Troubleshooting Camera Permissions

Triage & Troubleshooting Guide: Camera Permission Issues

1. Identify the Issue

  • What browser and device are you using (e.g., Chrome on Windows, Safari on iPhone)?
  • What error message (if any) do you see when trying to access the camera?
  • Has camera access worked before on this device?

2. Quick Checks

  • Is the camera physically blocked or in use by another app?
  • Is the browser up to date? (Outdated browsers can block permissions.)

3. Browser Permission Troubleshooting

Chrome (Desktop & Android)

  • Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  • Select “Site settings.”
  • Find “Camera” and set to “Allow.”
  • Refresh the page and try again.

Safari (iOS & Mac)

  • On iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Camera > Allow.
  • On Mac: In Safari, go to Preferences > Websites > Camera, and set Folktale to “Allow.”
  • Refresh and retry.

Firefox

  • Click the camera icon in the address bar.
  • Select “Allow” for camera access.
  • If blocked, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Camera > Settings, and allow Folktale.

Edge

  • Click the lock icon in the address bar.
  • Check “Camera” permissions and set to “Allow.”
  • Refresh the page.

4. System-Level Permissions (if browser steps don’t work)

  • Windows:
    • Settings > Privacy > Camera > Allow apps to access your camera (toggle ON).
  • Mac:
    • System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Camera > Make sure browser is checked.

5. Clear Browser Cache & Cookies

  • Sometimes old permissions or settings get stuck.
  • Clear cache and cookies, then restart the browser.

6. Try Incognito/Private Mode or Another Browser

  • This can rule out extensions or saved settings causing issues.

7. Restart Device

  • Sometimes a simple restart resolves hardware access issues.

8. Check for Device-Specific Issues

  • Test the camera on another website (e.g., webcammictest.com) to check if it’s a device, browser or site issue.

9. Escalate if Unresolved

  • Email us at support@folktale.io and please include:
    • Device type & OS version
    • Browser & version
    • Screenshots of error messages
    • Steps already tried