How to use a phone as a webcam
Is your desktop webcam damaged? There is no cause for alarm. Here, you will learn how to use your phone as a webcam.
Can a phone be a webcam?
If you just need to sit in a conference and chime in every now and then, a videoconferencing app on your phone will suffice, but if you’re giving a presentation and need to share your screen, you’ll need a more sophisticated setup.
Android Phone Camera as a Webcam
There are different ways to use your phone as a webcam. The techniques we will discuss in this guide vary with your phone operating system. The process for iOS is not the same for android.
Google play store is home to various apps that can convert a phone into a webcam, but for the sake of this article, we will stick to the DroidCam app. Also, it is not impossible to achieve the same result using app-free procedures, but installing DroidCam is by far the simplest way to get the effect you cherish.
Before proceeding, we will state two factors that must be present before this method can be effective.
- To install the DroidCam, your phoenix android OS must be android 5.0 lollipop or a higher version. Any lower version won’t work.
- Another factor is the Windows version. The DroidCam software has a corresponding desktop client that only works with windows ten or a higher erosion of windows. In addition, only download and install the current version of the DroidCam app, as the older version might be bugged or obsolete.
Once the mobile app is installed on your Android device and Windows, give the app permission to install audio drivers on the PC. If you want, you can leave out the permission to “always trust audio drivers from DEV47 APPS”.
Open the Windows app and check the top of the app interface to see options for connecting your devices through a USB or wifi. We will focus on getting connected to the Wi-Fi network, as it’s the easiest way I’ve tried.
To obtain your phone’s IP address, open the DroidCam app on your phone or tab. Click the wifi icon. Then, fill in your Android device’s IP address. Type the address into the textbox provided under “device IP.”
You are almost set. Ensure that the video and audio features of the app on your computer are enabled. Also, click on the Android app go to settings. Under the camera section, pick either of the two options, namely the rear camera or the front camera. If your front camera has a lower quality, use the rear one and vice versa.
On the desktop app, tap “start” to connect your phone. You should be able to see your video feed displayed on your PC screen, but if that’s not the case, you may want to check if your phone and desktop are on the same wifi connection. If not, rectify the problem.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
Once you can preview your video, open your favorite videotelephony app, be it Skype, Google Hangout, Google meet, or Zoom. Then, on the app, set the default camera to “DroidCam source 2” or “DroidCam source 3,”. Whichever is the case?
One other thing you have to watch out for is the audio input of the video telephony app. Go to the app. Access the microphone or audio input section. Then, choose “DroidCam virtual audio” as the default audio input.
iPhone Camera as a Webcam
Using your iPhone or iPad as a webcam for your Mac book is pretty simple. All you need to do is download the EpocCam app on your iOS. Unlike DroidCam, EpocCam works with both Windows and macOS.
Install the desktop driver and ensure iPhone is paired with the same wifi and your computer. Then, start your videotelephony app directly on your computer to start video calling.
The DroidCam app is free to use and does not include a watermark in your videos. The major disadvantage is that it does not work with Apple devices.
The EpocCam app has a free version and premium tier. The free tier does not allow users to enable their device’s audio, rendering it useless for people who want to use the app for a meeting. Also, the resolution offered on the free tier is pretty low — 640 X 480. Also, the app stops working when you opt out of it. It works with Windows and macOS, but the EpocCam webcam app cannot work with Android phones.
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Final Thoughts
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Disclaimer: This article is the author’s personal opinion, which may differ from the “official” statements or facts.
