How to use your smartphone as a webcam. How to turn your Android smartphone into a security camera

If you have a phone running Android OS, but do not have a web camera, and you suddenly need it, then you can use your phone as a web camera. Below I will show you how to do it web camera from the phone.

To do this, you need to download a program to your phone - IP Webcam.

After installation, launch this application, your phone must be connected to WiFi networks. Below, click on the start broadcast button.

On the screen you will see the connection address, for example in my case - http://192.168.1.145:8080.

We go to this address in the browser.

A window will open where you can set some camera settings, manage recording, watch video, etc. Go to the chat drivers menu. There are 2 drivers available, for Linux and for Windows.

Let's start with Linux.

The driver is a script. It can work both via WiFi and via wire. Moreover, the author strongly recommends using a wire. In order for the script to work when the phone is connected via USB, you need to install it on ADB computer. To do this, type the command in the terminal:

Sudo apt-get isntall android-tools-adb

And download the script itself from the link.

Unzip it somewhere. After that, you need to edit it a little if you plan to use the camera via WiFi. Find the line with the device address (WIFI_IP=) and change it to the phone address. After that, save the script and give the right to execute:

Sudo chmod +x prepare-videochat.sh

After this we run the script

./prepare-videochat.sh

When you run it for the first time, the script will ask for permission to install additional packages which he requires for his work. We agree. After installation, you will have a emulated v4l2loopback camera (/dev/video0), which the script will notify you about.

For Windows it's still simpler. On the same page with drivers, select IP Camera Adapter. There will be a link on the page that opens. I'll duplicate it just in case.

In general, download the program and install it. After installation, run Configure IP Camera Adapter and enter the address of our camera in the window, and click the autodetect button to make sure that everything works.

That's it, after this you will have an MJPEG Camera device, which you can select in the program you need.

Don't have a webcam, but need to make an urgent video call in Skype or some other program? Perhaps you already have a webcam but want to add another one?

All you need for this is your phone and a suitable application.

Why use your phone as a webcam? Using your phone can be much more convenient than purchasing a separate webcam.

Although webcams are now built into many monitors and laptops, not all of them. Peripheral webcams are still popular, but they can be more difficult to install and configure. In addition, the main cameras in most smartphones have excellent shooting quality. In this article we will tell you how to properly set up and use your phone as a webcam.

Method 1 – DroidCam program

DroidCam comes in two parts: as an Android app, free of Google Play, and as a desktop client, which is available for Windows and Linux OS on this resource:

Start with installation Android applications. While it's installing, turn your attention to your desktop computer. Unzip the archive and run the installation file, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Connect your phone to your computer. If you choose to connect via USB, you only need a USB cable.

Launch the application on your phone and computer. Once launched, you will be asked to enter the IP address of your mobile device. It's easy enough to find, just launch the app on your Android and it will show the IP address as well as the port number.

Returning to your computer desktop, you will notice your phone has been detected. Select video quality (low, normal and high) and get started.

When you're ready to continue, click the Start button to start streaming. The mobile application will send an image from the phone's camera to the computer. For devices with two cameras, in mobile application Click the “Settings” button and check the corresponding checkbox for the active camera.

Note: Although the free version of DroidCam is considered a good option, it is still not perfect. For example, you can only use the webcam in landscape mode, zoom is limited, as are resolution, brightness, and various other controls found in the menu at the bottom of the DroidCam client desktop. To activate them, you must upgrade to the paid version of DroidCam. If you feel like you'll be using these features, it's best to purchase the app ($3.99).

You can also check the functionality of the application in the popular Skype program. To do this, go to Tools > Options > Video Settings. In the video capture devices field, select a webcam from the list (Android-webcam) and click the “Save” button. Now you can make a test call.

Method 2 – IP Webcam application

The setup is very similar to DroidCam. However, IP Webcam does have a configuration tool that you will need to configure. The fact is that IP Webcam requires a web browser to view. And only or , so Windows users, cannot use .

To view you will need to use the following address:

HTTP://:8080

Various image resolutions are available for the main cameras of smartphones. Support for the front camera is not yet fully implemented.

