Not satisfied with the webcam on your Windows 11 computer or don’t have one at all? There’s no need to worry, as you can use your Android phone’s front or rear camera as a webcam on your Windows 11 PC with the help of Microsoft’s Phone Link app. Let’s see how.
What You Need to Use an Android Phone as a Webcam on Windows 11
Before we start, let’s go over some prerequisites for using your Android phone as a webcam on Windows 11.
How to Configure Windows 11 to Use Your Android’s Camera as a Webcam
To start, you need toset up the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PCand connect it to the Android phone you want to use as a webcam. Once you’ve done that, follow these steps to allow Windows 11 to wirelessly use your Android phone’s camera as a webcam:
How to Use Your 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 alsotest the camera output in Windowsby opening theSettingsapp and navigating toBluetooth & devices > Camera > Windows Virtual Camera.
You should now see your phone’s camera feed on Windows. This will also open a tiny window on your computer, allowing you to switch between the front and rear cameras or pause video. From the same window, you can apply various effects such as background blur, auto-framing, soft focus, and HDR.
Similar camera controls will also appear on your Android, along with a notification that reads “Your camera is connected,” indicating that your camera is being used. It’s worth noting that if you lock your Android phone manually or receive a phone call while using it as a webcam, the camera feed will pause automatically.
You can use your Android as a webcam in any video conferencing app, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, and others. Once you’re done using your phone as a webcam, simply close the camera controls window and selectDisconnectto confirm.
In our experience, the camera performance was excellent across different applications, and there was no lag despite the wireless connection. Once you’ve set up the feature, using your Android device as a webcam is as straightforward as changing the default camera device in your video conferencing application, provided both devices are connected through Phone Link.
How Does This Compare to Apple’s Continuity Camera Feature?
At first glance, Microsoft’s new feature allowing the use of an Android device as a webcam on Windows seems quite similar toApple’s Continuity Camerafeature. However, there are some notable differences.
For instance, you can’t use your Android phone’s microphone for communication, unlike an iPhone on a Mac. However, the good news is that you don’t need to lock your Android phone while using it as a webcam on Windows. This means that you can continue to use apps on your phone without interrupting the camera feed, something which is not possible when using an iPhone as a webcam on a Mac.
