How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for Mac or Windows 11

We rely on video calls to communicate with each other, even for personal or professional purposes. Suppose we turn to our computer’s webcam, and if it’s of poor quality (which most of them are) or damaged, it will be a big problem. Fortunately, there’s a workaround, an easy one to use on your phone as a webcam on Windows 11 and Mac.

Benefits of Using Your Phone as a Webcam

Here are some of the benefits of using your phone as a webcam:

Better video quality: Smartphone cameras have improved much in recent years. Many smartphones now have dual-lens cameras with high megapixel counts. This means they can capture more detail and produce sharper images than older webcams. Additionally, smartphones often have a wider field of view, meaning you can fit more people in the frame.

More flexibility: One of the most significant benefits of using your phone as a webcam is having more flexibility in how you position it. With a built-in webcam, you're limited to the position of your laptop or desktop computer. But with your phone, you can hold it in your hand, prop it up on a table, or even mount it on a tripod. This gives you much control over the angle of your video and the way you look on camera.

Portability: Another great benefit of using your phone as a webcam is it's portable. You can take your phone wherever you go, using it as a webcam even if you're not at your computer. This is great for people who travel frequently or who work from home.

Cost-effectiveness: Using your phone as a webcam is a great way to save money. You don't need to buy a separate webcam; you can use the already-installed apps on your phone. This can be significant savings, especially if you need a webcam for work or school.

Here are some additional tips for using your phone as a webcam:

  • Use a good lighting setup. This will help you look your best on camera.
  • Position your phone at eye level. This will give you a more natural look.
  • Use a tripod or other stabilizing device. This will help to reduce the camera shake.
  • Test your setup before you start your video call or live stream. This will help you make sure that everything is working correctly.

Droidcam is an app that lets you use your phone camera as a webcam on Windows 11 and Linux PCs.

How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

DroidCam is safe to work with third-party video call apps like Zoom, Skype, etc. It is also available on AndroidiOSWindows, and Linux platforms. First, download the app for your respective operating system(s) to use your phone as a webcam.

Having done that, let’s see how using your phone as a webcam works:

How to Set Up DroidCam via WiFi

Install both the phone and the PC client. Start the app on both devices and accept the necessary permissions on the phone.

How To Use Your Phone As a Webcam For PC
Start App – How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Ensure both devices are connected to the same WiFi network to use your phone as a webcam. The DroidCam app on your phone will show an IP address and port number, which must be entered into a PC client field.

How To Use Your Phone As a Webcam For PC
Device IP – How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Then select the Video and, if you want, the Audio checkbox. They control whether your Android smartphone can relay the camera video feed and the sound from its microphone to use your phone as webcam.
THEN CLICK START

If everything is done well so far, you should see the camera output relayed from the phone’s rear optics.

How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Additionally, you can connect both devices using a USB cable too.

You may also like to read:

How to Set Up DroidCam via USB

How to Use Your Android Phone As Webcam For PC On Windows:

Ensure USB Debugging (inside the phone’s Developer Settings) is turned on. You must dock the phone using a USB cable into the PC.

How To Use Your Phone As A Webcam For PC
Dock The Phone – How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Start the client and choose “Connect over USB,” Then your device from the drop-down list.
THEN CLICK START

How to Use iOS as Webcam For PC

  • USB connections for the iOS app require iTunes to be installed, and it detects your iPhone when you plug it in. DOWNLOAD HERE
  • Click the refresh button on the DroidCam Client USB section, and any available iOS devices will be listed as a string of random characters. This is the unique ID of the device.
  • Click Start to establish a connection just like you would over WiFi.

For more detailed steps, please visit: Dev47apps

Use Your iPhone or iPad as Webcam With Windows 11 (iVCam)

How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for Mac or Windows 10 Easily
How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC with iVCam

iVCam is the only app in the segment with more of a modern UI. When you open the app, iVCam searches for the laptop with the local network's client app. Once it detects the app, the camera interface opens. iVCam has one of the smoothest connection processes on the list.

The app's overall experience is lovely, with just one major complaint. You get full-screen ads between the video streaming. You can live with banner ads and watermarks, but full-screen ads are a deal-breaker.