Press the action button on your Android device to check to make sure the app is working correctly and to stop and start the camera.

Note: The disadvantage of this program is the inability to use it in popular instant messengers, for example, Skype. However, it is perfect for organizing video surveillance.

To make calls and video conferences, we recommend using the DroidCam program.

The camera built into a smartphone or tablet can be used not only for shooting masterpieces and sending them to Instagram. And not even just for video calls. Here are some non-trivial ways to use the miniature camera that is always with us.

1. Surveillance system

If you have an extra phone or tablet under Android control(version 1.2 and above), then you can turn them into a home video surveillance system using the IP Webcam application. By setting up the program at home, you can watch the “live” broadcast via the Internet on your computer or another phone. To save battery, you can choose to broadcast a low-resolution stream. If the device is connected to the mains, you can configure the transmission of higher quality video.

6. Digitize your papers

A tablet or smartphone is a pocket scanner that is always with you. Install the CamScanner HD application, which exists in versions for Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 – and turn your portable gadget into a full-fledged scanner with the ability to combine and annotate documents, save to a file and text recognition (unfortunately, the Russian language is not supported). For an additional fee, it is possible to save all documents into editable PDFs and store them in a 10-gigabyte cloud.

Handy Scanner application for devices running operating system Android systems allows you to scan documents or photos and save them to PDF files, which can be sent by email or automatically sent to Dropbox cloud storage.

7. Scan film negatives

An ordinary smartphone can act as an improvised slide scanner, allowing you to scan film negatives - of course, with imperfect quality, but quite sufficient, for example, for posting on the Internet.

To do this, you need to install the HELMUT program for devices running Android and find a light source sufficient for a photo “in the light”: it can be either a window on a clear sunny day, or white screen computer with brightness turned up to maximum. The resulting photo can be edited directly on your smartphone using the application or sent to your computer.

8. Google Photo Search

In "desktop" Google search engine There has been such a function as photo search for a long time. Free app Google Goggles brings it to mobile devices.

The Google Goggles program is designed primarily to search for various products, pictures, attractions; it is also capable of recognizing barcodes and QR codes, recognizing texts and translating them into different languages.

What's most impressive about Google Goggles is its ability to recognize famous views and panoramas, book and CD covers, and even solve Sudoku puzzles! If you come across an incomprehensible phrase in a foreign language, point the lens of your smartphone at it and Google Goggles will translate it for you. The application has all the information power of Google at its disposal.

An IP camera is a useful thing, but you can only pay several hundred dollars for a video surveillance system if you definitely know that you need it. In all other cases, especially when it comes to the simplest tasks of organizing a video broadcast, any Android smartphone can handle this. As a temporary solution, this is the best option, which requires the smartphone itself and a special application. Let's look at the best of them.


The most popular application that turns a smartphone or tablet into a video surveillance camera. Its main advantage is the huge number of settings that can confuse the average owner of an Android gadget, but advanced users will certainly appreciate them. IP Webcam essentially does not have the usual interface for this kind of program. Instead of an intuitive screen at startup, a settings menu is immediately offered, scrolling to the very bottom, you can find the main option for starting a video broadcast.

After this, the application goes into shooting mode, and the screen displays the address for viewing the broadcast and remotely controlling the device’s camera. Anyone can do this in a convenient way: via browser, third party programs for video surveillance and even through the VLC media player. This method is only valid within local network.

Remote control The camera can be used on any device with Internet access: a smartphone, tablet or computer. You can view broadcasts, record video and sound, and take pictures. By the way, all recordings are saved to the device’s memory, there is support for cyclic recording - when the specified threshold is reached, the program will begin to automatically overwrite old videos.

Alfred is quite suitable for novice users. The application has a basic set of functions and a simple interface. At the same time, it is universal, that is, it can serve as both a camera and a monitor; switching between these two modes is carried out at any time.

The functionality of the program depends on the mode of use of the smartphone. If the device is selected as a camera, then here you can select several options regarding its camera and activate the motion sensor with three levels of sensitivity.

