Use Your Android Phone as a Webcam for Your Computer
Need a webcam for a video call? Many newer Android phones have a built-in Webcam mode. Plug the phone into your computer with a USB cable, pick Webcam, and your video app sees the phone as a normal USB camera. Nothing to install on the phone or the computer.
What You Need
- An Android phone running Android 14 or newer that includes Webcam mode. Google supports it on Pixel 6 and newer and Pixel Fold. Samsung supports it on the Galaxy S26 series.
- A USB cable that supports data, not a charge-only cable.
- A computer that works with standard USB (UVC) webcams, such as Windows, Mac, Linux or ChromeOS, and a video app like Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.
- No apps required. Everything is built into Android.
Turn Your Phone Into a Webcam
Menu names can vary slightly between phone makers and Android versions.
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Step 1: Plug in your phone
Connect your phone to the computer with a USB cable that supports data. Some cables only charge and won’t work.
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Step 2: Open the USB notification
Swipe down from the top of your phone’s screen and tap the Charging this device through USB notification. The wording can vary slightly by phone.
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Step 3: Choose Webcam
Under Use USB for, select Webcam. Your computer now sees the phone as a regular USB webcam.
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Step 4: Pick the phone in your video app
In Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or another video app, open the video or camera settings and choose your phone from the camera list.
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Step 5: Frame your shot
Tap the Webcam notification at the top of your phone’s screen to open the preview. From there you can switch between the front and back cameras, zoom, and tap the picture to focus.
While It’s a Webcam
- Your phone keeps charging over the USB cable.
- You can keep using your phone, switch to other apps, or turn the screen off.
- If you get a video call or open another camera app on the phone, the webcam feed pauses and picks back up when you’re done.
- No Webcam option? Try a different cable that supports data. If it still doesn’t show up, your phone doesn’t have this feature yet. Phone makers decide whether to include it.
- A Pixel phone can’t be used as a webcam for another Pixel phone.