In November 2023, we first saw evidence suggesting that Microsoft was working on allowing Android users to use their phones or tablets as webcams through Phone Link.
Fortunately, Microsoft did not abandon the project and has just released webcam capability for Windows Insiders through all Insider channels.
Being able to use a phone’s camera as a webcam caused a lot of buzz when Apple launched the Continuity Camera feature last year, but Windows users could already do it using third-party applications.
If you are not enrolled in any of the Windows Insider Channels, you will still have to resort to those third-party tools to convert your Android phone’s camera into a webcam for your PC. But if you are an Insider, it is quite easy to set up the webcam through the Phone Link application.
How to use the Android phone camera as a webcam via Phone Link
Before jumping into the setup, make sure your phone is running Android 9 (Android Pie) OS or newer. Additionally, the Link to Windows app on your phone must be updated to version 1.24012 or higher, as suggested by Microsoft.
If these boxes are checked, pair your Android phone with your PC using the Phone Link and Link to Windows apps. Open the Settings app on your PC, navigate to Bluetooth and devices > Mobile devices, and then click or tap on Manage devices to get an update for Cross Device Experience Host from the Microsoft Store.
Once the update is done, activate the Use as connected camera option in the My mobile devices section.
Now you can use the front and rear cameras of your Android phone or tablet as a webcam for video conferences. One of the main advantages is that you can record what is in front and what is behind, since you can switch between the front and rear cameras from the phone. You can also pause the video stream and apply effects from the phone.
Google is also working to bring the same webcam feature to Android 14. But when it is released, Microsoft’s webcam solution will have an advantage over Google’s, as the former will work with phones running versions of Android prior to Android 14.
