How to turn your phone into a webcam (2024): Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android

I’m tired of looking Like the dotted dot on your Zoom calls? Why use the annoying, small, low-quality webcam built into your laptop when you have a really great camera Smartphone camera In your pocket? It’s become very easy to use your smartphone as a webcam these days, and some options don’t require you to connect anything. We’ve detailed how to do this whether you have an iPhone or Android, or on Windows or Mac.

We also have instructions for Using a professional camera or GoPro To handle the same task. If you don’t want to deal with apps, check out our website Best webcams Guide.

Updated June 2024: We’ve re-examined each selection, removed outdated methods, and added steps for Pixel and Motorola phones.

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How to make a video call using only your phone

Before turning your smartphone into a webcam for your computer, the obvious thing might be to try using your smartphone to run a video meeting. Services like Zoom in, Google is deadAnd Microsoft Teams Generally Android and iPhone apps are available. All you have to do is install the app, log in, and use your phone’s selfie camera and microphone to participate in the meeting.

Whether you do this or follow our methods below, invest in a small tripod to support your phone so you don’t have to balance it against a stack of books. the Gobi Grape Tight It is a popular and affordable tripod with legs that can twist to remain stable on almost any surface, although a A height-adjustable tripod like this one It may be a better option. Lume Cube mini palette It’s also a nice way to brighten your face.

Ways to use your phone as a webcam

You can use a video conferencing app on your phone if you quickly want to sit in a meeting and listen in every now and then, but you’ll need a better system if you’re giving a presentation and have to share your screen. This is where turning your smartphone into a webcam can help.

General advice: Make sure to close your favorite video conferencing application when installing the webcam client on your desktop or laptop computer. You may need to restart the application or restart your computer for everything to work.

A successful solution — whether you have an iPhone, Android, Mac, or Windows, in any combination — is a service called Re-embracing Camus. It’s compatible with more than 40 video calling apps, from Google Meet and Zoom to FaceTime and Discord. The steps below will work if you’re trying to connect an Android device to a Mac, an iPhone to a Windows PC, or vice versa.

Image: Re-Embracing Camus

Steps to prepare camouflage:

1. download Camo application On your Mac or Windows device. Then download the application on internal control Department or Android. Android phones must be running iOS 7.0 or later, and iPhones must be running iOS 12 or later. It will work with Windows 7 (64-bit) or later, and macOS 10.13 or later. (Camus too Works with iPad devices.)
2. Run the application on your computer and smartphone. Camo supports wireless video transfer, so all you have to do is tap the Wi-Fi icon in the Camo app on your phone (after allowing it to use the microphone and camera), and a QR code scanner should pop up. In the desktop client, click the drop-down menu below device And choose Pair a device. You should see a QR code. Scan it and your phone should connect immediately. Go to step 4 if this works.
3. If you don’t want to go the wireless route, connect a cable from your phone to your computer – and make sure it’s a data-supported cable (Not all USB-C cables support data transfer). (If you have problems, try a different cable.) For Android phones that connect to a Windows computer, you’ll need to enable USB debugging mode. To do this, head to Settings > About the phone Then press Complete the number Seven times to enable developer mode. Once you run it, you can find it in Settings > System > Developer mode, although some navigation menus may vary based on your Android phone. Scroll down to find USB debugging And turn it on. You may see a pop-up asking if you want to allow USB debugging. If it doesn’t work, disconnect the cable and plug it back in again. Want to connect your Android device to your Mac? Turn off USB debugging. If you’ve never turned it on, you should be ready to go, or head into developer mode again and turn it off. iPhones connected to Windows or Mac computers should not require additional steps (tap trust If the pop-up appears on your phone).
4. You should now start seeing the rear camera feed on the Camo desktop app. If you don’t, and you’re connected via a wire, disconnect the cable from your phone, then restart the Camo app on your computer And phone. Plug it back in and you will see the conclusion.
5. Go to your video conferencing app device settings and choose Camo Like a video camera, it should show your phone’s camera feed. You can also change the default microphone to Camo if you want to use your phone as a microphone.

You get quite a few options to choose from in the Camo desktop app to customize your video streaming. This includes 720p video quality and zoom options, and you can Remove watermark. Much of this is free, but unfortunately, you’ll need to pay for it Camo Pro for several Elegant featuressuch as 4K recording, the ability to switch lenses, and photo mode (iPhone owners would likely be better off with Apple’s continuous camera, which we detail below). Camo offers a few payment options: a lifetime license ($100), an annual subscription ($50), or a monthly subscription ($9).

Apple’s Continuity Camera lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, without the need for external software. Your iPhone must be turned on iOS 16 or laterAnd your Mac must be turned on MacOS 13 Ventura or later. (iOS 16 isn’t available for iPhone 7 or earlier, so you’ll need to upgrade your device.)

When you open a video calling app with an iPhone nearby, you’ll see a pop-up window explaining that you can use your iPhone as a webcam. The first time I tried switching the camera, it didn’t work, but restarting my phone and MacBook did the job.