Since remote work, video calls, and live streaming are here to stay, a decent webcam is not a luxury anymore but a necessity for those frequent Zoomers. Why compromise with the low quality of your laptop's built-in camera when you have a good camera in your pocket?

Your smartphone camera can easily act as a high-quality webcam for both Windows and Mac devices. Here is how to set up your phone as a webcam.

Why Use Your Smartphone as a Webcam?

How to Use Your Smartphone As a Zoom Meeting Webcam

Most laptops have pretty low-resolution webcams, which sometimes blur you out and make you pixelated on video calls. The use of a smartphone as a webcam provides you with a really crisp and clear image and makes it easier to maneuver your camera at any angle, especially useful for professional calls, streaming, or even video conferences where clarity matters.

How to Use Your Smartphone as a Webcam: Easiest Steps

If you wish to be simple, before plunging into advanced software, use your smartphone for video calls, using Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Download, login, and away you go. You use the phone's camera and microphone.

But should you want something stronger, say screen sharing through your smartphone or a better camera configuration, then the next best thing is converting your phone into a webcam for your computer.

How to Turn Your Smartphone to Webcam for Windows or Mac

To get started, you'll need a few things: your smartphone (iPhone or Android), your computer (Windows or Mac), and a webcam app. One of the most popular and versatile apps for this purpose is Reincubate Camo, which supports both wired and wireless connections and works with more than 40 video-calling apps.

1. Download the Camo App

• On your computer: Download the Camo app for either Windows or Mac from their official site.
• On your phone: Download the Camo app from the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play (for Android). Make sure your device is running at least iOS 12 or Android 7.0.

2. Set Up the Connection

• Open the Camo app on both your phone and computer. Press the Wi-Fi icon on your phone to Scan it with the Camo desktop app to connect the two devices.
• If you prefer a wired connection, connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable. For Android devices, you may need to enable USB debugging. For iPhones, simply trust the connection when prompted.

3. Adjust Your Settings

Once you connect the devices, open your video conferencing software (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) and select "Camo" as your video source. You can also choose your phone's microphone if you want. The app also allows you to adjust various settings, such as zoom, lighting, and resolution.

For advanced features like 4K video, portrait mode, and more, you'll need to subscribe to Camo Pro, but the free version offers excellent video quality and options.

Alternative Options: Using Built-In Features

For iPhone Users: Continuity Camera

If you're a Mac user, Apple's Continuity Camera feature makes using an iPhone as a webcam incredibly easy. This built-in feature works with macOS 13 Ventura and iOS 16 or later, allowing seamless integration between your devices.

To set it up:

1. Ensure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your Mac and iPhone.
2. In your Mac's video conferencing app, simply select your iPhone as the camera source.
3. For an added advantage, the camera in the iPhone can support effects, such as Center Stage, Portrait Mode, and Studio Light, in order to help enhance the quality of video calls.

For Google Pixel Users: Pixel as Webcam

Google has made it pretty easy to use a Google Pixel as a webcam. If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, just plug the phone into your computer via a USB-C cable, and it will automatically be recognized as a webcam.

To use this feature:

1. Connect your Pixel to your PC via USB.
2. When prompted, select "Webcam" on your phone.
3. In your video app, choose Android Device as the camera input.

Tips for a Better Video Call Experience

• Use a tripod to avoid shaky footage. The Joby GripTight is the best and rather affordable to be used in different scenarios.
• Good lighting can make a huge difference. Consider investing in a ring light like the Lume Cube Panel Mini for optimal lighting during video calls.
• Your background should be clean, or you can avail of a virtual background feature when available.

Using the smartphone as a webcam is an effortless and inexpensive upgrade to video calling. This will save you money and cut down on the clutter of having extra devices. If you work out of home or live-stream, these simple configurations may considerably enhance your overall video experience.

With the following steps, it will be a walk in the park to convert your smartphone into a high-definition webcam for Mac or Windows.

Camo or other apps can allow you to make your video appear much clearer than ever before while conducting work meetings, streaming, or any other virtual event.