Here we go again! Your brother stole your webcam again… just now that you would need it to make a video conference with your classmates! Are you wondering if there is a way to remedy the situation?
I intrigued you and would you like to find out more in detail how to proceed? Well, then let’s not get lost in other chatter and let’s go straight into the heart of the tutorial. Make yourself comfortable, take the time to focus on reading the following, and most importantly, implement the advice I’m about to give you. All I have to do is wish you a lot of fun!
DroidCam (Android/iOS/Windows/Linux)
One of the first applications I suggest you try to use your mobile phone camera as your PC’s webcam is DroidCam. It is a solution available for Android and iOS devices that integrates with various services, including Skype. It allows you to connect the camera of your device to the computer both via the USB cable (on Android USB debugging is required) and wirelessly, after downloading the official client, which is available for Windows and Linux.
Basically it is free, but to eliminate advertising and to access some advanced features, such as the one that allows you to record HD videos, you need to switch to the Pro version that paid (on Android it is available as a separate app and costs 5.20 euros, while on iOS in-app purchases must be made at the price of 6.99 euros).
To be able to use it, first download and install the app on your smartphone, proceeding as follows: if you are using Android, access the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button (you can also turn to alternative stores, if your device lacks the Play Store); if you are using iOS / iPadOS, access the relevant section of the App Store, press the Get button, then the Install button and authorize the operation via Face ID, Touch ID or Apple ID password.
Next, start the app on your smartphone, selecting the relative icon added to the home screen or to the one where all the applications are listed, tap the Next button on the screen displayed, read the instructions necessary to connect the camera of your smartphone to the PC, press the I understand button and grant any permissions requested.
At this point, acting from your Windows computer, go to the DroidCam website, click on the Download Windows Client button and, on the page that opens, press the DroidCam Client button to download the DroidCam client on your PC.
When the download is complete, start the .exe file obtained and, in the window that appears on the desktop, click the Yes button. Next, press the Next, I Agree, Next and Install buttons and finish the setup by pressing the Finish button.
Now, start the DroidCam client on the PC using the appropriate shortcut that has just been added to the Windows Start menu, click on the Wi-Fi icon located at the top left of the window just opened, enter the IP address that you see on your smartphone in the Device IP text field, put the check mark on the Video and Audio items and finally, click the Start button.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to connect your smartphone to the computer via USB cable, select the USB connection icon and you will not need to type the IP address of the phone to be able to use it.
If everything went well, your smartphone will be connected to your PC and you can use its camera as a webcam. To do this, launch Skype or another program that you use to make video calls and this should recognize DroidCam as your primary webcam without problems.
iVCam (Android/iOS/Windows)
Another great solution that I suggest you consider if you want to use your mobile phone camera as a webcam is iVCam. It is an easy-to-use solution that integrates seamlessly with numerous services for online meetings and video calls. It works with Android and iOS, and the client for computers is compatible with Windows.
It can be used either via wireless network or via USB. It supports various video resolutions and offers advanced adjustments. It is free to use, but to eliminate advertising banners and unlock all the countless functions available you have to make in-app purchases (with prices starting from 6.99 euros).
To be able to use it, first download and install the app on Android from the relevant section of the Play Store and on iOS from the relevant section of the App Store, then start it and grant any permissions required.
At this point, proceed with the download of the iVCam customers on your computer, connecting to the relevant website and clicking on the Download for Windows button.
At the end of the download, open the .exe file obtained, click on the Yes button in the window that appears on the desktop and follow the wizard to complete the installation of the iVCam client, clicking on the OK button, on the Next button for three consecutive times and then pressing the Install and Finish buttons.
Then wait for the main program window to appear visible on the desktop and grant any firewall permissions required. Next, take your smartphone and, if it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network to which the PC is connected, the phone will be automatically recognized by the iVCam client on the computer.
If by doing as I have just indicated you can not establish the connection, proceed by manually typing the IP address of your mobile phone, pressing the button with the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, selecting the Connect item from the menu that appears and then the Connect via IP. You can also establish the connection via USB, in which case everything happens automatically.
After connecting your smartphone and computer, you can take photos and record videos using your phone’s camera by clicking, respectively, on the camera and camera buttons located in the main window of the iVCam client.
EpocCam (iOS/Windows/macOS)
Are you looking for an application that allows you to turn your iPhone into a webcam to be used on both PC and Mac? If so, EpocCam could be the solution for you. It is an app available only for iOS on mobile and usable from both Windows and macOS on computers, which can be downloaded for free, but with some advanced features, such as the one that allows you to transmit images in HD, which are only available in its Pro version which is paid.
It can be used both wirelessly and via cable, it automatically appears as a webcam in all the most popular applications that support its use, the video quality is up to 1080p and also offers a whole series of static and dynamic lenses.
To be able to use it, download and install the app on your iPhone by downloading it from the relevant section of the App Store, then start EpocCam and grant any permissions required.
Next, connected to the Elgato site (the software house that deals with the development of EpocCam) from your computer, select the EpocCam item from the drop-down menu on the left, the operating system you are using from the one on the right and press the circular button with the down arrow that you find next to the word EpocCam Driver located a little further down.
After downloading, if you are using Windows, open the file .exe obtained and, in the window that appears on the desktop, click on the Yes, Next, Accept and Install buttons, then click on the Finish button.
If you are using macOS, instead, start the .pkg file you just obtained, click on the Continue button in the window that appears on the desktop, accept the license terms, indicate the destination location of the installation, confirm your intentions and press the button to complete the setup.
After installing EpocCam on your computer, your smartphone will automatically connect to Windows or macOS if the devices are connected to the same wireless network, otherwise you will have to connect the iPhone with the computer beforehand. Subsequently, you can start one of the services with which you usually make video calls, go to the settings of the latter and choose EpocCam as your default camera.
Other solutions to use your phone’s camera as a webcam
None of the solutions to use the camera of the mobile phone as a webcam that I have already reported to you has convinced you in a particular way? If so, try to turn to the other solutions of this type that I have included in the list below. I sincerely hope they are able to satisfy you.
- Iriun Webcam (Android/iOS/Windows/macOS/Linux) – application that works from virtually any smartphone and computer with which you can turn your phone’s camera into a webcam quickly and easily. Just install it on your phone and then also on your PC to connect to wifi or even via USB cable. It’s free, but to remove ads you need to make in-app purchases (with prices starting at 4.99 euros).
- Camo (Android/iOS/Windows/macOS) – newly developed application, free and that allows you to use any camera on your phone, even the front, to use it as a computer webcam. The desktop client works with a variety of programs and services. It is free, but eventually you can switch to the Pro version that is paid (with prices starting from 5.23 euros / month or 82.95 euros one-off) and allows you to remove the watermark that is applied and unlock various advanced features.
- IP Webcam (Android/Windows) – totally free solution that allows you to use your Android smartphone as a webcam on Windows PC. It is very easy to use, quite intuitive and works both via Wi-Fi and by connecting the phone with the cable to the PC.
- Camera Continuity (iOS/Mac) – if you have a Mac and an iPhone, you can pair them so that the latter can be used as a webcam on your Mac. This is possible if your Mac is running a macOS Ventura version or later, your iPhone must have iOS 16 or later, both devices must be connected to the same Apple ID, and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. In addition, the Camera Continuity feature must be enabled in the iPhone settings (General > AirPlay and Handoff) By doing so, on your Mac in any app that requires the use of the webcam you can capture video in real time directly from the iPhone camera. Convenient, right?