• Mobile phone as a web camera via USB. How to make a webcam from a phone camera

    In this article we will look at quite unusual way mobile phone use. If you have situations when you need to organize a video call, but you don’t have a webcam at hand, or you just want to find a use for your broken smartphone (for example, with broken screen), then we will tell you how to do it.

    Phone as a webcam

    Almost any modern phone can be turned into a webcam (provided it has one), the main thing is to install it correctly necessary software. The result is an excellent device with which you can communicate with people close to you via video calling. In the same way, you can broadcast video images to the network.

    Everyone's work software applications, used for this purpose, comes down to synchronizing your phone with a computer via a USB cable or Bluetooth connection. Thanks to this, your PC will use the camera built into your mobile phone like a regular webcam.

    The image quality will be affected by how installed program, and the resolution of the camera itself. To transfer images from a mobile camera to a PC, utilities such as Cool Camera (WebCamera Plus) or Mobiola WEB Camera are used. The cost of these programs is approximately the same and is about $20. They run on Symbian platforms (platform for Nokia phones) and Windows Mobile.

    When using these programs, the image from the smartphone camera is transferred to the computer via Bluetooth or cable and can later be used by software messengers. You can also use the microphone of your mobile phone to communicate, for example, on Skype.

    Sequence of actions:

    • install and launch one of the above programs on your PC;
    • carry out activation on the smartphone;
    • connect the computer to the phone with using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cable;
    • launch Skype and select the web camera in the settings.

    Phone as a webcam via USB

    One way to connect your phone to a computer is to connect via a USB cable. However, not all programs that synchronize your PC with your phone support this type connections. This is due to the existence of more modern wireless methods connections. Among the programs that support a USB connection are the following: USB Webcam for Android, Mobiola Web Camera and Webcamera Plus. You can find and download these programs in the play market.

    Android phone as a webcam

    A mobile phone running the Android operating system can also be an excellent alternative to a webcam. After all, this operating system synchronizes perfectly with a PC, and the cameras of many modern phones They are in no way inferior to webcams in terms of the basic characteristics of video playback. To implement this task, there is an accessible and simple software. First, you need to install the software on your computer and phone.

    To do this, perform the following operations:

    Iphone as a webcam

    Programs for iPhone transformation and iPad video devices provide a wider range of settings compared to standard webcams. In addition, you will be able to achieve enough high quality images. You can have both front and rear camera. You can use one of the following programs for synchronization: PocketCam, WiFiCam, EpocCam 1.9.1, Broadcaster, Mobiola Webcamera or Mini WebCam 1.0.2.

    The operating principle of most of the above programs is very similar and to get started, as a rule, you need to perform the following steps:

    To fix your mobile device you'll have to use your imagination. Using standard desktop stands is not entirely convenient, since they do not allow you to change the angle of the phone. For such cases, car holders are perfect. With their help, you can attach your mobile phone to the wall of the monitor and easily change its tilt.

    If you don't have a stationary web camera, you don't have to buy this device. You can use other gadgets that can quite successfully replace it. Today we will talk about how to use your phone as a webcam.

    Figure 1. Detailed instructions on using a smartphone as a web camera

    Step-by-step instructions for using your phone as a web camera

    It's easy to connect and configure your phone to perform webcam functions. But users who have never done this before may need instructions.

    To use your phone as a webcam, you will need:

    • Computer with operating system Windows system or Linux;
    • Mobile phone based on Android;
    • Computer applications that involve the use of a web camera for communication (for example,);
    • Programs for switching your smartphone to webcam mode;
    • Internet access point.

    The biggest difficulties arise when selecting programs that can transform regular phone into the web camera. We offer you a selection the best software for these purposes.

    Android phone as a web camera - necessary programs

    There are many programs that will help you use an Android smartphone instead of a web camera. We offer you several of the most functional, simple and convenient options:

    1. - software that must first be installed on the phone, and then on the computer. For standard PCs, a similar application is used, IPCamAdapter. Programs are synchronized via wireless access to the Internet, and the phone starts working in webcam mode (via the front or rear camera).
    2. DroidCam Wireless Webcam also consists of two parts, for phone and PC separately. You can synchronize programs via USB port, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
    3. USB Webcam For Android also requires the installation of two applications, separately for a smartphone and a PC, but is connected via a USB port. This software, unlike the two described above, transmits only video (without sound), and due to the lack necessary drivers may not work correctly on a smartphone.

