Turning Your Smartphone into a Webcam: A Comprehensive Guide for Android and iPhone Users”

If you find yourself working from home and require a means to communicate with your team, utilizing video chat can be highly effective. While most laptops come equipped with built-in webcams, desktop computers often lack this feature, and even laptop cameras can malfunction unexpectedly. If you’re hesitant to invest in a new webcam for your home office setup, there’s a solution available through free software. Here’s a guide on how to transform your smartphone, or any spare smartphone you have, into a webcam for your PC.

For Android Phones: DroidCam Android users can take advantage of a free app called DroidCam to convert their smartphone into a functional webcam. The free version of DroidCam provides all the essential features to get started, but for a more enhanced experience, you can consider upgrading to DroidCamX for $5.99. This upgrade includes 720p/1080p video with HD Mode and eliminates small banner ads. In my experience, the free version offered a satisfying performance.

To begin, you’ll need two pieces of software: the DroidCam Android app available on the Play Store and the Windows client from Dev47Apps. After installing both applications, ensure that both your computer and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. The DroidCam Android app should display an IP address, such as 192.168.1.91, which you can input into the desktop app to establish a connection between the two devices.

If your PC lacks a microphone, make sure to enable the Audio option. Click on Start, and you should be successfully connected. Most video chat applications should recognize DroidCam as a valid webcam, although you may need to restart them if they were running when you installed DroidCam. (Note: Skype may require the use of the non-Microsoft Store version, as it can be somewhat finicky.)

In my experience, DroidCam performed adequately. Contacts on the other end reported that the SD video quality looked acceptable, although there may be a slight delay. Some encountered issues with the audio coming from my phone, so using the computer’s microphone remained the preferred choice.

You can adjust various settings, such as choosing between the front and rear camera, selecting the microphone source (camera or speakerphone), and implementing battery-saving features. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the performance may not match that of a conventional webcam.

If you prefer a USB connection over Wi-Fi, DroidCam can accommodate this option as well. However, it involves some advanced steps and specific phone drivers. You can refer to DroidCam’s instructions for USB connection if needed. Regardless of the connection method, it’s advisable to keep your phone charged while video chatting, as it tends to drain the battery fairly quickly.

For iPhone Users: EpocCam If you own an iPhone, my recommendation for converting it into a webcam is the EpocCam app. The free version of EpocCam includes intrusive ads and limited features, making the $7.99 paid upgrade almost essential. With the upgrade, you gain access to microphone support, HD video quality, USB connectivity, and zoom/focus adjustments.

To utilize EpocCam, download the EpocCam app to your iPhone and install the required drivers on your Windows or macOS computer. You may need to restart your computer after installing the desktop software. Once the computer restarts, you can launch the EpocCam Viewer app alongside the EpocCam app on your iPhone to confirm that everything is functioning correctly.

As long as both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked via USB, they should seamlessly integrate without any additional steps. EpocCam should appear as a webcam option in applications like Zoom, Hangouts, or any other video conferencing tool you prefer. In my testing, it delivered a satisfactory performance, despite the occasional full-screen ads and a watermark on the video.

For iPhone and Mac Users: Continuity Camera iPhone users have the option to utilize a feature directly provided by Apple called Continuity Camera. This feature allows you to attach your iPhone to a Mac and use it as a webcam, either as a replacement for a malfunctioning webcam or as an upgrade to an existing one.

To employ this feature, your Mac must be running macOS Ventura or a newer version, while your iPhone should be running iOS 16 or higher. Both devices must be logged in with the same Apple ID and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. In your Mac’s System Settings, navigate to General and enable the option to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.

To use your iPhone as a webcam, securely attach it to your laptop or computer monitor, or place it on a desk stand. Apple offers a MagSafe mount from Belkin, but there are various alternatives available on platforms like Amazon. When you initiate a video call, your phone’s camera will automatically serve as the webcam.

If this doesn’t happen automatically, you might need to select your phone as the video source within the settings of your video conferencing application. The same applies if you wish to use your iPhone’s microphone. During a call, you can access Control Center to apply video effects, such as Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Desk View, or switch between microphone modes as needed.