➤Tutorial - How to use a smartphone as a webcam for PC 🕹

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Finding a webcam available in stock and deliverable is not easy at this time. For lack of anything better, mobile messaging apps can do the trick. But it is also possible to transform your smartphone into a computer webcam.

Our comparison of webcams has enjoyed a real resurgence of interest in recent days. This was a neglected product category on TechnologiesTips for a few years as laptops are now almost systematically equipped with this type of appendage. It must be added to this that smartphones – via messaging apps – have largely taken over for carrying out videoconferences.

Logitech HD Pro C920 Introductory price € 99

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C920 HD Pro
C920s HD Pro

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C920 HD Pro
C920s HD Pro

Buy used: Buy new:

Amazon 55,99
Rue du Commerce 59,98
Amazon Marketplace occasion 66,15
Grosbill 66,99
Amazon Warehouse 67,62
Boulanger.com 69,99
Cybertek 70,98
E. Leclerc - High-Tech 73,90
Fnac.com marketplace 77,43
Amazon Marketplace 79,99
The Redoubt 84,04
Cdiscount Marketplace 85,40
Officeeasy 87,78
Topbiz.com 89,74
Fnac.com Marketplace occasion 94,88
Top Buy 94,94
Darty.com 99,99
eBay 103,96
Abix 104,00
Maxesport 105,89
Materiel.net 105,90
LDLC 106,90
Fnac.com 115,99
Onedirect 184,89

Amazon Marketplace occasion 66,15
Grosbill 66,99
Amazon Warehouse 67,62
Amazon 69,00
Boulanger.com 69,99
Cybertek 70,98
E. Leclerc - High-Tech 73,90
Fnac.com marketplace 80,97
Cdiscount Marketplace 86,29
Amazon Marketplace 87,00
Officeeasy 87,78
The Redoubt 89,99
Topbiz.com 91,29
Fnac.com Marketplace occasion 94,88
Top Buy 104,94
Maxesport 105,89
Materiel.net 105,90
LDLC 106,90
eBay 107,01
Onedirect 184,89

Amazon 55,99
Rue du Commerce 59,98
Fnac.com marketplace 77,43
Amazon Marketplace 79,99
Grosbill 82,99
The Redoubt 84,04
Cdiscount Marketplace 85,40
Topbiz.com 89,74
Officeeasy 93,78
Top Buy 94,94
Amazon Marketplace occasion 96,27
Boulanger.com 99,99
Darty.com 99,99
eBay 103,96
Abix 104,00
Materiel.net 105,90
LDLC 106,90
Fnac.com 115,99

How the price table works

Users of webcams on fixed computers are now often limited to teleworkers and video game streamers. The observation of the Logitech catalog also confirms the trend. These are the star products of a few years ago that still remain in the catalog (the HD Pro C920 in the lead) and the novelties give pride of place to business solutions. On the general public side, we especially note the recent arrival of the StreamCam, a model intended for streamers precisely.

In recent days, many people have had to switch to telecommuting, with the consequence of a drastic drop in stocks of webcams at the various merchants. Today it is difficult to find a branded model in stock or delivered quickly. Not everyone is ready to grab the wallet either. Almost all consumer and professional messaging tools, however, offer video conferencing, two or more, via smartphone. We have already published an article on this subject.

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However, the solution is not ideal if you want to see your interlocutors in large or add interaction on certain professional applications (screen sharing in particular). In this case, there is a solution: transform your smartphone into a computer webcam via a free application. We present here the different stages of the operation. A good opportunity to bring out this old smartphone which is collecting dust at the bottom of a drawer.

Gekko Pod for Smartphone Introductory price 30 €

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Note: we suggest that you download the different applications required to complete this tutorial directly from our download service. To ensure a simplified and secure download, the files are stored on the publisher's website (Windows version) and on the Google Play Store (Android version).

0. Prerequisites

An Android smartphone
A Windows PC
Make sure the smartphone and the PC are connected to the same network (no 4G)

1. Downloading DroidCam Wireless Webcam

The first step is to download and install the DroidCam Wireless Webcam app on an Android smartphone. Use the drop-down menu in the download block below to select the Android version or go directly through the Play Store on your smartphone.

Tutorial - How to use a smartphone as a webcam for PC

DroidCam

Use your Android smartphone as a webcam

Downloads: 2877
Release date: 31/12/2021
Author: Dev47Apps
License: Free license
Categories: Video - Internet
Operating System: Android, Linux, Windows 7/8 / 8.1 / 10/11, iOS iPhone / iPad

Download

Android
Linux
Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11
iOS iPhone / iPad

Once installed, it is necessary to install the client version for Windows (there is also a version for Linux, but not for macOS). You can use the drop down menu in the download block above to select the Windows version.

2. Installation of DroidCam Wireless Webcam on the PC

Start the installation of the downloaded file on the computer. Nothing very complicated then: a succession of clicks on "Next", "I Agree" and "Install". Note that Windows will display an alert when installing a driver - the software part that will link the smartphone and the PC - and that is completely normal.

On the dialog box that appears, check the box "Always trust software from DEV47 APPS" and then click "Install". The installation continues and we finalize by clicking on "Finish".

3. Make the Android application communicate with Windows

To be done on the smartphone

Take the smartphone in hand and launch the DroidCam application. Click on "Next". The software explains that it is necessary for smartphone and PC to be connected to the same network. On a box, this means that, for example, the two devices must be connected to Wi-Fi, or the smartphone must be on Wi-Fi and the computer connected to the box by wired (or CPL). Press "We have it" - you will notice that the software translation is not perfect.

At this point, the smartphone requests permission for DroidCam to use the photo module. Tap on "Allow". Ditto for access to the microphone: tapping on "Authorize".

The smartphone application then presents different IP addresses; network addresses that will be used to communicate the smartphone with the PC. You can take a photo of this information with another smartphone if you wish. The most important thing is not to quit the application at this stage.

To be done on the computer

Return to the computer and launch the previously installed software (DroidCam Client). The "Device IP" box is empty. Enter the IP address indicated in the "Wifi IP" line of the mobile application. Make sure the "Video" and "Audio" boxes are checked and click "Start". You will then see appear on the computer what the rear photo module of the smartphone captures.

4. End of the operation

Video chat on Discord. On the left, the image comes from the "smartphone-webcam".

The conversion of the smartphone to a webcam is complete. It is now possible to use any videoconferencing application with this smartphone, for example Discord. It may be necessary to select the webcam in the application settings. Choose the one whose name is "DroidCam Source x" (the x is a random number).

Sometimes you need to manually select the webcam in the settings of the video conferencing application. Here, in Skype, we choose "DroidCam Source 2".