How to Use Android Phone as Webcam?
If you're a student, you might need a webcam for attending your classes or a virtual event. For other individuals as well, a webcam has become a necessary gadget. With the remote working more in trend, you will need a webcam to attend office meetings every now and then.
The flip side of this need is advancements in Android phones with high-quality cameras and video results. Therefore, in this article, we will tell you about Android webcams. Let's explore how to use an Android phone as a webcam and which apps you can rely on.
Why Do You Need to Turn Your Phone to Webcam?
Laptops often come with an in-built webcam above the LCD. However, the quality of the cameras is not as good. Besides, many PC setups do not have a built-in webcam. Therefore, it becomes a necessity in that case. If you go for a webcam, a good webcam can cost hundreds of dollars.
Therefore, you can go for an alternative method instead of wasting and bounding your money on a webcam that will be used occasionally. You can save money by using your Android phone as a webcam. Besides, you can use the high-quality camera of Android for better picture quality during video calls. You can use an Android phone as a webcam USB as well as wirelessly.
AirDroid is a mobile management tool that provides several solutions to its client. AirDroid Personal is not limited to remote camera access of your Android or Apple phone, but it allows remote access to your phone, file sharing, notification management, screen mirroring, etc.
2 Ways to Use Android Phone as Webcam
There are two ways for Android to be used as a webcam: USB and wireless. We will discuss each of them and how to use an Android phone as a webcam.
USB
The first method to use an old Android phone as a webcam is via USB. Whether you have the latest phone or the old one, USB debugging can turn your phone camera into a webcam of a PC/laptop. The method of turning the USB debugging mode varies from device to device. The method for Samsung will be different from MI, Oppo, Apple, etc. Therefore, you must know how to debug USB.
USB debugging is usually available in the developer options of your phone. For Samsung users, follow these steps: Settings >About phone> Software Information > 7 taps on Build Number. Now you will be able to see the developer option in settings. Click on the mode and turn it off. Once you have turned on the USB debugging mode, the next step is connecting your phone to your PC/laptop via USB. However, you will require a webcam app to turn on your phone's camera on your PC. We will discuss the best Android webcam viewer apps for you to use.
Wireless
The second method is the wireless method of using an Android phone as a webcam. You will require a webcam application on your Android to set up the wireless connection between the two devices(computer and Android). We won't go into details about how the wireless connection is set up because there is a more important debate on the best Android webcam apps to get started.
Best Android Webcam Apps
Here are the best Android webcam apps you can install and use Android as a webcam.
Droidcam
Droidcam is one of the most popular applications for Android webcams. You can go for a USB connection or wireless connection of your Android with a PC to turn your own phone camera into a webcam. Whether you want to attend a conference call on Skype using your phone camera through PC or stream a live video on YouTube, DroidCam can be your go-to solution.
The main highlights of DroidCam are as follows:
- Use your phone's camera and microphone as a webcam on a PC
- Chat option using DroidCam
- Free Software
- DroidCam can run in the background while you keep using your phone
- Connectivity with USB as well as wireless connection
- Hotspot connection in the absence of WiFi
Some of the features of the paid version include:
- HD mode of video
- More camera controls
- Brightness, contrast, volume adjustment, etc.
- Auto-mute phone calls to avoid distractions
- Advertisement free
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The safety and security of your data remain intact
- USB connection and hotspot connectivity
- The Pro version has higher controls and features
- Available for Windows and Linux
Cons
- Separate installation of two apps on Android as well as PC
- The user interface looks outdated and not updated regularly
- The free version has limited features
EpocCam
EpocCam is also an Android webcam app, but it cannot be installed to use an Android phone as a USB webcam. It can work with Windows, Linux, Mac, and other operating systems to provide you with an HD camera alternative to your nominal PC webcam. There is a one-time cost to purchase a license of EpocCam worth $6.
The main features of EpocCam are as follows:
- Integrated Snapchat lenses and gesture-controlled lenses for video chats and live streams
- Blur background, chroma key, etc., to transform video backgrounds
- You can also create your digital avatar, change your hair color, etc.
- Multicam setup allows you to get a complete setup for video conferencing, virtual lectures, YouTube videos, etc.
- Wireless sharing of your camera footage to a PC over WiFi
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Compatible with famous apps like Skype, Google, Hangouts, Facebook, etc.
- Affordable to purchase
- The video quality is great
- Easy setup process
Cons
- Only available for iPhones
- You cannot change the settings in the viewing software
- App crashes can be annoying, and intervening
IP Webcam
IP Webcam is also a popular option for smartphone users who are interested in using Android as a webcam. The wireless application setup helps you stream your camera footage to your computer over WiFi. The application is often viewed as one of the best Android webcam applications. You can go for the free version or pro version of the app as per your requirements.
The main features of the IP Webcam are as follows:
- Wireless connection of Android with PC
- Two-way audio recording and support in various formats
- Multiple Viewing points
- You can stream video within a WiFi network without internet access
- IP Webcam can be integrated with surveillance software and security monitors
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy setup and connection with your PC
- No additional app or USB debugging enables required
- The free version is a decent edition of the software
Cons
- The app user interface is outdated and boring
- No USB connection support is available
Tips for Using Android Phone as Webcam on PC
When you're using an Android phone as a webcam on a PC, make sure to follow these tips:
- You should close any videoconferencing application while installing a webcam client to your desktop or laptop. Always restart or relaunch the application for quick setup and connection.
- For Android webcam USB, always enable developer options and USB debugging on your Android phone.
- The process often takes a lot of battery. Therefore, make sure that your Android phone is plugged into a power source when using Android as a webcam.
Best Way to Remote Access Android Camera
We have discussed three different Android and iPhone applications that can be installed for using Android as a webcam. However, each of them has its own limitations. Now we are going to talk about AirDroid, an all-in-one solution for Android and macOS users, and AirDroid Remote Support, an all-around remote support tool.
Additionally, the AirDroid Remote Support app can also remotely access your Android camera, which provides immediate and efficient remote assistance solutions to elders, relatives, and friends. And you can directly see the remote device screen in real-time.
| Features | AirDroid Personal | AirDroid Remote Support |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Win, Mac, Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS |
| iOS Remote Support | No | Yes |
| Unattended Access | Yes | No |
| Screen Mirroring | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Permission | Turn on the camera remotely without knowing | Need supportee's permission to turn on camera |
| Tutorial Gesture | No | Yes |
| Easy to Use | Need an AirDroid account | No need to register |
| Price | $3.99/month | $2.49/month |
| Free trial | Free under local network access | 10 minutes for free per day |
There are other features of AirDroid are as follows:
- You can capture photos from your phone in real-time
- Mirror your phone camera to your PC screen during video conferencing, calls, etc.
- One-way audio availability
- Remote screenshots and screen recording
- Access to camera flashlight, switching front or rear camera, camera rotation, etc.
- It can be used as a security and surveillance camera
- Access from any device
Final Words
We have shared different Android applications and macOS software that will let you connect your Android phone with a PC/laptop wirelessly or through USB and use Android as a Camera. Among all the software, AirDroid Personal is the best software giving you remote camera features and many other options like screen mirroring, screenshots, recording, file transfer, remote access to the phone, etc.
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