A simple program that turns a mobile gadget into a hidden surveillance camera. TrackView is a universal utility that combines the ability to monitor on one device and manage this process on another. At the same time, the functionality of the application is absolutely the same, regardless of the mode of its use.

A prerequisite for organizing video surveillance is registration in the service; authorization via Google is supported. The picture quality in the application is excellent, the delays are minimal. The functions available include video recording, two-way audio transmission Push to Talk, camera switching, and flash activation. One of the most strengths TrackView - motion and sound detection function. It works properly, when the sensor is triggered, a 15-second video starts recording, and a corresponding notification is sent to the remote device.

In addition, TrackView tracks GPS location. The advantages of the program also include automatic copying of all records to cloud storage Google Drive.

AtHome Video Streamer works in conjunction with AtHome Camera. The first application acts as a client (streamer), the second - as a server that controls the camera on a remote device. Moreover, not only a mobile device on iOS and Android can be used as both, but also a computer running Windows control.

Another easy-to-use utility for organizing video surveillance using two mobile devices. A distinctive feature of WardenCam is the fact that it uses only cloud storage (Google or Dropbox). That is, all recordings are not saved on the device itself. The rest of the application is on its own functionality and the operating principle is similar to Alfred. Here you also select the type of use of the smartphone - camera or monitor, and the role of the gadget can be changed at any time. Synchronization between devices is carried out using account Google.

In monitor mode, the user has access to functions such as continuous recording, switching cameras, rotating the screen, turning on the flash, Push to Talk and activating the motion sensor. Here you can also configure the camera of the remote device (video resolution and quality, exposure, energy saving, etc.). Among the most important options, it is worth noting the sensitivity of the motion sensor and the activation of scheduled recording when motion is detected.

By the way, even without any special settings, the motion sensor works perfectly, events are automatically recorded and sent to the cloud, and corresponding notifications are sent to the remote device. The quality of the broadcast also did not disappoint - the picture is decent, the maximum resolution in my case was 864x480 pixels, although in the settings you can set it up to Full HD.

The only significant disadvantage of WardenCam is the limitation on recording for a total of up to 48 hours in the free version of the application. The pro version without ads and video recording time limits will cost approximately $7.5 in a one-time payment.

Telephoto is a slightly different program with an interesting idea for organizing video surveillance via Telegram. Essentially, this is just a service that connects to a pre-created bot that acts as a security system. The application is installed on a smartphone or tablet running Android, and on another device you only need Telegram. Management is carried out in the messenger itself, where first of all you need to create a bot and activate it in Telephoto. All this is done very simply - in the application there is detailed instructions for setting up the program.

Having launched the service, we move on to the bot. It can send photos from both cameras on request or on a schedule at any time interval, warn about motion detection, send event notifications to remote smartphone, receive GPS data and record audio. Another interesting feature of Telephoto is integration with Tasker, thanks to which the user can send any management commands through the bot mobile device.

For all its advantages, Telephoto still has several disadvantages. For example, when motion is detected, the program sends a series of several pictures in the form of a GIF animation, where it is often difficult to see the person in the frame. In addition, taking high-resolution photos and changing the camera for the motion sensor (the front camera is active by default) are only available in the paid Pro version. But in general, the application is quite interesting and promising.

Android WEB camera

Many of those who do not have a webcam, but would like to use one, no longer need to spend money on buying one. It is enough to adapt a cell phone instead of a webcam. And since a significant number of modern phones (smartphones) are based on Android OS, the methods we will consider will probably be useful to their owners. And here's what else is goodphone as a web camera: Android devices, firstly, are easily synchronized with personal computers, secondly, there is accessible and simple software for connecting them, and thirdly, the cameras of many modern phones are in no way inferior in basic characteristics to webcams.

Android smartphone as a web camera: what is needed for this?

