'Permission denied' when sharing your screen

This is part of the answers hub. A "permission denied" (or NotAllowedError) on screen share means the browser refused the capture request. There are only a couple of causes, and both are quick to clear.

What the error means

When a page asks to capture your screen, the browser shows a picker so you choose what to share. If you dismiss that picker, or you previously clicked Block for the site, the capture request is rejected and the page receives a permission error. The browser is doing its job: screen capture is privacy-sensitive, so nothing is shared without an explicit pick.

Re-granting access

Chrome / Edge. Click the tune or lock icon at the left of the address bar → find Screen share or reset permissions for the site → reload the page → trigger capture again and choose a window in the picker.

Firefox. Click the permissions icon in the address bar → clear the blocked screen-sharing permission → reload → retry.

Safari. Open Safari → Settings → Websites → Screen Sharing, set the site to Ask or Allow, then reload. On macOS you may also need to grant the browser itself screen-recording access under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording.

The picker comes back every time, and that's normal

There is no permanent "always allow" for screen capture. Unlike camera and microphone, browsers intentionally re-show the surface picker on every capture so you re-confirm what's being shared. Picking a window each time isn't a bug.

When it isn't a permission problem

If you don't see a picker at all, the cause is usually upstream of permissions: an insecure connection or an unsupported browser. Work through screen capture isn't working instead.

Frequently asked questions

Does dismissing the share prompt count as denying it?

Yes. If you press Escape or click outside the picker instead of choosing a window, the browser treats it as a denial for that attempt. That alone doesn't permanently block the site, but clicking 'Block' does.

I never see a prompt at all, is that the same error?

Not quite. No prompt usually means an insecure (non-HTTPS) page or an unsupported browser, not a denied permission. See the screen-capture-not-working page for that path.

Why does the picker reappear every single time?

That's expected. For privacy, browsers re-prompt for screen capture on every new capture session. There's no permanent 'always allow screen share' grant the way there is for camera or microphone. You pick the surface each time.