Odds are good that the camera on your Android phone – particularly if you have a Google Pixel device – is better than the webcam on your computer. Now you can use your Pixel as a remote webcam for your Mac or PC! Here’s how to get it all working…
If you’ve already updated to Android 14 and are the owner of a Google Pixel phone (or some Motorola Android phones) then you’re ready to use your phone as a remote webcam. All you need is a suitable cable! Other Android phones should get this feature in a future upgrade, so make sure you’re fully updated, then check and see if yours includes this slick new feature.
For this to work, you will need to have your phone connected via a direct cable to your computer. Apple’s had this feature in iOS on the iPhone for a while and it supports wireless connections too, so Android will undoubtedly add that option soonest to keep up with feature comparisons. For now, what I recommend is a little phone tripod – there are some terrific ones on Amazon for under $10 – and a long cable, probably USB-C to USB-C, so you have flexibility with placement.
STEP 1: PLUG YOUR PHONE INTO YOUR COMPUTER
I’m going to try a cross-platform test by plugging my Google Pixel 6 Pro into my Apple MacBook Pro. Since it’s going to show up as an external camera, it should be completely compatible with a PC, Linux, or Chromebook system too, along with some TVs and video game systems. Once plugged in, my phone see the USB cable as a source of power and nothing else. That’s the desired default behavior for safety and security.
If I go into “Settings” and search for “USB”…
There are quite a lot of choices and the entry we seek, inevitably, is the very last one. I’ll tap on “USB Preferences” and it shows quite a few options for that wired connection:
Your options might vary slightly because I also have debug mode enabled on my Pixel 6 Pro. What you seek and what I’ll choose is “Webcam” from the list. A tap and… nothing happens. But swipe from the top to bring up notifications on the shortcuts window and there’s an interesting new one has appeared:
Tap on the “Webcam” notification and it’ll show you what it sees and is going to share with the connected device. By default it’s going to choose the rear facing camera:
Yes, I’m working in my kitchen, so this is what my kitchen looks like. So clean!
Notice here you can choose between a 1x and 2x zoom and that you can switch to the front-facing camera. A tap on that button and I can now see myself on my phone screen:
A nice, crisp image that’s going to look great as a replacement for my computer’s webcam!
STEP 2: ON THE COMPUTER ITSELF
There are a variety of programs on a modern computer that can work with a webcam, but let’s just choose Zoom since it has a nice preview window where you can tweak and fiddle your settings. When I launch this, the default is the built-in webcam, so this is the baseline:
A bright, well illuminated image that’s entirely acceptable for webinars and Zoom calls. Notice directly below the image is a menu showing “FaceTime HD Camera”. Click on it!
Notice that my iPhone 15 Pro is also showing up as a camera and as a potential webcam with its “Desk View” mode chosen. For this task “Android Webcam” is the choice.
And boom! the camera image appears:
Looks really good. Now the fun begins, because, especially if you do have a tiny tripod, you can place the camera further away and people can then see you and your laptop!
An elegantly implemented feature that’s easy to use and quite helpful, especially if you have an older PC with a poor webcam or no webcam at all. Now, go test your phone to see if it works!
Pro Tip: There are lots of ways to manage your Android devices and ensure the best possible experience. Learn more by checking out my extensive Android help area while you’re here too!