How to use Android phone as a webcam on Windows 11

Not satisfied with the webcam on your Windows 11 computer or no webcam at all? No need to worry because you can use your Android phone's front or back camera as a webcam on your Windows 11 PC with the help of Microsoft's Phone Link app. Let's find out details through the following article!

Things needed to use an Android phone as a webcam on Windows 11

Before we get started, let's take a look at some of the prerequisites for using your Android phone as a webcam on Windows 11.

1. Currently, only Windows 11 computers running Release Preview , Dev , or Canary builds of the Windows Insider program are supported.
2. The latest version of the Link to Windows app on both your phone and computer.
3. Your phone must be running Android 9.0 or higher. Not sure which version your phone is running? Watch to find out.

How to configure Windows 11 to use Android camera as a webcam

To get started, you need to set up the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PC and connect it to the Android phone you want to use as a webcam. Once you've done that, follow these steps to let Windows 11 wirelessly use your Android phone's camera as a webcam:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings application.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices .
3. Click the Manage devices button .
4. In the My devices section , turn on the switch next to Use as a connected camera .

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How to use Android phone as a webcam on Windows 11

Once everything is set up, you can start using your Android phone as a webcam in any app on your Windows 11 PC. You can also check the camera output in Windows by opening the Settings app and navigating to Bluetooth & devices > Camera > Windows Virtual Camera .

You should now see your phone's camera feed on Windows. This will also open a small window on your computer, allowing you to switch between the front and rear cameras or pause the video. From the same window, you can apply various effects such as background blur, auto-framing, soft focus, and HDR.

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The same camera controls will also appear on your Android, along with a message that says "Your camera is connected," indicating that your camera is in use. It's worth noting that if you manually lock your Android phone or receive a phone call while using it as a webcam, the camera feed will automatically pause.

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You can use your Android as a webcam in any online meeting app, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, and others. After you finish using your phone as a webcam, just close the camera control window and select Disconnect to confirm.

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From experience, the camera performance was excellent across different apps and there was no lag despite the wireless connection. Once you've set this up, using an Android device as a webcam is as simple as changing the default camera device in your online meeting app, as long as both devices are connected via Phone Link.

How does this compare to Apple's Continuity Camera feature?

At first glance, Microsoft's new feature that allows using Android devices as webcams on Windows seems quite similar to Apple's Continuity Camera feature. However, there are some notable differences.

For example, you cannot use your Android phone's microphone to communicate, unlike an iPhone on a Mac. However, the good news is that you don't need to lock your Android phone when using it as a webcam on Windows. This means you can continue to use apps on your phone without interrupting the camera feed, which is impossible when using an iPhone as a webcam on a Mac.

Micah Soto

Update 09 April 2024