How to use an iPhone as a USB webcam

The short answer

Yes, you can use an iPhone as a webcam over a cable, but how depends on your computer. On a Mac, Apple's built-in Continuity Camera feature lets a supported iPhone act as a camera for video apps, wirelessly or over a USB connection. On Windows, there is no built-in Apple feature for this. You need a third-party webcam app that has a companion app on the iPhone and a driver or client on the PC.

The cable doesn't change the basic process. Older iPhones use a Lightning-to-USB cable and newer models use USB-C. Either works if the cable carries data. Some inexpensive cables only charge the phone, and the computer won't detect the iPhone through those.

Which route fits your setup

Your computer | Route | What to check first

Mac | Continuity Camera, built into macOS and iOS | Both devices meet Apple's current requirements and use the same Apple Account

Windows PC | Third-party webcam bridge app | The app's own documentation confirms USB support, your Windows version, and your iPhone model

On a Mac: set up Continuity Camera with a cable

Continuity Camera arrived with macOS Ventura and iOS 16. Apple publishes the list of supported iPhone and Mac models and the conditions for using the feature. Check that list for your devices, because the details can change with software updates.

• Before you start:
• Update the Mac and the iPhone to current software.
• Sign in to the same Apple Account on both devices. Apple requires two-factor authentication for that account.
• Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices. Apple's requirements list them even when you connect with a cable.
• On the iPhone, make sure Continuity Camera is turned on. The switch is in Settings > General, under the AirPlay and Continuity section. Older iOS versions label this section AirPlay & Handoff.
• Have a data-capable Lightning or USB-C cable and a stable mount or stand for the phone.

• Steps:
• 1. Connect the iPhone to the Mac with the cable. If the iPhone asks whether to trust this computer, unlock it and tap Trust. Success check: the iPhone starts charging and the trust prompt doesn't come back.
• 2. Mount the iPhone so it stays still, with the rear cameras facing you and nothing covering them. Lock the screen. Apple's guidance calls for the phone to be stationary and locked, and landscape orientation is the usual choice.
• 3. Open the video app you plan to use, such as FaceTime, Photo Booth or a meeting app.
• 4. Choose the iPhone in the app's camera or video settings. It appears under the phone's name. Some apps switch to it automatically. Success check: the app's preview shows the view from the iPhone, and the iPhone screen shows a Continuity Camera screen with options to pause or disconnect.
• 5. Choose your microphone separately in the same app's audio settings. You can pick the iPhone's microphone, the Mac's built-in microphone or a headset. Selecting the iPhone as the camera doesn't guarantee the app uses its microphone too.

If you join calls in a web browser, the browser itself needs camera permission. Allow access when the site asks. If you denied it earlier, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera on the Mac and turn on access for that browser. Then reload the page.

Optional video effects

While the iPhone is in use as a camera, the Mac's Control Center offers video effects. Depending on the model, these include Center Stage, which keeps you framed as you move; Portrait, which blurs the background; and Desk View, which shows the surface in front of you. Portrait blur is a virtual effect applied to the video. It doesn't change your physical background, and it's separate from any background replacement offered inside your call app. If you want a real background that looks good on camera, arrange the space behind you rather than relying on an effect.

If the iPhone doesn't appear on the Mac

• Confirm that both devices use the same Apple Account and that Continuity Camera is switched on in the iPhone's settings.
• Check that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on for both devices.
• Try a different cable or USB port. A charge-only cable is a common cause.
• Keep the iPhone locked, stationary and positioned as described above.
• Quit and reopen the video app, then look in its camera menu again.
• Close other apps that may already be using the camera.
• Check Apple's compatibility list. An older iPhone or Mac may not support the feature.

On Windows: use a webcam bridge app

Windows has no built-in way to use an iPhone as a webcam. The usual approach is a third-party app installed on both the iPhone and the PC. The PC side registers a virtual camera that call apps can select. These apps differ in whether they support a USB connection or only Wi-Fi, which Windows versions they support, and which features need a paid upgrade. The details in this guide don't confirm any particular app's capabilities. Check the developer's current documentation before you install anything.

• General sequence for a USB-capable bridge app:
• 1. Install the iPhone app and the matching Windows client or driver from the same developer.
• 2. If the app's instructions require Apple's device software for USB connections, install it. Many apps rely on it for the PC to communicate with an iPhone over a cable.
• 3. Connect the iPhone with a data-capable Lightning or USB-C cable, unlock it, and tap Trust if asked.
• 4. Open the app on the iPhone and the client on the PC, and choose the USB connection if both offer a choice. Success check: the PC client shows a live picture from the phone.
• 5. In your call app, select the bridge app's virtual camera. Success check: the call app's preview shows the same picture.
• 6. Check Windows camera privacy settings under Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Allow access for desktop apps and, if needed, for your browser.

How to confirm it works before a call

There are three separate stages to check, and passing one doesn't mean you've passed the next:

• Detected: the iPhone or the bridge app's virtual camera appears in the app's camera list. This only shows that the computer sees a camera.
• Capturing: a live, moving picture appears in the preview. This shows that video is reaching the app.
• Call-ready: other people see and hear you clearly during a real or test call. This depends on your network, the call service and your audio setup, which a local preview doesn't test.

For the final stage, use your meeting service's test call or test meeting, if it has one, or a short call with someone who can tell you what they see and hear. Check the microphone the same way. A microphone can appear in the list and even show an input level while still sounding muffled or distant to the other person. Only a listener or a recorded playback confirms that your speech is clear.

What this guide can't confirm

No verified measurements were available for this guide. It doesn't state resolution, frame rates, delay, input-level targets or a quality difference between wired and wireless connections. It also doesn't confirm the features or prices of any third-party Windows app. For exact device compatibility, rely on Apple's current support information for Continuity Camera and on the developer's documentation for any bridge app.