    How to install the program?

    Let's look at how to use the phone on Android based as a web camera using the example of the DroidCam Wireless Webcam program, since it provides several options for synchronizing devices (Figure 2). To start the camera you need to do the following:

    • Download and install the appropriate applications on your PC and smartphone;
    • Connect gadgets with any in a convenient way. Important: when connecting via USB, you need to go to the “Options” menu, select the “Systems” tab and the “Developer Options” item to launch the synchronization option.
    • We launch the software on the computer and copy the information that appears on the screen (IP address - port).
    • We launch the application on the smartphone, first click the “Connect” button, and then “Add new PC”.
    • After this, you need to give the new connection a name and enter the data copied from the computer.


    Figure 2. Interface of the DroidCam Wireless Webcam application for broadcasting images from the phone camera to a computer

    If all connection steps have been completed correctly, a camera image will appear on the phone screen. After this, you can launch any messenger and select the one connected to the DroidCam Wireless Webcam from the list of cameras.

    Note: Additionally, in the messenger settings you can specify required parameters video and sound.

    You don't have a webcam and want to use yours as one mobile phone? This opportunity really exists, since almost every phone has a camera. And we will tell you how to use this camera as a webcam. There is nothing complicated about this, and almost everyone can work in this mode modern smartphones and many old handsets that do not have operating systems.

    USB connection

    The easiest way to use your phone as a webcam is to use a wired USB connection. By default, the handset will be detected as a modem or a removable storage device. Therefore, we need to install a bunch of software that will make the phone work as a camera, and the computer will perceive the phone as a webcam. As a result, we should have a webcam that works with any application, for example, Skype. As we have already said, to create a bundle we need an application that turns the phone into a camera.

    Software for smartphones on Android OS can be found in the application store Play Market. If you have an iPhone, go to the AppStore. For smartphones running other OSes, built-in stores and third party sources. In addition to the program for the smartphone, we will need a response program for the PC– it will receive data from the phone. As soon as you obtain all the necessary software, proceed to install it. After installation, launch the programs and enter the necessary settings (if necessary).

    As a result, a webcam should appear in the PC operating system. To check the connection, run any program that works with web cameras - for example, Skype, ICQ or Mail.ru Agent. By going to the camera settings section, you will find the installed “web” and can evaluate the image quality.

    Old ones can also be used as webcams telephone sets operating without operating systems. In this case you will need to find suitable software, working with cameras of certain devices (everything is strictly individual here).

    Please note that some smartphones support connection as a webcam without additional software - to do this, you need to set up a USB connection by selecting the connection method in the settings (charging, file transfer, photo transfer, camera, etc.).

    Can I use my phone as a webcam via Bluetooth? Yes, but only if this functionality is supported by the selected applications. And this is very convenient, since the phone will be unconnected to the computer. The only connection will be the power cord connecting the handset to charger – Having the camera and Bluetooth on quickly drains the battery.

    For more convenient use buy a phone as a webcam car holder on a flexible leg - this will allow you not to hold the phone in your hands when working in camera mode. If the image jerks and slows down, try reducing the resolution.

    IP camera for video surveillance

    Now you know how to use your phone as a webcam - you need to install it on the handset and on your PC special applications and connect via USB. This opportunity will be useful to owners desktop computers devoid of webcams. Particularly convenient when using wireless connection via Bluetooth.

    Using a smartphone as a webcam is very easy, but it can also be turned into a completely different device - an IP camera for video surveillance. To do this, there are numerous programs in smartphone app stores that allow you to turn your smartphone into an IP camera. The camera is accessed using special programs for PCs working with IP cameras – all devices must be connected to the same internal network.

    After downloading and launching the selected application, you need to make sure that the camera itself is turned on and that there is a connection with Wi-Fi network and with the assignment of an IP address. This IP address must be entered in the program that will receive the transmitted signal. The resulting image, depending on your whims, can be recorded on hard drive or simply displayed on the monitor screen.

