Your Windows laptop probably has its own webcam that you use for virtual meetings. But many laptop webcams are stuck at a low resolution. And if you’re using a desktop computer, you might not even have access to a webcam.
In this case, your mobile phone can step in to act as a video camera during a meeting.
There is no built-in feature in Windows 10 or Windows 11 to perform this trick as there is with macOS Ventura.
Instead, a few third-party utilities are available to turn your phone into a webcam.
Programs such as DroidCam, EpocCam, and iVCam Webcam will help you enroll your iPhone or Android phone for this mission. Additionally, these apps support all major virtual meeting platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype.
Using a special mount, you can fix your phone on top of your computer or monitor. Alternatively, you can hold your phone as you walk around the room to stay in front of the camera.
Also: Zoom Alternatives: The Best Video Conferencing Software and Apps
DroidCam
Designed for iPhones, iPads and Android devices, DroidCam will work with your device via Wi-Fi or USB. The program is available in a free edition that gives you unlimited standard definition webcam use and a $5 or $10 Pro flavor that allows high definition video streaming at 720p or 1080p.
Setting up and connecting DroidCam. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
How to Use Your Cell Phone as a Webcam in Windows
First, download and install the mobile app for iOS and iPadOS or Android. Next, get the Windows client.
Open both programs. If you plan to use a wired connection, plug your phone or tablet into your PC via USB, click the drop-down menu, and select your device.
If you want to use Wi-Fi instead, make sure your PC and mobile device are on the same network. The mobile app will display an IP address and port number.
Enter both in the appropriate Windows client screen.
Click Start and the Windows program displays your phone stream.
Move your phone to position yourself in the frame. With the free version of the mobile app, you can switch between front and rear camera, adjust lighting and white balance, and dim the screen. With the paid edition, you can increase the resolution, activate a continuous autofocus mode, zoom in or out, and rotate or flip the video.
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DroidCam control and video stream. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
After editing the video as desired, open your virtual meeting software.
Change the video source to DroidCam Source 2 or DroidCam Source 3. Then you can use your phone as a webcam for the virtual meeting.
To stop using your phone this way, change the video source in your virtual meeting software or press the Stop button in the DroidCam mobile app.
DroidCam in a virtual meeting. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
EpocCam
Compatible only with iOS and iPadOS, EpocCam works via USB or Wi-Fi. The app offers both portrait and landscape mode and will even play with Snapchat lenses. The free version limits the resolution. For $7.99, a paid edition allows for higher resolution streams, wide-angle camera views, and access to your phone’s microphone.
First, install the mobile app from the app store. Next, download and install the required Windows Camera Hub client. Open the mobile app and follow the screens. Grant the app permission to access your camera and local network. Your phone should then turn into a webcam.
EpocCam setup and connection. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
From the mobile app, you can switch between the front and rear camera and flip the video horizontally. From the Windows software, you can adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, as well as apply different AR lenses, such as background blur, green screen, and sepia.
After adjusting the various parameters, launch your virtual meeting. Change the video source to Elgato Virtual Camera to use your phone as a webcam.
EpocCam in a virtual meeting. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
Also: The 10 best webcams
iVCam webcam
Another app designed for iOS, iPadOS, and Android, iVCam Webcam works over Wi-Fi or USB, offers a high-resolution stream, and lets you take a snapshot or record your stream. The main downside is that the free version clutters you with intrusive ads. At $9.99 for a one-year subscription and $24.95 for a permanent subscription, the paid version skips ads and offers other advanced features.
Download the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play, then get the Windows client for your PC. Then launch both programs. A USB connection is automatically detected, while a Wi-Fi connection may require you to enter your phone’s IP address, which is listed in the app’s Settings screen. Simply click the Connect button in the Windows client to enter the address and the connection is established.
Configuring and connecting the iVCam webcam. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
Using the mobile app, you can switch between the front and rear camera, flip the image horizontally, and adjust lighting and other factors. With the Windows client, you can edit the image as well as take a snapshot or save the video stream. Additionally, you can set the orientation, change the size and resolution, and change the frame rate.
iVCam Webcam Camera Settings. Screenshot of Lance Whitney
After establishing the connection and modifying the various parameters, launch your virtual meeting. Change the video source to e2eSoft iVCam, and your phone becomes your webcam.
iVCam webcam in a virtual meeting. Screenshot of Lance Whitney