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If you’re working from home and need to communicate with your team, a little video chatting goes a long way. While a laptop typically comes with a built-in webcam, desktops do not, and laptop cameras can break at any time. You could purchase a new webcam, but if you don't want to shell out for more home office gear, a bit of free software can help you out. Here's how to turn your phone—or any spare smartphone—into a webcam for your PC.
For Android Phones: DroidCam
(Credit: PCMag / DroidCam)DroidCam (Android and iOS) is a free app that can turn your iPhone or Android device into a webcam. The free version of the app offers unlimited usage at standard definition and OBS plug-in integration, but an upgrade to the Pro version includes HD video, manual camera controls, remote camera features, and no ads.
To get started, you’ll need the DroidCam app and Windows client (or Linux client). Once both are installed, put the computer and phone on the same Wi-Fi network. The DroidCam app should have an IP address listed—something like 192.168.1.91—which you enter in the desktop app to connect the two. Check the Audio box if your PC doesn't have a microphone. Click Start, and you should be connected. Most video chat apps should recognize DroidCam as a valid webcam, though you may need to restart them if they were running when DroidCam was installed.
In my experience, DroidCam worked well enough. Friends on the other end said the SD video quality looked fine, but there may be a bit of a delay. Some had trouble with the audio coming from my phone, so my computer’s microphone was still ideal. You can adjust a few things in the settings, like which camera to use (front or rear), which microphone to use (camera or speakerphone), and a few battery-saving features, but just know that it probably won’t be as good as a traditional webcam.
If you prefer to connect over USB rather than Wi-Fi, DroidCam can do that too, though it requires a little advanced finagling with some phone-specific drivers—you can refer to DroidCam’s documentation. Even if you stick with Wi-Fi, though, you may want to charge your phone while video chatting, since it will drain the battery fairly quickly.
For iPhone Users: EpocCam
(Credit: PCMag / EpocCam)If you have an iPhone, EpocCam is the app I’d recommend for turning it into a webcam. However, the free version includes intrusive ads and very few features, almost necessitating the $7.99 paid upgrade. With the upgrade, you get microphone support, HD video, USB connections, and zoom/focus adjustments.
To use EpocCam, download the EpocCam app to your iPhone and download the drivers for Windows or macOS. You may need to restart your computer after installing the desktop software. Once you restart, launch the EpocCam Viewer app on your computer alongside the EpocCam app on your phone to see if it’s working.
As long as the two devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, or connected by USB, they should link without any extra steps. EpocCam should show up as a webcam for Zoom, Meet, or any other video chat application you might use. In my testing, it worked as well as can be expected, despite the annoying full-screen ads and a watermark on your video.
For iPhone and Mac Users: Continuity Camera
(Credit: Apple)Another option available to iPhone users comes from Apple directly. Continuity Camera allows you to clip your phone to a Mac and turn it into a webcam. The feature can be used to replace a broken webcam or upgrade your existing one.
In order to take advantage of this feature, your Mac must be running macOS Ventura or newer and your iPhone needs iOS 16 or higher. Both devices must also be signed in with the same Apple account, and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on. Head to System Settings > General on your Mac, then enable Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
Finally, you need to mount your phone onto your laptop or computer monitor, or you can set it on a stand on your desk. Apple sells a MagSafe mount from Belkin, but you can also find many options on Amazon. When you start up a video call, it'll use your phone's camera as the webcam.
If not, you'll need to select the phone as your source in the video conference app's menus. You may also need to do the same if you wish to use the iPhone's microphone. During a call, you can use Control Center to add video effects, like Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Desk View, or change microphone modes.