Thanks to Android we can have a series of apps that turn our mobile into a webcam so that we can connect through the camera and transmit video from our PC. With the given trend of Zoom, this type of apps can come in handy if we do not have a quality webcam for our computer.
Using our mobile as a webcam through the WiFi connection
First and foremost, we are going to start using an app that we can use the WiFi to connect to it and transmit video as if it were a webcam. We also have the option to connect the mobile through the web connection, but that will be next.
That said, in order to use these two apps on our mobile and on our PC, the two devices must be under the same WiFi connection. The app that we are going to use is iVCam and it allows us for free use the camera of our mobile to emit the video that the lens captures, but if we want to use the microphone, we will have to pay the amount of 20 dollars for it.
We can always pull a microphone that we have on our laptop or on our PC from the same external one that we have on our speakers. Everything it goes through configuring it through the PC in order to assign the microphone Said for video transmission. What interests us about this app is that it is free and that it sends us the video from the camera to use as a webcam. Go for it:
- We download the iVCam Webcam app on Android:
- Now we have to download the client on the PC that will serve as a bridge to use our mobile as a webcam:
- iVCam for the PC: discharge
- Now we have to launch the two applications to connect automatically and thus we are able to see the source of the transmission of the camera in video from our mobile, or even our tablet, on our PC
- Now, in the chat app that we use, as it could be the same ZOOM, we have to choose e2eSoft iVCam as the camera input
- If for whatever reason you see yourself in need of buy the premium version of the app to benefit from the microphone, you must choose in the audio options of the video streaming app to e2eSoft VAudio. This will activate the audio in the videoconferencing app that you are using to connect with colleagues or friends.
Using the Android mobile as a webcam by connecting it to the USB connection
Another important option is use the USB connection of our mobile to connect to the PC and thus move on from the WiFi connection; especially if we do not have the option of connecting to one and we are forced to use the cable for the same. The idea would be to use the same shared data connection of the mobile to create a WiFi point and from this we would connect from the laptop and thus the video transmission could be done through apps such as those of Zoom and others.
In this case let's use DroidCam, an app that will allow us, like the previous one, to turn our mobile into a webcam. The truth be told, and that is that we are going to have to make a few adjustments on the phone to be able to enjoy this connection.
- We go to USB connection settings when we connect the phone and we have to activate the option "connect the phone to the computer via USB"
- We download this app:
- We start the app and we will see a screen where the server starts
- Now we have to download the client we need for our PC to make the connection with this server:
- DroidCam PC Client: Download
- We launch the app on the PC after installing it and we have to select «Connect over USB» so that the connection is made via USB
With this we have everything configured so that DroidCam use your mobile camera as a webcam as if by magic. We can configure some settings to improve the sending of the video signal and use this app to connect with those popular video experiences today such as Zoom and others.
More apps to use our mobile as a webcam
In the Play Store We also have more apps that help us connect through the camera of our mobile and thus turn it into a webcam. One of them very popular is IP Webcam.
- We can download it:
Among some of its most important features is the ability to connect via WiFi connection without it having a connection to Internet. It works with VLC and a number of other platforms, so it's as simple as setting it up just like we've done with the other apps.
It has the ability to upload videos to Dropbox, SFTP, FTP and email with a plugin that activates the upload, web renders such as Flash, Javascript or integrated, video recording in different formats, audio transmission in more formats and the ability to detect movement by sound. A series of characteristics that make it a very valid app for these purposes of using the mobile as a webcam.
The apps that allow us to use even cell phones that we have old and that thanks to their rear cameras we will be able to bring them back to "life". So go through your drawers in case you haven't thrown away that Galaxy from years ago and with a new battery you can use it as a webcam and save a few euros in these difficult days