Use your Android phone as a webcam (and stop settling for that laptop lens)

Your laptop webcam works. Technically. But if you’ve ever looked grainy on a Zoom call or faded into a shadowy blur during a meeting, you already know — it’s not great. The good news? Your Android phone probably has a better camera than your computer. And you can use it as your webcam. Easily.

First step: install DroidCam on both devices

On your phone, head to the Google Play Store and search for DroidCam. It’s the app that’ll bridge your phone and your computer. Once that’s installed, go to the developer’s site and download the DroidCam Client for your computer (Windows or Linux only, for now).

You’ll need both the phone app and desktop software running. They talk to each other — one acts as the camera, the other receives the feed.

Option 1: wireless setup (easy, but watch your signal)

If both your phone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi, this setup works in a few seconds. Open the DroidCam app on your phone. It’ll show an IP address and a port — something like 192.168.1.3:4747. On your PC, open the DroidCam Client, choose Wi-Fi, and copy those numbers into the right fields. Hit “Start.” Done.

Your phone’s camera is now active. No cables, no fuss. But if your signal is shaky, expect occasional lag.

Option 2: USB cable (more stable, slightly more setup)

This one takes a minute longer. On your Android phone, you’ll need to enable USB debugging first:

• Go to Settings > About phone, and tap Build number seven times. Yes, seven.
• Go back, and you’ll now see Developer options. Open that, and enable USB debugging.

Now, connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. On the DroidCam Client, switch to USB mode. Press “Start.” Your phone should now be working as a wired webcam — more reliable, no Wi-Fi dropouts.

Set it up in your video app of choice

Whether you use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS, or Google Meet, go into the camera settings and select DroidCam Source (sometimes it shows up as DroidCam 1). Your Android phone should now be sending video in place of your built-in webcam.

A few real-world tweaks

• Set your phone at eye level. Use a tripod or even a stack of books. Anything but the table surface.
• Plug in your phone. Streaming drains battery fast, even when idle.
• Lighting matters more than resolution. Face a window if you can — never put one behind you.
• Switch to the rear camera for higher quality (if the app allows it).

No need to buy a dedicated webcam if you’ve already got a decent phone in your pocket. Just pair it with the right app, and your video calls will actually look like you exist in the same decade as everyone else.