Do you have a Windows PC or a Mac that you use for video calls but lack a proper webcam? Maybe your built-in laptop camera broke, or you just want better video quality. If you have an Android smartphone or an iPhone, you are in luck. You can use it as a webcam on your Windows PC with just a few simple steps. All you need is the right app, a desktop client, and a few minutes to set it up.
In this guide, we show you how to turn your smartphone into a webcam and use it with Zoom, Skype, OBS Studio, and more. We focus on iVCam, a reliable free app that turns your phone into a high-quality webcam over Wi-Fi or USB.
How to Use Your Smartphone as a Webcam
To use your phone as a webcam, you need to download an app that connects your Android or iPhone to your PC. After testing several options, we recommend iVCam. It works over your home Wi-Fi network or through a USB cable. The app supports three video sizes by default: 1280×720, 640×480, and 320×240.
Download the iVCam app on both your smartphone and Windows PC from the links below:
Play Store: iVCam for Android
Windows: iVCam for Windows
Via Wi-Fi
Follow these steps to connect your smartphone as a webcam over Wi-Fi:
- Download and install iVCam on both your smartphone and Windows PC
- Open the app on both devices
- On your smartphone, the app will start searching for your Windows system
- Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network
- On your Windows PC, iVCam will search for your smartphone
- Once the connection is established, you will see the live video feed on your PC
- You can now use your smartphone as a webcam
Via USB
For a more stable and faster connection, we recommend using a USB cable instead of Wi-Fi. This is especially useful for streaming or recording where video quality matters most.
iOS (iPhone)
- Download the latest version of iTunes on your iPhone and Windows system
- Plug the USB cable between both devices
- iVCam will now transfer video to your system automatically
- Keep iTunes open on your system if necessary
- Make sure the Apple Device Driver is installed on your system
Android
- Download your smartphone brand USB drivers if you have not already
- Download USB drivers from Android Developer site
- Once installed, connect the USB cable between both devices
- Your smartphone will appear as USB storage or Media device based on your selection
- Open iVCam on both devices and you will be able to use your phone as a webcam
How to Use Multiple Smartphones with One PC
- Install the latest version of iVCam on all devices you want to connect
- Find the driver_install.bat file in the iVCam installation folder (for example: C:\Program Files\e2eSoft\iVCam) and run it
- Run it twice and you will have three iVCam drivers (including the default one)
- You can see them in the system Device Manager application
- With one instance, the camera name is “e2eSoft iVCam”. With multiple instances, names become “e2eSoft iVCam #1”, “e2eSoft iVCam #2”, and so on
How to Use iVCam in Zoom
With iVCam, you can use your smartphone as a webcam for Zoom video calls. The setup is quick and works across all Zoom meetings.
Video Setup in Zoom
Open Zoom Settings, go to the Video tab, and select e2eSoft iVCam from the Camera dropdown. Check Enable HD for better video quality.
Audio Setup in Zoom
You can also use your smartphone as a microphone for Zoom calls through iVCam:
- Download the VSC application on your Windows system
- Enable audio in the iVCam phone app settings menu
- In the iVCam PC client, play audio to VSC (device name: Speaker (e2eSoft VAudio))
- In Zoom Settings > Audio, select Line in (e2eSoft VAudio) or Microphone in (e2eSoft VAudio)
How to Use iVCam in Skype
- Open Skype on your Windows system
- Go to Settings > Audio & Video
- Select e2eSoft iVCam from the Camera dropdown
- For audio, download VSC and select Line in (e2eSoft VAudio) or Microphone in (e2eSoft VAudio) in Skype Audio settings
How to Use iVCam in OBS Studio
If you stream or record content, you can use your smartphone as a webcam in OBS Studio. This is a great way to improve your stream quality without buying a dedicated camera. Check out our guide on OBS Studio tips and tricks for more advanced streaming setups.
- Add a “Video Capture Device” source in OBS Studio
- Select e2eSoft iVCam from the device list
- Run the iVCam app on your smartphone
- Your phone camera feed will appear in OBS Studio
You can also use your smartphone webcam to record your screen. Read our guide on how to record your screen in OBS for step-by-step instructions. If you run into display issues, our OBS window capture black screen fix can help resolve common problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
The app cannot detect my PC via Wi-Fi
For iOS, allow iVCam to use Wi-Fi in system Settings. For Android, allow iVCam to use Wi-Fi if it is disabled. Allow iVCam PC client through Windows Firewall or turn it off temporarily. Disable VPN or Proxy on Windows if needed. Make sure your phone is using Wi-Fi (not mobile data). Ensure both devices are on the same LAN and connected to the same router. Do not connect to a signal amplifier Wi-Fi. Disable the router AP isolation and guest mode. Ensure your phone can be Pinged by the PC. Make sure the Bonjour service is not disabled. Enable UDP broadcasting in your router. You can also enter the PC IP address directly or connect via USB.
PC was detected but did not connect
Allow iVCam through Windows Firewall or turn off the firewall. Disable VPN or Proxy on Windows. Disable AP isolation and guest mode on your router. Ensure both devices are on the same network segment. If the phone IP is 192.168.0.x and the PC is 192.168.1.x, they cannot connect to each other. Make sure both devices connect to the same router, not a signal extender.
Video is not displaying on the PC
If the connection shows successful but no video appears, check or uncheck hardware decoding in the PC client menu. The camera video may display normally in other software even if it does not show in the iVCam client.
Video quality is poor
Use a larger video size, higher video quality, or higher frame rate in iVCam settings. Stay closer to your router if using Wi-Fi. Connect your PC to the router with a network cable for best performance. For the best quality, connect via USB cable.
Video is lagging
Use lower video quality, smaller video size, or lower frame rate. Select HEVC video encoder in app settings if supported. Use a high-performance Wi-Fi router. Connect your PC to the router with a network cable. Connect via USB cable or enable hardware decoding in the PC client.
Cannot use iVCam on some websites
For Microsoft Store apps on Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera. Allow apps to access your camera. If a website blocks iVCam intentionally, change the device name in iVCam PC client under Settings > Miscs > Device Name.
Audio and video are not syncing
Use a USB connection for more stability. Use smaller video sizes, lower quality, and lower FPS. Convert recorded MP4 files to a fixed frame rate format using video conversion software. Use a different webcam recording software to record the iVCam feed.
Using your smartphone as a webcam is a simple and cost-effective solution for video calls, streaming, and recording. Whether you connect over Wi-Fi or USB, iVCam makes the process easy. For more tips on improving your streaming and recording setup, check out our guide on how to mute Discord in OBS to keep your streams clean and professional. If you are choosing between broadcasting tools, our Streamlabs vs OBS comparison can help you decide which platform fits your workflow.
