How to Manage Persistent Site Permissions in Firefox

This article provides a straightforward guide on how to control persistent website permissions in the Mozilla Firefox web browser. You will learn how to grant, modify, and revoke continuous access to your geolocation, camera, and microphone using both the quick address bar controls for individual websites and the global Privacy & Security settings menu for managing all saved sites at once.

Understanding Persistent Permissions

When a website requests access to your camera, microphone, or location, Firefox displays a pop-up prompt. If you check the box labeled Remember this decision before clicking Allow or Block, that permission becomes persistent. Firefox will no longer ask for your permission on future visits to that specific site.

Method 1: Manage Permissions for a Single Website

If you are currently on the website you want to manage, you can change its persistent permissions directly from the address bar.

  1. Navigate to the website in Firefox.
  2. Click the Permissions icon (which looks like sliders) or the Padlock icon located on the left side of the address bar.
  3. Look at the Permissions section in the drop-down menu. You will see the current persistent settings for your camera, microphone, or location.
  4. Click the X next to the specific permission (such as "Allowed" or "Blocked") to clear the persistent setting.
  5. Refresh the page if you want the website to ask for your permission again.

Method 2: Manage Permissions for All Websites

To view a complete list of all websites that have persistent access to your hardware and location data, use the main Firefox settings menu.

  1. Click the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Click on Privacy & Security in the left-hand menu.
  4. Scroll down to the Permissions section. Here you will find rows for Location, Camera, and Microphone.

Modifying Specific Hardware and Location Access

Next to Location, Camera, or Microphone, click the Settings... button to open the management window for that specific feature. Inside this window, you can take the following actions:

  • Change Status: Find a website in the list and use the drop-down menu next to it to switch its persistent status between Allow and Block.
  • Remove a Single Site: Click on a website to highlight it, then click the Remove Website button. Firefox will ask for your permission again the next time you visit that site.
  • Remove All Sites: Click the Remove All Websites button to wipe all persistent permissions for that specific feature across the entire browser.
  • Block All Future Requests: Check the box at the bottom that says Block new requests asking to access your [location/camera/microphone]. This prevents any new websites from showing permission pop-ups, while keeping the rules for the websites already on your list.
  1. Click Save Changes at the bottom right of the window to apply your new settings.