Using Phone Link to Convert Your Phone Camera into a Webcam on Windows 11

This guide explains how to utilize your smartphone camera as a webcam via Phone Link on Windows 11. Phone Link is a vital feature in Windows 11 that offers a variety of functionalities. With this application, you can capture your mobile screen on your PC, extract text from images, manage Calls, and much more. Recently, it has introduced a feature that allows you to employ your Android smartphone or tablet camera as a webcam for any video conferencing software (including Zoom, web applications, and the Windows Camera app) on your Windows 11 device. You can effortlessly toggle between front and rear cameras, pause and resume your video feeds, and implement Effects (if your device supports them).

After connecting your Android phone to your PC using its desktop client and the mobile app (Link to Windows), you can access the Phone Link application to turn your phone into a webcam for taking photos, recording videos, streaming, and more. Ensure that both applications are fully updated to take advantage of this feature. Additionally, you must connect to Wi-Fi or enable mobile data to access the mobile camera.

How to Use Your Phone Camera as a Webcam with Phone Link in Windows 11

Follow these steps to employ your phone camera as a webcam using the Phone Link application on Windows 11:

• Launch the Settings app (Win+I) on your Windows 11 computer.
• Navigate to the Bluetooth & devices section.
• Select the Mobile devices tab.
• Enable the Phone Link option that allows PC access to your mobile device.
• Activate Allow this PC to access your mobile devices and expand the option.
• Click on the Manage devices button to open the Manage mobile devices window.
• Your connected device(s) will be displayed under the My devices list.
• Enable your mobile device by hitting the Enabled toggle.
• Activate the Use as a connected camera option, making the phone camera accessible to webcam-enabled applications.
• Launch a video application; here we’ll use the Camera app.
• In the application, click the Change camera icon located at the upper-right corner of the interface.
• A prompt will appear requesting permission to use your device’s camera; click the Send notification button within this prompt.
• A permission request notification will show on your mobile device; grant the necessary access (such as taking pictures or recording videos) for the Link to Windows application.
• After permission is granted, the Phone Link window on your computer will display two options that you can utilize:
  • Switch to rear or Switch to front camera.
  • Pause video or Resume video.

You will see the same options on your mobile device screen, as indicated in the image above. You may now start using your Android phone as a webcam and access the features available in the video application you are using.

To stop the camera streaming, click on the close icon located in the desktop notification box, then press the Disconnect button.

This allows you to switch to another video application when using your phone camera as a webcam.

Can I Use My Phone as a Webcam in Google Meet?

For utilizing your phone camera as a webcam during Google Meet sessions, you will require a third-party application that offers both a desktop client and a mobile app. A highly recommended option is DroidCam. Once you have installed this app and established a connection between your computer and phone, you can select your phone camera during a Google Meet call, apply visual enhancements, toggle between rear and front cameras, and much more. Additionally, you can connect your Pixel phone via a USB cable to use it as a webcam.

How Do I Access My Laptop Camera from My Phone on Windows 11?

While it’s not possible to access a laptop’s camera or webcam directly from your mobile device, there are numerous excellent free applications that enable remote control of your Windows PC from your smartphone. One such application is Chrome Remote Desktop. After configuring your device for remote access, you can manage the desktop from your phone, open applications like Notepad, and perform various other tasks. Other noteworthy apps for remotely controlling a PC include PC Remote and AnyDesk Remote Desktop.

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