How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam on Windows or Mac
A phone can replace a computer webcam when the phone, computer and connection method support it. First choose the appropriate route: Apple Continuity Camera for a compatible iPhone and Mac, Windows connected camera for a supported Android setup, or compatible third-party software for other combinations.
Opening a camera test on the phone only tests that phone’s browser. It does not make the camera available to your computer. Complete the connection first, then select the phone in the computer’s camera menu.
Choose the connection that fits your devices
| Devices | Start here | Check before a call |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and Mac | Continuity Camera on supported devices | Account, software requirements, mounting and camera selection |
| Android and Windows 11 | Windows connected-camera feature where supported | Link to Windows requirements and the connected-camera toggle |
| Other combinations | Software that explicitly supports both devices | Connection type, permissions, watermark, resolution and privacy terms |
Use an iPhone with a Mac
Apple’s webcam feature requires a supported iPhone and Mac, compatible software and the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication. Check the current Continuity Camera requirements and setup instructions before buying a mount.
Enable Continuity Camera on the iPhone if necessary. Mount the phone securely near the Mac with its rear cameras facing you, then lock it. In the application’s camera selector, choose the iPhone if it is not selected automatically. A wired connection can also keep the phone charged; follow any trust prompt shown by your own devices. The camera and microphone are separate choices, so keep your preferred headset mic selected if that is what you want to use.
Use an Android phone with Windows
Microsoft lists Windows 11 or later, Android 10 or later and Link to Windows version 1.24022.0 or later for its connected-camera feature. In Windows Settings, open Bluetooth & devices, then Mobile devices. Link the phone if needed and enable Use as connected camera for that device. Select it in the application’s camera menu. See Microsoft’s mobile-camera instructions if the option is missing or the interface differs.
Some phones expose a USB webcam mode; availability depends on the model and software. Do not assume that plugging any charging cable into any phone provides video. Use the manufacturer’s supported procedure and a suitable data cable.
Check the setup before relying on it
On the computer, open the webcam test, grant access and select the phone camera. Compare a still image with a moving recording. Check orientation, focus, lip movement and whether the connection survives a realistic rehearsal. Browser FPS information describes this capture path, not what a meeting participant receives.
Use a stable mount, leave ventilation around the phone and check power for a longer session. Frame yourself before the meeting rather than balancing a phone against the screen at the last minute. Repeat the preview in the actual meeting app with the intended microphone selected.
If the phone is missing or disconnects
If the computer cannot list the camera, check the connection method and device requirements first. If the system lists it but the browser cannot use it, follow the camera-permission guide. If video appears and then stops, use the freezing-webcam checks to separate capture failure from a meeting-only problem.
Using the phone for a call, unlocking it or changing the connection can interrupt some webcam methods. Keep a fallback camera available for an important meeting. When finished, stop capture in the app and disconnect or disable the phone-camera connection if you no longer need it.
