audio

This permission is for extensions that provide audio-related functionality, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), voice recording, or advanced audio management.

Examples:

• A teleconferencing extension that allows the user to switch between their headset and speakers.
• An extension that provides a global volume mixer for different audio devices.
• A "push-to-talk" extension that needs to mute and unmute the active microphone.

{
  "name": "My Audio Manager",
  "version": "1.0",
  "manifest_version": 3,
  "permissions": [
    "audio"
  ]
}

Why is it not very risky?

This permission allows an extension to see what audio devices you have (like microphones, speakers, and headsets) and to switch between them.

Crucially, it cannot record audio or listen to your microphone on its own. To do that, the extension would have to pop up another request asking for permission to use your microphone. This permission by itself is safe.

This example gets all audio output devices and logs their names.

// background.js or popup.js

async function getAudioDevices() {
  try {
    // chrome.audio.getInfo() was deprecated in Chrome 59. Use getDevices().
    const devices = await chrome.audio.getDevices({
      streamTypes: ['OUTPUT']
    });

    if (devices.length > 0) {
      console.log('Available output devices:');
      devices.forEach(device => {
        console.log(`- ${device.deviceName} (ID: ${device.id})`);
      });
    } else {
      console.log('No audio output devices found.');
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to get audio info:', error);
  }
}

getAudioDevices();