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Android As USB (!!) Webcam

by NirL

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 1 Over the last few months we've all been forced to freezing during meetings when I tried to connect communicate online rather than in person. As a through WiFi. student, most of my lectures turned into Zoom meetings, and the same happened to my tutoring 2) Using WiFi will slow down your speed - hours. you're taking up some of your WiFi's for this. In the next few weeks, many students of all ages will go back to their schools or universities but many will 3) The image qualit y is much bet t er using a USB still be studying from home. While many people have cable! a desktop , not everyone have a with a built-in camera. This means that some people would 4) Almost no lat ency ! Delays are the worst!! Using a have to buy a new webcam just for these online USB cable to connect your smartphone solve this meetings. Another option would be to chat directly problem. through your smartphone, but that's not optimal in most cases. For this reason, I thought it would be 4) The USB cable will charge your phone while useful to connect my smartphone to my computer you use it as a webcam, so you don't need another and use it as a webcam. charger just to keep it going during long meetings.

In this instructable I'll show you how to use your 5) With this method, you can also use t he smart phone as a webcam using a USB cable. on your smart phone ! Many You'd think that this should be trivial - after all, you methods that use WiFi do not transmit sound to your have a camera and a laptop, why should this be computer! dicult these days?? Turns out this not exactly the case! and since searching google for answers took me O t her t han keeping you from buying a while, I thought I'd save others the trouble. unnecessary webcams for your deskt op comput er, you smart phone can also serve as a second camera if you already have one! I'll also t each you how t o use t his second camera in Z oom!

While you can easily nd out how to use your This is actually what I used it for - while tutoring smartphone as a webcam using WiFi, connecting physics it's essential that you write down equations through a USB cable is not just a gimmick. There are and explain stu on a board. For this reason I wanted many advantages in this method over using WiFi: a way to capt ure a whit eboard. I built a simple phone holder and wrote down the equations on a 1) The connect ion is much more st able . I found piece of paper just beneath it. I'll add some this solution because I had problems with my screen explanations for how you can make your own stands - one for video-chats (Zoom) and one for capturing a whiteboard. Supplies: * * If you nd a bet t er way t o connect a You'll need a smartphone, a suitable USB cable and a smart phone as a USB webcam, please let me PC. Obviously if you want to talk to other people know!! online, you'll also need an internet connection.

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 2 Step 1: Become a Developer

You don't really need t o be a developer t o Find your phone's 'build number' . It's usually become one! located in the 'about' section inside the phone's settings. In order to use your smartphone as a webcam using a USB cable, you'll need access to the phone's developer Next, click t he build number 7 t imes and insert options. your phone's .

The attached photos should guide you through the Congratulations, you're now a developer!! :) process, but here's what you should do:

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 3 Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 4 Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 5 Step 2: Turn ON USB Debugging

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 6 Next, you'll need to located the 'developer options'. It's settings can change how it operates. You can always usually inside the 'System' section. reset it back to factory setting, but I advise that you do not change anything that you don't understand. Once you're inside 'System', look for 'Advanced' and Anyway.. there you should nd 'Developer options'. Look for 'USB debugging' and turn it on. Now remember that "with great power comes great responsibility" (Peter Parker) - tweaking your phone's

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 7 Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 8 Step 3: Install IVCam

Download and install iVCam both on your smartphone (through the play store) and on your PC.

While this app oers a free version with low-resolution videos (it's still very good in my opinion, I only use the free version), you can also pay for the HD version which is nice.

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 9 Step 4: Connect Your Phone Using a USB Cable

It's time to connect your smartphone to the computer!

Once connected, open the IVCam software and you'll see a window popping up on your smartphone. Make sure you allow USB debugging.

At this point, your computer should be showing the image from the smartphone!

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 10 You can also pick which camera to use (front or back), set the exposure and more directly through the software.

Step 5: Use Your Smartphone As a Webcam for Zoom Meetings (or As 2nd Camera) Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 11 To use your smartphone as the main camera in zoom To use your smartphone as a 2nd camera (for teaching conversations: / sharing hand-writing):

In some cases the software will automatically To use your smartphone as a 2nd camera which you recognize the smartphone camera and set it as your can use to capture hand-written notes and what-not, webcam. In other cases, you'll have to click the small press "Share" (2nd image) and go to "Advanced" (3rd arrow next to the "Stop video" button and select the image). Select "Content from 2nd camera". You'll now 'e2eSoft iVCam' as your camera (see rst image). Even have both cameras connected to your zoom meetings! if you do have a camera on your or PC, chances are that your smartphone has a better camera than the My main use for this was to teach physics and math, one you have. but you can use it to share all kinds of hand-written notes!

Step 6: BONUS #1: Simple Smartphone Stand for Zoom Meetings

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 12 I made this using popsicle sticks and hot glue. The your nal smartphone stand will be stable. images are really self explanatory but if you want more instructions here, let me know in the comments 2) The paper-clip on the back lets you adjust the angle :) at which the phone faces you. It's useful for video- chatting. I do have a few tips though: 3) I cut a hole at the bottom of the stand so that my 1) Use a milimetric paper while you glue the dierent USB cable ts through. This is also very useful. parts and use it to lay the pieces straight. That why

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 13 Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 14 Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 15 Step 7: BONUS #2: Smartphone Holder for Capturing a Whiteboard

I also made a smartphone holder to capture A4 pages Once you have a smartphone holder, place some while I write on them as a whiteboard. I would share it printing paper or a small eraser whiteboard just too, but there's a much better version on instructables beneath it. That way, when you share the content of that I highly recommend. It's simple, cheap, and much your 2nd camera, students or other collaborators better than mine :) could see your hand written notes.

