Use Smartphone Camera as Webcam for Apps in Windows 11
Tags: windows11, smartphone, webcam, windowstweaks
Published: 2024-05-12 04:55:21

Use Smartphone Camera as Webcam for Apps in Windows 11: <strong>Why buy a webcam when you can use your smartphone as your webcam?</strong> Imagine a scenario where your computer or laptop lacks a built-in webcam, or perhaps the webcam's quality leaves much to be desired. Fret not, as Windows 11 brings a game-changing solution: using your smartphone's camera as a webcam for various apps like <strong>Default Camera</strong>, <strong>Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet</strong>, and so on. Say goodbye to grainy video and hello to crisp, professional-grade visuals for your official meetings with the help of your Smartphone camera. I wanted to make this article because I own an <strong>ASUS ROG G Strix Gaming Laptop</strong> which does not have a webcam and hence, I wanted to explore options to use my smartphone as a camera for Windows 11. Surprisingly, Windows 11 provides a <strong>built-in feature</strong> to make Android Smartphone cameras available to apps that use a webcam, Let's dive into the steps right away.
<ol>
 	<li>In your Windows 11 PC, open Windows Settings using the shortcut <kbd><strong>Win Key + I</strong>.</kbd></li>
 	<li>From the left pane, click on <strong>Bluetooth &amp; Devices</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-564 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bluetooth-Devices.jpg" alt="Bluetooth &amp; Devices" width="1157" height="689" /> Bluetooth &amp; Devices</li>
 	<li><strong>Turn on Bluetooth</strong> if it is turned off.

<img class="wp-image-565 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Enable-Bluetooth.jpg" alt="Enable Bluetooth" width="1309" height="723" /> Enable Bluetooth</li>
 	<li>Now, click on <strong>Mobile Devices</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-566 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Mobile-Devices.jpg" alt="Mobile Devices" width="1365" height="804" /> Mobile Devices</li>
 	<li>Toggle the switch of "<strong>Allow this PC to access your mobile devices</strong>" to ON.

<img class="wp-image-567 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Allow-this-PC-to-access-your-Mobile-Devices.jpg" alt="Allow this PC to access your Mobile Devices" width="1265" height="712" /> Allow this PC to access your Mobile Devices</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Manage Devices</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-568 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Manage-Devices.jpg" alt="Manage Devices" width="1272" height="703" /> Manage Devices</li>
 	<li>Choose your Microsoft Account, just in case you want to switch your account. If you are good to go, click on <strong>Add Device</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-569 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Add-Device.jpg" alt="Add Device" width="706" height="338" /> Add Device</li>
 	<li>A QR Code will now pop up. You can use this QR Code to set up seamless access to mobile content on Windows 11 PC. <strong>Scan the QR Code</strong> using your Android Smartphone.

<img class="wp-image-570 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Scan-the-QR-Code-to-connect-to-link-your-Android-Mobile-Device.jpg" alt="Scan the QR Code to connect to link your Android Mobile Device" width="684" height="807" /> Scan the QR Code to connect to your Android Mobile Device</li>
 	<li>Upon scanning the QR Code using your smartphone, you will be prompted to install <strong>Link to Windows App</strong>. Kindly Install it on your smartphone. Allow permissions on the phone accordingly.</li>
 	<li>If you don't want to use the QR Code, then click on <strong>Continue without a QR Code</strong>. You will have to open the following link on your smartphone. <a href="http://aka.ms/linkPC" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">aka.ms/linkPC</a>.

<img class="wp-image-571 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Continue-without-QR-Code.jpg" alt="Continue without QR Code." width="665" height="896" /> Continue without a QR Code.</li>
 	<li>You will be prompted to install the Link to Windows App. Please install it and allow the App permissions accordingly.</li>
 	<li>In the next step, you will be asked to log in to your Microsoft Account. Login to your <strong>Microsoft Account</strong>, Make sure to log in with the same Microsoft Account that you have logged in to the PC.</li>
 	<li>Either way, once you complete the steps on the phone, you will be asked to <strong>return to your PC</strong> for further steps.

<img class="wp-image-572 size-medium" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Return-to-your-PC-to-finish-Setup-135x300.jpg" alt="Return to your PC to finish Setup" width="135" height="300" /> Return to your PC to finish Setup</li>
 	<li>On your PC, you can find the message "<strong>You are all Set</strong>". Click <strong>Continue</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-573 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/You-are-all-set.jpg" alt="You are all set" width="844" height="817" /> You are all set</li>
 	<li>You can find your smartphone added to "<strong>My Devices</strong>". Toggle the switch to turn on the Device.

<img class="wp-image-574 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Enable-your-smartphone.jpg" alt="Enable your smartphone" width="1160" height="826" /> Enable your smartphone</li>
 	<li>Once you enable the device, you can find options "<strong>Use as a connected camera</strong>, and <strong>Get new photo notifications</strong>" enabled. You can customize it as per your needs.

<img class="wp-image-575 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Use-as-a-connected-camera.jpg" alt="Use as a connected camera" width="1159" height="544" /> Use as a connected camera</li>
 	<li>That is it, Your Smartphone is now connected to your Windows 11 PC and is ready to be used as a connected camera(webcam).</li>
 	<li>When you open Apps that require a webcam, say the default, camera app, you can find the option pop up in your smartphone where you can also choose whether you want to use your <strong>front camera or back camera</strong>. It also is an indication that the app on your PC is using your Smartphone camera.

<img class="size-medium wp-image-576" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Use-Front-Camera-or-Back-Camera-135x300.jpg" alt="Use Front Camera or Back Camera" width="135" height="300" /> Use Front Camera or Back Camera</li>
 	<li>You can also find the notification on your Android Smartphone, "You are connected".

<img class="wp-image-578 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Your-devices-are-connected.jpg" alt="Your devices are connected" width="258" height="151" /> Your devices are connected</li>
 	<li>Enjoy your virtual office meetings, and video recordings and don't worry about a webcam and enjoy using this tweak on Windows 11.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Check out the Connected Cameras in Windows 11:</h3>
You can find connected camera information in Windows 11 PC using the following settings.
<ul>
 	<li>Open Windows Settings using the shortcut <strong><kbd>Win Key + I</kbd></strong>.</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Bluetooth &amp; Devices</strong>.</li>
 	<li>Now, click on <strong>Cameras</strong>.

<img class="wp-image-579 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Connected-Cameras.jpg" alt="Camera" width="1255" height="605" /> Camera</li>
 	<li>You can find the connected camera information. Click your Android Smartphone connected camera.

<img class="wp-image-581 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Windows-Virtual-Camera-List.jpg" alt="Windows Virtual Camera List" width="1255" height="598" /> Windows Virtual Camera List</li>
 	<li>You can find your smartphone camera(<strong>Windows Virtual Camera</strong>). You can also control your camera privacy settings here.

<img class="wp-image-580 size-full" src="https://winsides.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Windows-Virtual-Camera.jpg" alt="Windows Virtual Camera" width="1333" height="845" /> Windows Virtual Camera</li>
</ul>
<h2>Take away:</h2>
Say goodbye to webcam limitations and hello to a new era of clarity and engagement with the <strong>Windows 11 Virtual Camera Feature </strong>and connect your <strong>Android Smartphone as a webcam for Apps in Windows 11</strong>. Embrace this innovative solution to elevate your virtual experiences and stay ahead in today's interconnected digital landscape. <strong>Happy Meeting! Peace out!</strong>

Source: [How to use Android Smartphone as Webcam for Windows 11?](https://winsides.com/use-smartphone-camera-webcam-for-apps-in-windows-11/)