Use an Android phone as a free Windows webcam

VCam can turn an Android phone into a webcam for compatible Windows applications. Install the receiver on the computer and open the phone camera in Chrome. There is no Android app to install, and all implemented VCam features are free without ads or a watermark.

What you need

Use 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11, an Android phone with Chrome and permission to use its camera, and one local Wi-Fi network without device isolation. Internet is needed to load the phone page and pair. The current receiver supports Windows only and sends video, not phone microphone audio. It does not provide a dedicated USB connection mode.

Get the receiver from Download VCam. The installer registers a DirectShow virtual camera and needs administrator permission. The beta installer is not yet signed with a publisher certificate. The official release and source repository are linked on the download page.

Pair Android with the receiver

1. Install VCam, open it on Windows and click Show QR code.
2. Scan the QR with your phone camera and open the link in Chrome. You can also use the scanner at Connect phone or type the eight-character code shown on Windows.
3. Allow camera access when Chrome asks. Wait until video appears in the Windows preview.
4. Select VCam in the camera settings of OBS, Zoom or another program that accepts DirectShow virtual cameras.
5. Choose a separate microphone, keep the phone page open, and check a short test call or recording.

Codes are valid for ten minutes and can be used once. Create a new QR if the old code was consumed or expired. Restart a call application after installing VCam if it does not list the new camera.

Cameras, zoom and quality

Chrome may expose the front and rear cameras and, on some phones, additional lenses. Use the Windows controls to switch among the devices provided by the browser. A camera's manufacturer label does not necessarily mean Chrome exposes all its native photography features.

VCam probes combinations including 720p30, 1080p30/60 and 4K30/60 and offers the modes it confirms for the current camera. Availability depends on the phone and browser, so do not assume every Android phone supports 4K60. Switching lenses can change the available modes. Start with 1080p30 or 720p30 if the picture freezes or the phone warms up. A clear lens, steady mount and good light can improve the result without increasing bandwidth.

Fix camera permissions or interruptions

If camera access is blocked, review this site's camera permission in Chrome and Android's camera permission for Chrome. Reload the page and retry. Close another app that could own the camera. VCam needs a secure HTTPS page; an arbitrary HTTP page will not provide normal camera access.

Keep Chrome visible and the phone unlocked. Android can stop or restrict camera capture when the page moves to the background. The Windows app can be minimized while receiving video. For failed pairing, check that neither device is on isolated guest Wi-Fi, test without a VPN, and create a fresh QR. More detailed checks are in Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Check the destination application

The receiver preview confirms the phone stream; your call program has its own camera selection and quality settings. Select VCam there and test the output. In OBS, use a Video Capture Device source, as described in the phone camera OBS guide. Compatibility with every application and phone model has not been tested.

Read product and privacy information for the direct WebRTC connection and current limitations. For reproducible errors, report your device and versions without including an active pairing code.