Whenever you visit a website, it needs many permissions to use the features that you need. For example, showing advertisements, using camera and using the clipboard on your computer – all needs permission from the browser. This is essential to protect your privacy and inform you what kind of information a website access on your computer. Google Chrome has a settings page where you can customize the permission of the websites. In this article, we will explain how to setup website permissions in Google Chrome and customize as per your need.
Related: How to setup file permissions in Windows 10?
Setup Website Permissions in Google Chrome
There are multiple ways you can setup website permissions in Google Chrome and manage them.
- Setup global permissions for all websites
- Managing previously viewed website’s permission
- Manage individual site permission from address bar
- Add website for allowing or blocking permissions
Let us explain all options in detail and you can use the convenient method for you.
1. Setup Browser Level Permissions
You can setup the global or browser level permissions from Chrome settings page. Chrome will apply the preferences on the settings page to all the websites you visit on the browser.
- Access the settings page by clicking on the three dots button on the top right corner saying “Customize and control Google Chrome” and choosing “Settings” option. Alternatively, go to “chrome://settings/” command URL on the address bar to open settings page.
- Google will show lots of basic and advanced options on the settings page. Go to “Privacy and security” section and click on “Site Settings” option.
- The “Site Settings” section will show two sections – “All sites” and “Permissions”
- Under the “Permissions” section, you can choose how the websites should behave on your browser.
- For example, click on the “Microphone” option. The default permission in Chrome for Microphone access is “Ask before accessing”. This will force all websites to show you a prompt before using the microphone on your computer. You can decide to allow or block the website depending on your need.
- You can also turn off the slider to permanently block the microphone access for all websites on Chrome.
Similarly, you can setup permissions at browser level for advertisements, pop-ups, notifications, etc.
2. Allow or Block Individual Website Permissions
Chrome also allows you to block specific websites from accessing your private data. When you are in the above permissions section, you will see “Block” and “Allow” subsections for each permission.
- Click on the “Add” button against allow or block option to setup individual website’s permission for that option.
- You can add wildcard domain to block or allow all subdomains of that site with single entry.
- Remember, not all permissions are relevant for allowing or blocking. For example, “Zoom Levels” will show the zoom percentage you setup for the specific websites. You have the option to delete the zoom level which makes the website to show with the default browser’s zoom setting.
3. Go to Website Permissions from Address Bar
Allowing or blocking individual websites under corresponding sections of “Site Settings” is a tedious task. You have to choose the permissions one by one and add websites manually. When you want to control the permissions of specific websites, you can directly setup the options for that site from the address bar.
- Open the website you want to setup permission in Google Chrome browser.
- Chrome will show an icon left side of the URL. For a secured site, it will show a pad lock and for a non-secured site, it will show an information icon with “Not Secure” message.
- Click on the lock or information icon and choose “Site settings” option to open content settings for that site.
- You can enable or disable site-specific settings from the list. Chrome will automatically add your permissions to the settings page.
In this manner, you can setup all the permissions for a website on a single page without navigating front and back.
Related: How to protect your privacy in Google Chrome?
4. Managing Previously Viewed Website’s Permissions
Many websites show pop-ups and push notifications when you visit. Over the period, you may forget the preference you have chosen for the website. Fortunately, Chrome stores all permissions granted to previously viewed websites under the settings page. This is available locally on your computer that helps you to analyze the permission data without internet connection.
- When you are in “Site Settings” page, click on the “View permissions and data stored across sites” under “All sites” section.
- Here you can view the permissions granted to all the websites. You can sort and use the search box to filter specific websites.
- Chrome stores website permission under each domain, you can click on it to view all the subdomains related data.
- Click on the site you want to view the permission data.
- Similar to browser level settings, here you can choose to allow or block the permission for the specific website you have selected.
If you are not sure the previously provided permission, click on the “Reset permissions” button to reset all the permissions similar to your global settings page. In addition, you can also click on the “Clear data” button to delete all cookies stored by that site on Chrome.
What Website Permissions You Can Setup in Chrome?
Below is the list of permissions you can setup in Google Chrome for any website. The “Allow” and “Block” columns indicate whether you can setup the permission from the settings page for individual website. If it is not allowed, the website will follow the global permissions and you can only provide exemptions when the site prompts you on the browser.
| Permission | Description | Allow | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookies and site data | Allow websites to save and read cookie data on the browser | Yes | Yes |
| Location | Access and share the location | No | No |
| Camera | Access computer’s camera | No | No |
| Microphone | Access microphone on your computer | No | No |
| Motion sensors | Allow sites to use motion sensors | No | No |
| Notifications | Websites can send push notifications | Yes | Yes |
| JavaScript | Enable or disable JavaScript on the site | Yes | Yes |
| Flash | Block sites from running Flash | No | No |
| Images | Block or show images | Yes | Yes |
| Pop-ups and redirects | Allow pop-ups and redirects | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Block intrusive ads | No | No |
| Background sync | Allow recently closed sites to finish sending and receiving data | Yes | Yes |
| Sound | Allow sites to play sound | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic downloads | Allow sites to download files automatically after asking first file | Yes | Yes |
| Unsandboxed plugin access | Access computer using plugin | Yes | Yes |
| Handlers | Allow sites to become default handlers for protocols | No | No |
| MIDI devices | Use system exclusive messages to access MIDI devices | No | No |
| Zoom levels | Zoom level for website | No | No |
| USB devices | Site can access USB devices | No | No |
| Serial ports | Site can access serial ports | No | No |
| File editing | Allow sites to edit files and folders on your computer | No | No |
| PDF documents | Download PDF instead of opening in Chrome | No | No |
| Protected content | Allow sites to play protected content | No | No |
| Clipboard | Allow sites to access computer’c clipboard | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Handlers | Allow to install payment handlers | Yes | Yes |
| Insecure content | Show insecure content | Yes | Yes |
If the above permissions are not sufficient for you, check out the Chrome Web Store for extensions to improve your privacy.
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