission information, especially camera and microphone. Note whether each is allowed, denied, or awaiting a decision.
2. Open the assessment page in the same browser and check whether it requests camera or microphone access. Allow access only if you are on the assessment provider's expected site and the assessment requires that device.
3. If no prompt appears, open the site controls at the left of the address bar. Review the camera and microphone permissions for that site. Browser labels vary, but the site controls lead to its permissions or site settings.
4. Test the devices separately with the Camera Test and, if needed, the Microphone Test. A camera preview or a moving microphone meter shows that the browser can receive input from that device.

Use the same browser profile for Browser Info and the assessment. A permission saved in one browser, profile, or website address does not necessarily apply in another. For example, a decision for example.com may not cover a separate assessment subdomain.

What the result means

The permission is denied

The browser has a saved block for that permission, often for the assessment site's address. The assessment page usually cannot ask again until you change the saved site permission. Check that the address is correct, then use the fixes below to allow access for that site.

The permission is waiting for a decision

The browser has not recorded an allow or deny decision. Return to the assessment page and look for a prompt, including near the address bar. If there is no prompt, the page may not have requested access yet, may use a different site address, or may not support the feature in that browser.

The permission is allowed, but the assessment still cannot use the device

An allowed browser permission is only one part of access. Windows or macOS can also block the browser, another app may be using the camera or microphone, or the assessment may have selected a different device. Check system privacy settings and the device selection in the assessment.

The standalone test works, but the assessment does not

If the Camera Test shows a preview or the Microphone Test detects sound, the browser can access that device on TooLab. This points toward a site-specific permission, assessment setting, browser compatibility issue, or a restriction set by your school or employer. It does not prove that the assessment itself supports your browser.

The standalone test cannot access the device

Look for a browser permission block first. If the browser allows access but the test still fails, check the operating system's privacy settings, connect or unmute the device, and close other apps that may be using it. A browser test cannot diagnose a broken camera sensor or microphone circuit by itself.

How to fix it

1. Allow the assessment site. On the assessment page, open the site controls next to the address bar and change Camera or Microphone to allow, if required. Chrome and Edge also list these permissions under Settings › Privacy and security › Site settings in Chrome, or Settings › Cookies and site permissions in Edge. Find the assessment site's entry rather than changing access for every site.
2. Check the operating system permission. In Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Camera and Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. Turn on device access and access for desktop apps if your browser needs it. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera and System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone, then allow the browser you use.
3. Check the selected device. If more than one camera or microphone is connected, choose the intended one in the assessment's device settings. On Windows 11, check Settings › System › Sound for the microphone input. On macOS, check System Settings › Sound › Input.
4. Close other apps using the device. Quit video meeting, recording, and camera apps, then reload the assessment page. A device can be busy or unavailable even when its browser permission is allowed.
5. Reset a saved site decision. If you see no prompt after changing settings, set the site's camera or microphone permission back to ask, reload the page, and respond to the new prompt. Do this only for the assessment site's correct address.
6. Try the required browser or contact support. Follow the assessment provider's browser requirements. On a managed school or work computer, an administrator may control permissions, so contact the organization's support team rather than trying to bypass the policy.

On an Android phone, check Settings › Apps › Chrome › Permissions for camera and microphone access, then review the site's permission in Chrome. On an iPhone or iPad, check Settings › Apps › Safari for camera and microphone access where available. Some assessments do not support phones, so confirm the provider's instructions before troubleshooting further.

Browser permission is not the same as assessment support

Browsers ask for camera and microphone access separately for each site. The operating system may ask for its own permission too. A site can also choose not to request a device until you reach a particular step, so a waiting state in Browser Info is not automatically a fault.

Browser Info reports what the browser exposes about permissions and supported features. It cannot confirm that a particular assessment accepts your browser, account, or device. If the browser and system both allow access but the assessment remains blocked, send the assessment provider the exact error and browser name and version, without sharing a recording or private assessment content.

The camera and microphone tests run in your browser. Microphone Test recordings stay on your device.