When verifying your identity, you may need to grant permission for your device to access your camera. This way, you can take a photo of yourself or your identification documents. Granting permission to use your device’s camera varies by browser and device type, such as a mobile device or computer. This article explains how to grant permission to your device’s camera.
Grant permissions on mobile devices
If you accidentally or initially blocked access to your camera, you will see a dark screen when you try to take a selfie. Change your device’s permission to ensure you can take a photo.
To grant permissions to your camera on an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to your home screen and tap Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Camera.
- Turn on the toggle for the web browser you are using to verify your identity.
- Go back to the browser where you started your identity verification process. Refresh the window and retry taking a selfie.
For steps to manage your camera permissions on an iPhone, visit Apple’s documentation.
To grant permissions to your camera on an Android device:
- On your Android device, go to the home page and tap Settings.
- Tap Apps & notifications.
- Tap the icon for the web browser you are using.
- Tap Permissions.
- Turn on permissions for camera.
- Return to the web page and refresh the screen to try to take a selfie.
For steps to manage your camera permissions on Android devices while using Google Chrome, visit Google’s documentation.
Grant permissions on computers
If you get an error message like the two below, it means that your device's settings are preventing the browser you are using from accessing your device's camera.
To grant access to your device’s camera, follow the steps below.
To grant access when using Safari or other browser on a Mac:
- Your browser will ask you if you want to allow this page to have access to your camera.
- To allow access, select Allow. This is usually shown at the top of your browser.
If you accidentally or initially blocked access to your camera:
- When prompted to grant your web browser permission to use your camera, go to the top left of your browser and select Safari.
- In the dropdown menu, select Preferences. This opens a ”Websites” window.
- Select Camera. View the list of “Configured Websites” on the right side of the window.
- On the right of api.id.me, under Configured Websites, from the dropdown menu, select Allow.
- Close or exit out of the “Websites” window.
- Select Try Again. If the button doesn’t display, refresh your browser.
Tip: If nothing changes when you select Try Again, try refreshing your screen by selecting the refresh button.
Grant permissions for other browsers on Mac
If you accidentally or initially blocked access to your camera:
- Go to the top left corner of your computer screen to find and select the Apple icon.
- Select System Preferences.
- Select Security & Privacy or search "Security & Privacy" in the search bar located in the top right of the window.
- On the left side of the window, locate and select Camera. This shows which apps are allowed to access your camera.
- To allow access, check the box next to the app name (i.e. Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.). When you check the box next to the browser, you will be asked to quit the app now or later.
- Select Quit Now to apply changes. The next time you launch the app, you should no longer be prompted to grant your web browser permission to use your camera.
To grant access when using Google Chrome:
- Your browser will ask you if you want to allow this page to have access to your camera.
- To allow access, select Allow. This is usually shown in the top left corner of your browser.
If you accidentally or initially blocked access to your camera:
- When prompted to grant your web browser permission to use your camera, go to the top right of your browser window and select the “camera with an X” icon.
- Select Always Allow to access your camera.
- Select Done.
- Select Try Again, as shown below.
