For many people of all ages, a smartphone has become a tool that can completely replace a computer. But not everyone knows that the phone can be turned into a full-fledged webcam – of course, if the need arises. Most modern laptops are equipped with such a device by default, in the case of a desktop PC, it must be purchased separately. But if you have a smartphone (and we are sure you do), you don’t have to spend money on a webcam – your mobile gadget will cope with all tasks just as well, and even better.
Ways to create a webcam from a mobile phone
The scope of use of webcams is quite extensive, but most often they are used to make video calls, it is also not uncommon to use them as a means for remote video surveillance or for conducting Internet broadcasts.
Your smartphone can also handle all these tasks, and to set it up you will not need any specific skills, and the procedure itself will not take much time, especially after the initial setup.
There are several options for turning a mobile phone into a functional analogue of a webcam, but in any case, in addition to a smartphone, you will need access to a Wi-Fi network . If there is no internet, use a USB cable. You will also need the application used to pair your mobile device with your computer. It does not matter what platforms your devices operate on – solutions are available for Android and iOS, Windows, Apple OS and even for Linux systems.
Given that the most common smartphones are Android devices, we recommend using the following popular applications:
- DroidCamX, there is a client of the same name for Windows, you also need to download and install it on a PC. The application is free and can be installed on a tablet. Allows you to broadcast a picture along with sound, provides for the possibility of integration over the air or via cable. There is a function of remote access to the camera;
- IP Webcam is an application whose main purpose is to organize video surveillance. Naturally, using your mobile phone. On a PC, you can use the IP Camera Adapter utility. Video can be viewed using the playeror through the browser;
- EpocCam is a simple application used to sync your smartphone and computer with no frills, just the bare essentials. There is software for both PC and mobile gadget.
For owners of iOS devices, we can recommend the following applications that are popular among users, the principle of pairing them with a computer is about the same:
- iVCam – connection to a PC occurs automatically, without the need to enter an IP address. There are advanced settings (shooting resolution, frame rate, picture orientation). There is a client for the computer;
- EpocCam – the application is identical in capabilities to the Android version. Synchronization is automatic, it is possible to use any of the cameras for recording;
- iCam is an application that allows you to store recorded video or broadcasts in the cloud for remote viewing through a browser. There are also settings that allow you to use the flash or change the brightness / contrast of the picture. You do not need to install a client for a computer.
Step-by-step instructions for turning a smartphone into a webcam over the air
Consider how to use a mobile phone as a full-fledged webcam using the DroidCam X application as an example, which allows you to pair your gadget with a PC via a wireless connection. This is one of the most popular options. Step by step algorithm:
- download the application in the Play Market, install it;
- launch DroidCam, allow the application to access the Internet connection and, of course, the camera of your Android device;
- install the DroidCam client on the computer;
- run the utility on the PC, select pairing devices via Wi-Fi by clicking on the corresponding icon;
- after that, the IP address of the camera should appear in the application;
- we drive this address into the DeviceIP field on the computer, put a checkmark in front of the Audio and Video items, click on the Start button.
As you can see, nothing complicated, but there is an even simpler option, without the need to enter IP – this is the use of EpocCam, in which device synchronization occurs automatically. It can be recommended to inexperienced users. Again, you need to download both the application and the client utility, and run them on your phone and PC.
Connecting an iOS phone to a computer is basically just as simple. For example, using the iVCam application. The step by step procedure is as follows:
- we are looking for an application in iTunes, install it on a smartphone / tablet;
- run, go to the settings and activate the transmission of the audio signal. We answer in the affirmative to requests for access rights;
- we perform a similar operation with a utility for a PC: download, install, run;
- pairing of devices will occur automatically, as a result, your smartphone will turn into a fully functional webcam.
Using your smartphone as a full-fledged webcam via a USB cable
This method is much more difficult to set up, but if there is no Internet on one of the synchronized devices (computer or phone), there are no alternatives to it. The main difficulty is the need to use the debug mode on the mobile phone.
As an example of turning an Android phone into a webcam, consider using the already familiar DroidCam X application. Here are step-by-step instructions:
- we connect the smartphone and the computer with a cable;
- launch DroidCam on a mobile gadget;
- the same is not done by a PC;
- activate the “USB debugging” mode – go to the settings, to the “About phone” section, to the “Build number” subsection. Then be very careful: to get into the “Developer Menu” you need to quickly tap on the inscription “Build number” 7 times, and then activate the debug mode;
- in the utility running on the PC, select the method of connecting to the smartphone via USB by clicking on the corresponding icon;
- then put a tick in the same fields and click on the Start button;
- then the devices are synchronized, and the video stream captured by the smartphone’s camera will appear in the computer program.
Note that now the camera will be available for many other programs installed on your computer, if they have such an opportunity.
Making an iOS phone a webcam via USB is even easier, the steps are exactly the same for a computer, but for an iPhone / iPad, the algorithm is much simpler, since the Apple ecosystem is more user-friendly and does not require debug mode to be enabled.
Consider the procedure using the iVCam application as an example:
- download the application from iTunes, install, run;
- go to the settings, activate the sound transmission function;
- respond in the affirmative to access requests;
- install the iVCam client on the computer;
- run the utility and enjoy the transfer of video to a PC.
If your computer operates on alternative Windows platforms (meaning MacOS or a Linux system like Ubuntu ), we use the EpocCam application, which includes clients for both non-standard operating systems.
If pairing an iPhone with a Mac, the iCam application is also suitable, for Ubuntu, the alternative software is Droidcam.
Smartphone as a webcam, remote use
If you want to use your phone to organize video surveillance, using the IP-Webcam application, you will be able to watch what is happening from any remote point if you have access to the Internet. Any device is suitable for this – PC, laptop, tablet, other smartphone.
Connecting your makeshift webcam to your smartphone or computer will require the following steps:
- go to the site ivideon.com, go through a simple registration procedure;
- install the application on your smartphone, run it;
- in the connection settings, select the last item – “Broadcasting over the Internet”;
- in the window that opens, enter the registration data under which you created an account on ivideon.com;
- on a PC in a browser, go to the tab with ivideon and press the F5 button, as a result, a broadcast will appear in the working area of the site, which will be conducted in real time.
Conclusion
Regardless of the purpose for which you want to use your smartphone as a webcam, it’s easy to do. However, even if you have a full-fledged webcam, using a smartphone may be preferable, since modern gadgets, as a rule, have a higher resolution, and therefore the quality of the resulting video sequence will be higher.