Use Android Phone as Webcam For Mac

To use an Android phone as a webcam with your Mac computer, you need EpocCam. It requires iOS 10.3 or newer software. Like DroidCam, you don’t need cables to get it to work to use your phone as a webcam.

  • Download and install EpocCam from the App Store.
  • Unlike DroidCam, a set of desktop drivers for EpocCam is available for Windows 11 and macOS. You can download them from the developer’s site, Kinoni.com.
How To Use Your Phone As A Webcam For PC
Notification when EpocCam activates

Install the desktop drivers. Ensure your iOS device and computer are on the same Wi-Fi or LAN to use your phone as a webcam for MAC. Open the mobile app, and finally, launch your video calling app. That's it. It's easy and straightforward, like Sunday mornings.

More interesting topics for you:

Connect With NeuralCam Live Using iPhone or iPad With Mac

How To Use Your Phone As Webcam For PC
NEURALCam – How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

First, download and install NeuralCam Live – Smart Webcam from the App Store. You'll be prompted to give it permission when you open the app. Tap Allow to let the app access your camera and microphone to use your phone as a webcam.

Go to NEURALCam LIVE on your Mac. This link will automatically download the Mac plugin package.

To use this as a webcam in specific software like Zoom, go to that app's settings and change the camera and microphone to “NeuralCam Live.”

How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the plugin to use your phone as a webcam.

Another Way to Use an Android Phone With a Mac

How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for Mac or Windows 10 Easily
Iriun – How to Use Your Phone as Webcam for PC

Use your Android phone's camera as a wireless webcam on a PC or Mac. Install needed drivers and use your phone with Skype, MSN Messenger, and video applications. It supports resolutions up to 4K. (Max resolution depends on the phone).

Installing drivers for the computer:
You can download needed webcam drivers for your PC or Mac from https://iriun.com

How to get Iriun working:

  1. Download the Iriun app on the Google Play Store (requires Android 5.1 and up).
  2. Open the app on your phone, and give it permission to use your microphone and camera.
  3. Download and install the MacOS app from Iriun's website (it also supports Windows, iOS, and Ubuntu).
  4. Launch the client, and it should automatically pair wirelessly with the phone app.

You're done! Open your videoconferencing app and choose Iriun as your webcam app.

Iriun Troubleshooting Tips:

If you're having problems after following the steps, try these ideas.

  1. Enable Developer Options on your Android phone. Go to Settings > About Phone and tap on Build number seven times. Now go to Settings > System, and you'll see a new option for Developer options (it might be hidden under Advanced). Tap it and scroll down a little to find USB debugging. Toggle it on.
  2. Plug your Android phone into your Mac with a USB cable.
  3. Open the app on your phone and Mac; the two should automatically connect. Iriun should now appear as an option (wired or wirelessly) in your videoconferencing app.

FAQs – Use Your Phone as Webcam For PC:

  1. Can we connect the mobile camera to a laptop?

    There are many ways to use your smartphone’s camera as a webcam on a laptop. View the instructions to use your phone as a webcam on different devices.

  2. How to connect the mobile camera to the computer?

    Connect your computer and the phone to the same Wi-Fi network. Install the IP Webcam app on your smartphone. Tap Start server. The app will show a URL. Enter this URL in any browser on your computer. In the browser,  Video renderer– Select Browser. Audio renderer– Select HTML wav.

  3. How to turn your smartphone into a wireless webcam?

    If your phone runs Android, you can turn a free app called DroidCam into a webcam. If you have an iPhone, EpocCam is the app we recommend turning your phone into a webcam.

Final Thoughts on How to Use Your Phone as Webcam:

We hope at least one of these solutions works for you to use your phone as a webcam. Now you know how easy it is to turn your smartphone into a webcam that you can use with your computer, are you still tempted to buy yourself a dedicated webcam? Or would you rather keep using your smartphone each time you need to make a video call on your computer?

Do you like how DroidCam works? Or do you prefer another similar app from the Google Play Store?
Please share your thoughts about using your phone as a webcam in the comments below.

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