The procedure for connecting and setting up a webcam is not difficult for more or less experienced user OS Android, beginners should study the instructions well, although, as a rule, no difficulties arise. Before connecting, you must first prepare:

• Personal computer based on Windows OS (XP and higher) or Linux.
• PC application using webcam - VLC Media Player, Skype, social clients. networks, etc. - to choose from.
• Software for connecting and setting up a webcam on a smartphone, which will be discussed below (available from Google Play).
• Depending on the capabilities of the program to “turn” a smartphone into a webcam: wireless access point Wi-Fi networks as a separate device or a virtual (“hosted” network launched on a computer with Windows 7 or 8 using programs such as Connectify, etc.), BlueTooth adapter or USB cable.
• Directly A ndroid phone as a web camera.

From the software you can use:

• DroidCam Wireless Webcam is a software consisting of two parts - launched on a PC and on a smartphone. Connection using this program is available via Wi-Fi, BlueTooth and USB. Can use both rear and front camera. Allows you to broadcast both video and sound.
• USB Webcam for Android - just like the above-mentioned software, consists of 2 parts - for a PC and a smartphone. Works via USB interface. On some Android phones, due to the lack necessary drivers, does not start correctly. Most applications only transmit video (no sound).
• IP Webcam - installed on the phone. The IPCamAdapter application is installed on the PC. Devices are synchronized via Wi-Fi. The software can work with rear and front camera. In many applications that use a webcam, it transmits both video and sound.

If any of these programs are not supported by your smartphone model, you should try another one, or update the Android firmware.

Installing applications and setting up camera connection

DroidCam Wireless Webcam

1. Download and install parts of the application on your PC and smartphone.
2. Connect devices using USB, BlueTooth or Wi-Fi. When connecting via USB, the USB debugging option must be active on the smartphone (available from the “Options” - “System” - “Developer Options” menu).
3. Launch DroidCam on your computer and write down (remember) the line that appears on the screen like IP address: port.
4. Launch DroidCam on your smartphone and click the “Connect” button, then “Add new PC”.
5. Give the connection any name and enter the address: port - the line that was specified in the part of the software running on the PC. If the connection was made correctly, an image from the camera will appear on the smartphone screen.
6. Click the "Settings" button and set necessary settings video.
7. Launch a program on your PC that uses the camera, such as Skype.
8. In its list of cameras, select the "DroidCam" device.
9. Fix the phone in the position you need - the web camera from your Android smartphone is ready.
10. The DroidCam device can additionally be used as a microphone if you select the appropriate setting in the Skype options.

USB Webcam for Android

1. Install the client part of the program on your computer - USB Webcam PC Host.
2. Install the second part of the USB Webcam on your smartphone.
3. On your smartphone, enable the “USB Debugging” option, accessible from the “Options” - “System” - “Developer Options” menu.
4. Connect your smartphone to your computer using a data cable.
5. Launch USB Webcam PC Host on your PC, press any key to run the program.
6. Launch the program on your smartphone.
7. In the “Devices” - “Cameras” menu of Skype, select “GWebcamVideo”. An image from your phone camera should appear. If you see a green background instead, your device is probably not supported by the program.
8. If everything worked out, the webcam via your Android phone is configured and ready to use.

IP Webcam

1. Install the IPCamAdapter program on your PC.
2. Install IP Webcam on your smartphone.
3. Launch and set the video settings you need: resolution (maximum 800 x 480), camera selection (rear, front), focus or FPS limit.
4. In settings network connection you can select the type: IPv4 or IPv6, set the port (the default is 8080), and you can specify a password as a security measure.
5. After activating the application on your PC, the IP address for connecting your smartphone will appear at the bottom of the window.
6. After the connection has been made, you can change the program settings directly from the PC.
7. The “camera” and “microphone” devices become accessible from the corresponding menu in Skype or another application that uses a webcam. After this, everything is ready to use.

So, the Android phone is connected as a web camera, all that remains is to fix it in the desired position. Most often, standard desktop stands are not very convenient to use, since they usually do not allow you to change the angle of the phone. But car holders are very suitable for just such a case. Those that can be attached with a suction cup to any surface, including a vertical one, and firmly clamp the phone. With their help, you can attach your smartphone to the side, top or back wall of the monitor and control its position as easily as you do with a webcam.