How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam in Windows 11

Microsoft has implemented a new approach, called Moments, for delivering significant feature updates to its operating system with the release of Windows 11. The company has recently unveiled its Moment 5 update, offering a range of thrilling features. One noteworthy feature is the capability to utilize your Android phone as a webcam, bringing the same functionality as Apple’s Continuity Camera to Windows. Here’s a breakdown of how it functions.

Connect your Android Device to your Computer

Before you can use your Android device as a webcam, you must first connect it to your Windows 11 PC.

First, download the ‘Link To Windows’ app on your smartphone from the Google Play Store.
Ensure that your app is updated to version 1.24012 or higher. If you have an older version, join the beta program to access the most recent version.

Afterward, access the Settings app on your Windows computer and navigate to the ‘Bluetooth and Devices’ section located on the left side.

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on both the PC and your Android device before clicking on the ‘Add Device’ option.

Upon appearing, a pop-up will provide you with the option to select how to connect your device. Simply click on the ‘Bluetooth’ option.

Windows will start searching for Bluetooth devices around. Click on your device name when it appears to connect it.

Both devices will display a pairing code. Simply click on the ‘Connect’ button to pair them, and your Android device will then be successfully connected to your PC.

Use Your Android Device as a Webcam

Upon successfully connecting your Windows 11 PC to your Android device, you will still need to grant access to the device before being able to use it as a webcam.

On the ‘Bluetooth and Devices’ page, click on the ‘Mobile Devices’ option.

Upon opening the ‘Mobile Devices’ page, you will notice the option ‘Allow This PC To Access Your Mobile Devices’. Simply click on the adjacent button to activate it.

Enabling this option will prompt Windows to start installing the Cross-Device Experience Host Update, which is required for the feature to work.

You can also find this update in the Microsoft Store and update it from there if you’re having trouble with it.

After the update has finished, click on the ‘Manage Devices’ button once more and a pop-up will appear, allowing you to add your Android device.

Afterward, select the ‘Add Device’ button in the pop-up window that appears.

Your PC will show you a QR code you need to scan using the Link To Windows app on the Android device you want to connect.

After scanning the code, a six-digit alphanumeric code will be displayed on your screen. You must input the same digits on your mobile device in order to continue.

After entering the code, it will take a few minutes for Windows to add your device. A confirmation message will be displayed once the pairing is finished. Click the ‘Continue’ button located at the bottom.

Your device will now appear in the ‘My Mobile Devices’ section, where you can select the option ‘Use As A Connected Camera’. Click on the adjacent button to activate it.

You are now prepared to utilize your Android device as a webcam.

Using Your Android Device as a Webcam with Third-Party Apps

To utilize your Android device as a webcam, just choose it from the available selections in your virtual meeting application.

First, launch your camera app, and a pop-up will appear asking for your permission to use your mobile device as a camera.
Click on the ‘Continue’ button, and your laptop will start using the camera on your Android device immediately.
Other apps, like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, will also detect your Android phone when you sign in or set up a meeting.
You can switch between the front and rear cameras on your phone and even pin the camera window on top of other windows.

Camera controls available on your PC and phone when using your phone as a webcam. Source: Microsoft

Microsoft’s provision of using an Android device as a webcam on Windows 11 has given users an additional incentive to switch to their OS. The benefits of being able to utilize an Android device as a webcam are numerous.

Smartphone cameras have become increasingly powerful and, in many instances, outperform the built-in cameras on laptops. Additionally, they can also prolong the lifespan of an older Android device. If your built-in webcam is malfunctioning and you do not want to invest in a separate webcam, using your smartphone’s camera is the perfect solution.