There’s a situation when you want to make an urgent video call. The PC you’re using does not have a built-in web camera. Even your laptop’s webcam has been damaged, and all you have is your Android Smartphone. So, can you use your phone as a webcam? The answer is an astounding yes. Most people might prefer to go for an exclusive webcam if they need one, but putting your phone to some good use can also be a pretty good idea.
Moreover, if you have an old Android phone, you can even use it as a security camera. For instance, you can even monitor your kids by placing it in their room, while you are in the kitchen. And you don’t even have to spend on a new standalone camera. Also, if you have a handset in which the front camera is missing for some reason, or is damaged, then you can use the rear camera on the phone for video calls.
It is obviously easier to buy a dedicated camera, but if you don’t want to spend on a new webcam, or just want to make good use for your old phone instead of selling it, then setting it up as a webcam is not a bad idea after all. And here’s how you do it.
When using a webcam on your Android, you have to use an application that supports its operation. You can find many of such apps on Google Play Store. Out of several results that show up, choose the Webcam app that offers cross-platform compatibility and also doesn’t hang. It’s up to you to choose the one which you like. Once you’ve decided, you can follow the step-by-step description given below to get it working. Again, it is important to be using a dedicated Wi-Fi network, as it is fast and secure.
1. Switch on your desktop or laptop and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android phone.
2. Go the Google Play Store and install the webcam app on your phone.
3. Insure that all other camera applications are closed. If they aren’t, exit them or use the app switcher to force-close them.
4. Launch the webcam app you have installed. The app should give you an option to start the server. Click the option to start it.
5. The app then will instantiate your phone’s camera and will display a link (URL).
6. Click on the link or copy paste it on any of the browser to open the webpage.
7. Once the browser opens, it will provide a drop down menu that appears close to Video renderer. Instead of selecting a video app to run, just select the browser.
8. Below this, you will also find Audio renderer. From the menu option, select the file type as HTML wav.
9. Once you have performed these steps correctly, a live video feed will be rendered on your browser. It will also have option to record, through which you can even record the footage.
10. If you have recorded, then you can save it on the folders on your phone. Saving it in MP4 format will help you access it easily on most devices.
If you notice a lag in the transmission, you can close the browser and select any of the latest Flash players or Media players. All you have to do is to copy the link in the Media player’s open file option and the app will do the rest. If you are worried about your phone’s screen getting locked, you can relax as it works even when your phone is locked, however, there might be a slight lag. So, give it a try and see how it feels to use your Android Smartphone as a webcam.
