WebRTC allows in-browser audio and video data exchange without the need to install extra plugins or applications, while your browser obtains access to your camera and microphone. With the help of WebRTC you can participate in video meetings, hold webinars, set up video-enabled contact centers, etc.
Sometimes, WebRTC connection is not required or its usage is prohibited by the company’s security policies (e.g. to prevent your browser from accessing your hardware). This article describes how to disable WebRTC in popular browsers.
Table of Contents
Checking WebRTC
To check if WebRTC is enabled in your browser, proceed to https://browserleaks.com/webrtc webpage. If it is enabled, True value will be displayed in the WebRTC Support Detection section (RTCPeerConnection and RTCDataChannel). If it is disabled, False value will be displayed in both lines.
Desktop browsers
Google Chrome
To disable WebRTC in Chrome, you need to install an extension. Open Google Apps in your browser’s menu and install the WebRTC Control extension. It will be activated once it is installed. You can enable/disable it by clicking on the icon in the browser menu.
Mozilla Firefox
To disable WebRTC in Firefox, you can use your browser settings editor.
- Enter
about:configin the address field
- Enter
media.peerconnection.enabledparameter in the search field. - Click twice on the line that appears. The status will change to false.
Microsoft Edge
Edge browser is based on the Chromium engine, so you can install extensions from the Chrome store. Proceed to Extensions page (edge://extensions/) and check “Allow extensions from other stores” box.
Afterward, you will be able to install the WebRTC Control extension as it was previously explained for Google Chrome.
Opera
To disable WebRTC in Opera, you need to install the WebRTC Control extension from Opera add-ons website addons.opera.com.
Mobile browsers
Google Chrome
Unfortunately, it is impossible to disable WebRTC in Google Chrome for mobile devices. Perhaps, it can be changed as soon as Google allows users to install extensions. In case you need a mobile browser on Android or iOS devices without WebRTC support, you can use other solutions, e.g. Firefox Mobile.
Mozilla Firefox
You can disable WebRTC in the mobile version of Firefox in the same way you do this for desktop version by visiting about:config
