diff --git a/src/app/features/call/PrescreenControls.tsx b/src/app/features/call/PrescreenControls.tsx
index 1174bbf1c..f313fec7f 100644
--- a/src/app/features/call/PrescreenControls.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/call/PrescreenControls.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { Box, Button, Icon, Icons, Spinner, Text } from 'folds';
 import { SequenceCard } from '../../components/sequence-card';
 import * as css from './styles.css';
@@ -7,6 +7,28 @@ import { useIsDirectRoom, useRoom } from '../../hooks/useRoom';
 import { useCallEmbed, useCallJoined, useCallStart } from '../../hooks/useCallEmbed';
 import { useCallPreferences } from '../../state/hooks/callPreferences';
 
+type MediaPermState = 'granted' | 'denied' | 'prompt' | 'unknown';
+
+function useMediaPermissions(): MediaPermState {
+  const [state, setState] = useState<MediaPermState>('unknown');
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!navigator.permissions) {
+      setState('unknown');
+      return;
+    }
+    navigator.permissions
+      .query({ name: 'microphone' as PermissionName })
+      .then((result) => {
+        setState(result.state as MediaPermState);
+        result.onchange = () => setState(result.state as MediaPermState);
+      })
+      .catch(() => setState('unknown'));
+  }, []);
+
+  return state;
+}
+
 type PrescreenControlsProps = {
   canJoin?: boolean;
 };
@@ -21,7 +43,10 @@ export function PrescreenControls({ canJoin }: PrescreenControlsProps) {
   const startCall = useCallStart(direct);
   const joining = callEmbed?.roomId === room.roomId && !callJoined;
 
-  const disabled = inOtherCall || !canJoin;
+  const micPermission = useMediaPermissions();
+  const micDenied = micPermission === 'denied';
+
+  const disabled = inOtherCall || !canJoin || micDenied;
 
   const { microphone, video, sound, toggleMicrophone, toggleVideo, toggleSound } =
     useCallPreferences();
@@ -45,7 +70,12 @@ export function PrescreenControls({ canJoin }: PrescreenControlsProps) {
         <VideoButton enabled={video} onToggle={toggleVideo} />
         <ChatButton />
       </Box>
-      <Box grow="Yes" direction="Column">
+      <Box grow="Yes" direction="Column" gap="200">
+        {micDenied && (
+          <Text size="T200" style={{ color: 'var(--tc-critical-high, #e53e3e)', textAlign: 'center' }}>
+            Microphone access is blocked. Enable it in your browser settings to join.
+          </Text>
+        )}
         <Button
           variant={disabled ? 'Secondary' : 'Success'}
           fill={disabled ? 'Soft' : 'Solid'}