Check the site before you allow anything
A camera prompt is a request from the site currently shown in the address bar. Before choosing Allow, confirm that the domain is the one you intended to open and that the feature explains why it needs video. For Gesture Synth, the camera is used for hand tracking; the core music engine can also be used through keyboard mode without a camera.
Camera and microphone permissions are separate. Allowing video does not automatically grant microphone access. A page should request only the capability it needs, and a browser should make the request visible rather than turning on a camera silently.
Use Gesture Synth without a camera →Understand browser camera permissions →Read the browser-neutral permission guide →
Allow the prompt when Chrome asks
When a compatible page requests camera access, Chrome displays a prompt tied to that site. Choose Allow only if you want the feature to use the selected webcam. If you choose Block, Chrome remembers that decision for the site until you change it. That is expected behavior, not a failure of the page.
If the prompt never appears, do not keep refreshing. The site may already have a stored permission choice, or the camera may be unavailable. Use Chrome site controls first so you can see the current setting before changing anything else.
- Open the intended page over HTTPS and wait for its camera request.
- Confirm the address-bar domain before selecting Allow.
- Select the intended camera if Chrome offers more than one device.
- If you previously blocked the site, use the site controls beside the address bar, change Camera to Allow, then reload.
Review Chrome camera settings when a site stays blocked
Google Chrome Help documents a broader settings path for camera permissions: open Chrome Settings, choose Privacy and security, choose Site settings, then choose Camera. There you can select a default camera and review sites that are allowed or blocked. The exact wording can change between Chrome versions, so use the settings search if the labels differ slightly.
Remove only the exception you want to reset. Clearing every permission may be unnecessary and can sign you out or change unrelated preferences. After changing the setting, return to the page and reload so Chrome can make a fresh media request.
Check the operating system and competing apps
Chrome also needs permission from your operating system to use the physical camera. If Chrome site settings look correct but the preview is black or no camera is listed, inspect the system privacy control for Chrome and make sure camera access is enabled there. A browser cannot override a device-level privacy block.
Close video-call tools, system camera utilities, screen-recording software, and other browser tabs that may hold the webcam. A busy camera can look like a site-permission problem even when Chrome is allowed to use it. Retest after closing the conflict, not while several apps are still competing for the same device.
Set up lighting and framing for hand tracking →Fix hand tracking step by step →Start a keyboard-only session →
Revoke access when you are done
Allowing a camera for one session does not mean you must leave it available forever. Use the same address-bar site controls or Chrome camera settings to block the site later. This is useful on a shared device, after a troubleshooting session, or whenever your preference changes.
For Gesture Synth, revoking the camera does not remove the music workflow. Switch to keyboard mode and you can continue playing without video input. That separation makes it easier to make a privacy choice without losing access to the instrument entirely.
Read Gesture Synth privacy information →Play with keyboard mode →See all Guides →