    Remote video surveillance

    Some applications can work with special services, allowing you to broadcast from a smartphone via the Internet. This remote video surveillance scheme works as follows:

    • We create an account on one of the services;
    • We install the monitoring program and configure it to work with the selected service;
    • We connect to the service from a laptop or another phone and observe what is happening in front of the smartphone with the camera turned on.

    That is, if you have a smartphone lying around and you don’t know what to use it for, you can do simple system video surveillance for home monitoring– you will see what children or pets are doing in your absence. It is also possible to control the areas adjacent to the house by installing a smartphone on a window - installation on the street can damage the device, which is not designed to work in such difficult conditions.

    Modern Android smartphones are equipped with very high-quality cameras, often superior in quality to budget webcams. So the Android phone camera can be used as a webcam for a PC or as a video surveillance camera! You can use it for video chatting or any other needs: the smartphone will be detected by the computer as a real webcam.


    How to use a smartphone as a webcam over Wi-Fi or the Internet using IP Webcam

    For all operations we need the IP Webcam application, this free program allows you to create online broadcasts directly from your Android device. But there is a limitation, view online broadcast Only members of the same network will be able to. In other words, your computer and phone must be connected to the same router via wi-fi, but you can also access the broadcast simply via the Internet; for this you will need the Ivideon program.



    How to use a smartphone as a webcam for a computer via a USB cable

    Sometimes it happens that there is no way to connect a smartphone and a PC via the Internet, so all that remains is the good old USB cable. To connect your smartphone as a webcam using USB, you will have to use the DroidCamX application. What’s noteworthy is that you can also connect via Wi-Fi, and the application is more convenient than the previous one.


    Troubleshooting and correct settings

    • There is a lot of delay or the video lags a lot

    You need to reduce the video stream resolution in the application settings, or change the FPS.

    Look in the settings of the IP Webcam program - "White balance", and in DroidCamX - everything is done in the PC client of the program.


    The camera built into a smartphone or tablet can be used not only for shooting masterpieces and sending them to Instagram. And not even just for video calls. Here are some non-trivial ways to use the miniature camera that is always with us.

    1. Surveillance system

    If you have extra phone or tablet for Android control(version 1.2 and higher), then you can turn them into home system video surveillance using the IP Webcam application. By setting up the program at home, you can watch the “live” broadcast via the Internet on your computer or another phone. To save battery, you can choose to broadcast a low-resolution stream. If the device is connected to the mains, you can configure the transmission of higher quality video.

    6. Digitize your papers

    A tablet or smartphone is a pocket scanner that is always with you. Install the CamScanner HD application, which exists in versions for Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 – and turn portable gadget into a full-fledged scanner with the ability to combine and annotate documents, save to a file and recognize text (unfortunately, the Russian language is not supported). For an additional fee, it is possible to save all documents into editable PDFs and store them in a 10-gigabyte cloud.

    Handy Scanner app for devices running operating system Android allows you to scan documents or photos and save them to PDF files, which can be sent by email or automatically send to cloud storage Dropbox.

    7. Scan film negatives

    An ordinary smartphone can act as an improvised slide scanner, allowing you to scan film negatives - of course, with imperfect quality, but quite sufficient, for example, for posting on the Internet.

    To do this, you need to install the HELMUT program for devices running Android and find a light source sufficient for a photo “in the light”: it can be either a window on a clear sunny day, or white screen computer with brightness turned up to maximum. The resulting photo can be edited directly on your smartphone using the application or sent to your computer.

    8. Google Photo Search

    In "desktop" Google search engine There has been such a function as photo search for a long time. Free app Google Goggles brings it to mobile devices.

    The Google Goggles program is designed primarily to search for various products, pictures, attractions; it is also capable of recognizing barcodes and QR codes, recognizing texts and translating them into different languages.

    What's most impressive about Google Goggles is its ability to recognize famous views and panoramas, book and CD covers, and even solve Sudoku puzzles! If you come across an incomprehensible phrase in a foreign language, point the lens of your smartphone at it and Google Goggles will translate it for you. The application has all the information power of Google at its disposal.

    Read more: