Due to the pandemic, most people stay at home to work and take classes through online video conferences. It has been a sudden transition from the digital age wherein everything is done using gadgets and computers. So, it’s not shocking that most video conferencing equipment and tools like webcams are getting expensive because of the high demand. It’s hard to find affordable webcams, especially under this circumstance.
Additionally, although most laptops have built-in webcams, those with desktop computers are having difficulty getting a nice camera without ripping their pockets. It can be a huge struggle for work-from-home employees, students, and even businesses. Fortunately, there are smart solutions on how to use the phone as webcams. It becomes possible for you to transform and connect your mobile phones on your pc to use as webcams.
Using Android Phone as Webcams through DroidCam
Using your phone to video call or hold a video conferencing meeting for your office or class is sometimes not the best option since the screen can be small. Also, it’s inconvenient when the video conference has many members, making it hard to see everyone in that tiny space. So, the best solution would be using a laptop or computer, but what if your pc does not have a webcam?
One thing that you can do is to use your android phone as a webcam and connect it to your pc through a free application called DroidCam. It’s free software that you can download on Google PlayStore, transforming your phone into a webcam. It works hand-in-hand with the Windows client to fully integrate your phone as a webcam to your desktop or laptop.
DroidCam requires you to download the app on your phone and the Windows Client on your computer. Once downloaded, it will allow you to input the IP Address and connect your two devices. It can sound complicated, but you don’t have to be tech-savvy to do this; all you need is to follow this simple guide to get started.
Step 1: Download the app on your phone from Google Play Store. However, you have to make sure that the system of your Android phone is 5.0 or higher for the compatibility of the app.
Step 2: Go to your computer and download the Windows client. Wait until the installation prompt appears and finish the installation setup.
Step 3: Once the windows client is installed on your computer, you can click the DroidCam icon to launch the app. After that, open the app on your android phone. Allow the app to access your camera along with the microphone.
Step 4: Connect both of your devices to the internet.
Step 5: On the mobile app, the IP Addresses or some sort of numbers are displayed after the DroidCam Port and Wi-Fi IP. Then, you’ll see the fields DroidCam Port and Device IP on the PC software, where you need to input those numbers.
Step 6: After setting it up, you’ll see the start button, and once you click it, the app on your phone will launch the camera. Meanwhile, the PC client will also open the feed where you can adjust the features of the webcam.
Step 7: Once the apps on both devices are launched, you can open the video conferencing software and change its camera and microphone settings to DroidCam and DroidCam Virtual Audio.
Using iOS Phone as Webcam
The DroidCam application is also available on Apple Store, and the same setup is required to make it work. However, there is also another alternative app called EpocCam for iPhone users. It works the same as DroidCam but with limited features. Here are the steps to integrate the EpocCam as your webcam:
Step 1: Download the EpocCam apps on your mobile phone. Its free version is available on the Apple AppStore.
Step 2: Download the Drivers on your macOS or Windows and wait until installed.
Step 3: Once you downloaded and installed the app and drivers, you need to restart your computer.
Step 4: After restarting, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 5: Launch both the EpocCam app and software on your phone and computer.
Step 6: Afterwards, you can now open the video conferencing software available on your computer, whether it’s Zoom, Skype or other platforms. The EpocCam will automatically show up once you launch the video conferencing software.
Droid Cam VS EpocCam
One of the advantages of DroidCam is its useful customization features available on its free version. For example, it allows you to set the contrast and brightness of the video. Additionally, DroidCam has the option for you to choose whether to use your phone’s rear or front camera. Finally, it also allows the users to change the audio setting whether they want to use the phone’s mic or the computer’s.
However, the video quality might not be as superb as other webcams, and you might experience some delays. But to get the most out of DroidCam, you can upgrade to its premium version for $5. For its premium version, you can have a video quality of up to 720p and get rid of the Ads.
On the other hand, EpocCam is pretty convenient as well, but its features are limited. For example, unlike DroidCam, you can only use the rear camera to use for video conferencing. Moreover, its video and audio quality are not as great as DroidCam unless you pay for its premium version. If you choose to upgrade for $7.99, you can access other features like HD videos, microphone support, and camera adjustments.
Test your Webcam Online
Choosing the proper app to turn your phone into a webcam for your video conferencing can be challenging. So, you might need to test the webcam before investing in upgrading to the apps premium version.
One of such tests is available on DeviceTests. You don’t have to install any software or app; all you need to do is go to the site and test your webcam in a few clicks. It can be helpful for you to choose the right webcam application to use for your virtual calls and meetings.
