To use your phone as a webcam while streaming, connect it to your computer with a built-in feature or a compatible camera app or plugin, then add the phone as a camera source in OBS. The simplest route depends on your devices: Apple documents Continuity Camera for iPhone and Mac, while Microsoft documents a connected-camera option for supported Android phones and Windows 11 or later.
Choose the setup that matches your phone and computer
| Method | Compatible setup in the cited documentation | Connection | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuity Camera | Compatible iPhone and Mac | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or USB | Built into Apple’s ecosystem; check Apple’s current requirements for your specific devices. |
| Windows connected camera | Android 10 or later and Windows 11 or later; Link to Windows app version 1.24022.0 or later | Phone linked to PC | Availability can depend on device and software rollout. |
| Camera app or plugin for OBS | Varies by app, plugin, operating system and OBS version | For example, Camo documents USB or Wi-Fi; the OBS Camera iPhone plugin guide documents USB | Adds installation and permissions steps, but may suit setups without the relevant native feature. |
For a supported iPhone-and-Mac setup, start with Continuity Camera. For supported Android-and-Windows setups, check the connected-camera feature first. If neither native route fits, an app or plugin that exposes the phone as a computer camera is another documented option. The cited sources do not establish a universal winner for image quality, delay, heat, battery life or reliability.
Prepare the phone and streaming scene
Mount and frame the phone
- Use a stable mount or stand so the image does not shift during a stream.
- Choose landscape framing if it fits your stream layout. Apple recommends mounting an iPhone in landscape with its rear camera facing you for Continuity Camera.
- Check the shot in OBS before going live: make sure your face is in frame and that the phone is not blocking your view or controls.
- A compatible USB cable is optional for wireless Continuity Camera, but can be useful for supported wired workflows or charging.
Add the camera in OBS
- Connect or enable the phone camera using one of the methods below. If the method requires an app or plugin, install it and grant requested camera permissions.
- In OBS, select the scene where you want the phone image.
- In the Sources panel, click + and choose Video Capture Device.
- Create a new source or select an existing one, then choose the phone or the camera source provided by its app or plugin in the device list.
- Click OK. Drag the source handles in the preview to resize and position it; hold Alt while dragging a handle to crop, if needed.
- Check the preview and audio separately. A phone used as a camera does not automatically mean its microphone is the audio source you want.
OBS’s webcam guide covers adding and positioning a Video Capture Source: OBS: How do I add my webcam?. The OBS smartphone guide describes app-based phone-camera options, including Camo: OBS Smartphone Camera Guide.
Use an iPhone as a webcam on a Mac
Apple’s Continuity Camera can connect wirelessly or over USB, subject to its device and system requirements. Review Apple’s current compatibility details before relying on it: Use your iPhone as a webcam on Mac.
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- On both devices, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and sign in to the same Apple Account.
- Keep the iPhone within 10 meters of the Mac, as Apple specifies.
- Mount the iPhone in landscape orientation with the rear camera facing you.
- Open OBS and add a Video Capture Device source. Select the iPhone camera if it appears in the device list.
- For charging during use, Apple says USB gives the best results. Connect the phone and Mac with a compatible cable, then select the camera in OBS.
If the camera does not appear, confirm that the devices meet Apple’s requirements, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled, the phone is nearby, and another Continuity feature is not active.
Use an Android phone as a connected camera in Windows
Microsoft’s documented route requires Windows 11 or later, Android 10 or later, and Link to Windows app version 1.24022.0 or later. Support and availability can depend on your device and software rollout. See Microsoft’s connected-camera instructions and Manage Mobile devices in Windows.
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- On the Windows PC, open Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices.
- Link the Android phone if it is not already linked.
- Enable Use as connected camera.
- Open OBS, add a Video Capture Device source, and select the phone if it appears as an available camera.
If the option is missing, check the Windows, Android and Link to Windows versions against Microsoft’s listed minimums and confirm the phone is linked. A compatible version alone does not guarantee availability on every device.
Use a camera app or plugin when native support does not fit
OBS documents smartphone camera apps as another way to bring a phone into OBS. Its guide identifies Camo as a cross-platform option with USB or Wi-Fi connections. The supported devices and steps depend on the app and its current compatibility, so follow its instructions and verify that it exposes a camera OBS can select.
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Documented iPhone USB plugin route
The OBS Camera plugin guide describes using an iPhone as an OBS camera over USB: OBS Camera: Use an iPhone as a Camera in OBS Studio via USB.
- Install the plugin before connecting the phone for use in OBS.
- On Windows, install Apple Devices and/or iTunes as directed by the plugin guide.
- Unlock the iPhone and accept the trust prompt when it appears.
- Open OBS, add a Video Capture Device source, and select the camera supplied by the plugin.
Plugin support can vary with your operating system and OBS version. Treat this as one documented option, not a requirement for every iPhone-and-OBS setup.
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Troubleshoot a phone camera that does not appear
| Symptom | Checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| iPhone is missing on Mac | Check Apple’s compatibility requirements, confirm Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices, use the same Apple Account, keep the devices within 10 meters, and check whether another Continuity feature is active. |
| Windows does not show “Use as connected camera” | Confirm Windows 11 or later, Android 10 or later, Link to Windows app 1.24022.0 or later, and that the phone is linked. Availability can still depend on device or rollout. |
| OBS lists no phone camera | Confirm the phone connection or companion app is active, approve any trust prompt, check camera permissions, then reopen the source’s device list. For plugin workflows, verify that the plugin is installed and supported by your OS and OBS version. |
| Image is awkwardly framed or unstable | Secure the phone in a mount, adjust its angle, and reposition or resize the source in the OBS preview. |
| Wired iPhone connection is not trusted | Unlock the phone and accept the trust prompt. On the documented Windows plugin route, install Apple Devices and/or iTunes as instructed by the plugin guide. |
Or let it run in the cloud
Using a phone as a webcam is a camera setup for a computer-based stream. If your goal is instead to keep prerecorded video live on YouTube around the clock, StreamNeo is a separate cloud service: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream a live phone camera.
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