How to use your iPhone as a webcam

Want to start using your iPhone as a webcam? Whether you have the latest model, an iPhone 5s, or anything in between, and use a Mac or Windows PC, Camo can do it for you. All while also giving you a wide array of tools to perfect, frame and customise your picture. Best of all, it’s quick, easy and free!

In this article, let's go through the simple steps to start using your iPhone as a webcam with your Mac or PC for your next meeting, stream or recording.

Download and install Camo

Here's how to set up Camo:

1. Download Camo on the App Store on your iPhone. You can also find it by simply searching for “Camo”.

2. Open the app on your phone and go through the onboarding.

3. Download Camo Studio on your macOS or Windows computer. You can do this either by going to https://camo.studio in a browser, AirDrop-ing the Camo Studio download to your Mac, or clicking Share Link in the final onboarding screen on your phone.

4. From there, click through the steps to download Camo Studio on your computer. You will need to grant Camo some permissions, and you may be asked to enter your password during the installation.

5. Install and run Camo Studio. On both Windows and Mac, Camo Studio will ask if you want to automatically check for updates. We recommend that you allow these, as we regularly release updates with new features and improvements.

6. Connect your iPhone to your computer, via either USB cable or Wi-Fi. If you choose USB, we recommend that you connect your iPhone directly to your computer - not via a USB hub - to avoid connection issues.

Once you've connected the cable, click Get Started on the iPhone app if you haven’t already. You can then select your iPhone in the Device dropdown in the left sidebar of Camo Studio, and video should now appear in the preview.

Connecting your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC via Wi-Fi

1. On your Mac or Windows PC, open Camo Studio and tap the + button next to the Device dropdown in the left sidebar. This will open a window with a QR code for pairing your devices.

2. In Camo on iPhone, tap the wireless connection button in the top right and scan the QR code from Step 1.

3. After a few seconds, your devices should connect automatically and video from your device should appear in the preview in Camo Studio.

Using Camo as a webcam

Now that Camo is set up, you can use all the tools available in the app to adjust your image, perfect your framing, and much more. And when you’re ready, why not record a short clip to check that all your settings and devices are exactly like you want them? You can do so by hitting the record button in the top right of Camo Studio.

If you’re looking to use Camo for your work meetings and presentations, simply open your video conferencing app of choice and select Camo Camera in its video settings. You can also select Camo as an audio source, either to use the microphone on your iPhone as an input, or to let the app help keep your audio and video in sync.

Camo is compatible with all video conferencing apps. Once Camo Studio is installed and running on your computer, you don’t need to do anything more to use it with other apps.

Similarly, if you’re looking to start streaming using your Android phone as a camera – say as the source for your selfie video – then simply select Camo Camera as the device for a video capture source in broadcast software like OBS or Streamlabs.

If you want to go deeper, we have additional guides and articles that cover:

• Getting the perfect mount for your setup
• Helping you look great on calls
• How to make the most of your lighting

Once you’ve settled on the best setup for your needs using Camo, and you’re looking to start creating professional quality content, it might be time to check out Camo Pro. It will allow you to take full advantage of your device, unlocking higher resolutions for recording, meeting, and streaming.