Webcams in laptops aren’t great, and even external webcams struggle unless you pay for a high-end model. Before you look for an upgrade, think about the much better camera that’s already in your pocket. You can turn your Android phone into a high-definition webcam with shocking ease.
The days of installing janky or expensive third-party apps on both your phone and computer just to get this to work are finally over (for some of us). Android 14 in 2023 brought a much cleaner native solution. Now, when you plug your Android phone into any computer—Windows, Mac, and even Linux—it can be recognized as a standard webcam.
Sadly, not every Android manufacturer has chosen to support this feature. As of now, in late 2025, you’ll find it working natively on Google Pixel and Motorola phones. If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy or OnePlus device, you’ll still need to look at third-party solutions or Samsung’s special partnership with Microsoft’s Phone Link for a similar experience on Windows. But the pure, built-in feature is cleaner and what we’re focused on here.
Why use a phone as a webcam?
Before we dive into the step-by-step, let’s talk about why you might want to do this. As mentioned, the built-in webcams on most laptops are an afterthought. Even the latest MacBook Pro only has a 12MP camera, and the situation isn’t any better on Windows laptops. It doesn’t take much to find an Android phone with a better camera than that.
Desktop computers are a different story. Typically, you need to buy your own external webcam. That’s yet another thing to buy along with all the other peripherals. If quality is important to you, a good webcam will easily cost over $100. Why not put that money toward something else and use the camera you already have on you every day?
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You can use your Android phone as a wireless mic for your PC
Instead of relying on your laptop’s tinny internal mic, you can connect your phone’s microphone to your computer. It also comes in handy if your PC doesn’t have an in-built mic, and you need to make a recording or take a meeting. The setup shouldn’t take more than two minutes. Let’s begin.
How to use your Android phone as a webcam
Getting started is as simple as it could be. First, grab a USB cable and plug your Android device into your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. Once connected, your phone will show a notification that says something like “Charging this device via USB.” Tap it.
Tapping the notification brings up the USB connection menu. Look for the “Use USB for” section, and you will see an option for “Webcam.” Your computer will now be able to see your phone as a camera source.
On your computer, your phone should now appear as a selectable webcam in whatever video conferencing app you’re using. It may appear as “Android Webcam” or the specific name of the phone. If you use Google Meet, for instance, you simply open the video settings and choose your phone instead of your built-in webcam.
But it gets better. Configuration controls can be accessed from the “Webcam” notification that should appear on your phone. This is where you can toggle between your phone’s front-facing and rear-facing cameras. You can also adjust the zoom level here. Just keep in mind that you’re limited to the main camera sensors. You won’t be able to switch to your wide-angle or telephoto lenses.
That’s the entire process. Once you’re done, you’ll immediately see a massive improvement in your video call quality. The biggest thing to figure out is how to mount your phone so it’s pointing at your face correctly. If you’ve got a MagSafe-compatible phone or case, there are some great magnetic mounting options that clip right to your monitor. For everyone else, a simple clamp mount will do the trick.
Weight
3.52 ounces
Material
Aluminum alloy
Seamlessly integrate your magnetically-compatible phone with your laptop or monitor using the Stouchi Aluminum Continuity Camera Mount. This alloy mount provides secure, hands-free attachment for high-quality video conferencing, supporting vertical orientation and adjustable viewing angles up to 30 degrees downward.
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You Don’t Need A New Webcam, You Need a Light
Most webcams don’t have the high-quality camera sensors and high resolutions found in modern smartphones, so dark environments or a light source behind you can easily ruin your video quality. Before you rush off to buy a new webcam, though, you should try getting a light first.