Step 8: Connecting Your IPhone As a Webcam - Some Tips

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 16 * * I do not have an iPhone, so I have not out that it should work on Linux, Windows & Mac. t ried t hese met hods myself, but since people asked for guidance I did some If you need any further help or have any feedback research and included t he informat ion I regarding connecting your Android / iPhone as a found! Thanks TheFireM an & Robert A28 2 for webcam, feel free you post a comment or message t he links and informat ion! me!

1) First, if you have an iPhone but you're using That's it for now! if you have any comments or Windows, you can still use the iVCam app. Here's a questions I'd love to hear them! video of a guy showing how to do it. You can nd some of my other projects on my instructables page and if you like this instructable I'd 2) RobernA282 suggested using Epoccam. Looks like appreciate if you vote for me in the Back to Basics you can use it both on Windows / Android and Apple contest! OS. See you soon! 3) TheFireMan suggested using DroidCam. He pointed Will it provide audio or only video? Actually I used IP Webcam for the same & it provides me only video rather then the both audio, video. Good question! I didn't give it much though before, but yes, it does provide audio as well! And like you said, IP webcam apps often don't transmit audio. Let me know if you need more help! If you have an iPhone download Epoccam. Paid or free, Paid simply gives you a higher resolution. You’ll also have to download the free windows app. Plug it in via or WiFi. Link to both. https://www.kinoni.com/ "Paid or free, Paid simply gives you a higher resolution"

Uhm, no... Paid also helps the author.

Also, at least on Android, Paid also eliminates ads. Oh, really? We didn’t know that. Thanks for your comment.

An EXTREMELY well-put-together, step-by-step, WITH PICTURES and diagrams Instructable.

Voted.

BTW, for the Linux Boxen crowd, DroidCam has a Linux Desktop . Find DroidCam on The Google Android App Store. Make sure it's the Dev46Apps one.

Website https://www.dev47apps.com/

PCWorld has a good tutorial. (search for ""How to use your Android phone as a webcam for video conferencing and virtual meeting"" )

TheVerge also has a good tutorial.. Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 17 search for ""How to use your Android or iOS device as a Webcam""

Also, may I remind everyone that many software developers depend on donations to allow them to work more on their software. Consider donating, even a dollar. Thanks a lot for all of the feedback, comments and information! I'll update the instructable to include some extra references & try to include some info about as well, and I'll be sure to credit you too :) Thanks!! Boo, doesn't work with LInux....

See my posts for Linux and Apple Goodness...

DroidCam by Dev47Apps Sorry I couldn't help!

I don't really use Apple, but I do have an iPad.

I just checked the Apple App Store ( name??)

DroidCam by DEV47APPS is available for the Pomme Crowd, Excelente, muy útil, felicitaciones

Gracias!

Espero eso ayude

(google translate) Like the intro says, this should be so easy and finaly it is. Easy to follow and works like a charm. Thanks for sharing

Awesome picture!! I love it! Thanks for the feedback and for sharing your result! :)

Very Nice, Thanks for share it. thanks for the comment! :) hope it helps

I'd love to try it, but don't want to brick my phone!

LOL, if you know the phase “brick my phone” then perhaps you shouldn’t try this. Just kidding! Simply follow the instructions it will suffice to not deem your phone inoperable. However, if you find yourself on the precipice of disaster refer to google for reassurance. Good day! agreed! in most cases you can simply restore factory settings or reboot your , but that's just a last resort. following the steps above should do no harm! :) thanks for the comments Robert! since people are interested in doing this for iPhones as well, and I personally don't have one, I'll try to look into the links you added for Epoccam and give you the credit for it :)

Android Smartphone As USB (!!) Webcam: Page 18 Just use the free version of droid cam, shares your phones camera over wi-fi (optional password). thanks for the reply WORMSS! :) I like using a USB and not take up my WiFi bandwidth. Also, USB has less latency and it charges your phone too! I haven't used DroidCam but if you recommend that solution I might give it a try too! Thanks! I was actually replaying to the someone else who didn't want to brick his phone. Droid cam also has the same usb/devtools option too if you desperately wanted to use usb. I actually plug my phone in to charge the phone while I am doing the webcam. But use it via the WiFi as it's super easy to setup. Uses an app on the phone to turn your phone into a generic Webcam over IP. The use droid cam on the PC that takes a webcam over IP and turns it into a standard webcam source for the PC to do what it wants with. I use it twice a week for our scrum meetings.

It weirded out one of my co-workers when I taken my phone off the stand walked into another room, yet was still sharing via the PC

Just gives you additional options I wouldn't normally have. You can't brick it unless you don't follow directions.

If you follow the steps above, nothing happens to your phone! You're just allowing the software to use the USB debugging mode, but you're not actually changing anything! There's a more complex method that will make (tiny) changes to your phone, but just like you, I prefer not messing with stuff I don't understand! This method is completely reversible :) I will try with my old phone. Hope the app still works on it. let me know! I'm using the latest Android version, let me know if it works in older versions as well :) might try this with an older phone I have and no longer use, and because it does have to use the network no sim is required, the computer is the link to the internet. Brilliant!! that's a perfect use for an old phone! hope it works and if you need help solving issues let me know :) Sounds like a good idea :)

Thanks! it works really well actually :)

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