How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam for Twitch

You don’t have to invest in a webcam for streaming. All you need is your smartphone. Here is how to use your phone as a webcam for twitch:

Using iPhone as a webcam

1. Install EpocCam on your iPhone,
2. Find the needed drivers on the Elgato website and download them on your computer,
3. Add NDI source to OBS or connect your phone to computer via USB cable and add Video Capture Device to OBS,
4. Select EpocCam or iPhone device when adding the new source.

Using an Android phone as a webcam

1. Install DroidCam,
2. Download the DroidCam plugin for Windows,
3. Add DroidCam source to OBS,
4. Insert the IP address displayed in DroidCam app on your phone,
5. Click “Activate.”

You can turn your phone into a high-resolution webcam, and not have to invest in purchasing an expensive professional camera! Use your mobile phone as a webcam in your Twitch streams, YouTube, or anywhere else.

Certain apps available for iPhone and Android devices can help expand the possibilities for users to broadcast with their smartphones through various platforms.

Interested? Keep reading and learn how to use phone as webcam for twitch.

Table of Contents

1. Use your iPhone as a Webcam

All you need to use your iPhone as a webcam is the handy EpocCam application. EpocCam is the best App for all iOS users. It can bring a significant change in video quality, which is especially important in streaming.

It is easy to set up, and it has no noticeable lag. It doesn’t require any specific model of iPhone device. It just has to support iOS 10.3.

First of all, you need to download the EpicCam App from Apple’s App Store, and from then on you will have to go to your computer and install the computer drivers, which are available for Mac.

Before explaining how to use your phone as a webcam in your streams, you need to know that there is a basic and a premium EpocCam.

In addition to allowing 1080p video, the premium version also gives you control over focus, lets you use iPhone as a microphone, changes your connection from Wi-Fi to USB, and most importantly, removes ads you don’t want to deal with.

Let’s go through the steps for setting up the EpocCam App:

Install and open EpocCam on your iPhone.

Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
Download drivers for EpocCam App. You can find them on the Elgato website. Choose EPOCCAM as the product and MAC in the Windows drop menu. Click to download and install afterward.

Add a new NDI Source to your OBS if you are using a free version. If you are using a paid version you can connect your phone device via USB, in that case, choose Video Capture Device.

Add a title, so you can easily distinguish it from other sources.

Select EpocCam or your iPhone device from the drop-down menu as shown below. Click OK and you are now ready to Stream using your iPhone as a webcam!

2. Use your Android as a Webcam

In addition to the amazing ability to use a phone as a webcam, DroidCam also allows you to stream audio and video content via OBS software.

DroidCam is an application recommended by Android users and can be downloaded on Google Play, while DroidCam Client is an OBS plugin.

This App also comes in two versions. The first one is the free version with certain limitations in terms of available features. Video resolution is limited to 480p.

DroidCamX Pro version unlocks 720p recording, gives you the ability to fine-tune the image and rotate the frame.

Image quality will depend on the quality of your phone’s camera, but also the quality of the Wifi connection.

Let’s go through the steps for setting up the DroidCam app:

Install DroidCam on your smartphone.

Open the app and allow access to your phone’s camera and microphone.
Immediately after the initial launch of the application, you will see the IP address and port on the screen. These parameters will be used to connect the phone to the computer.
Head over to the website and download the DroidCam Client plugin for Windows.

Go through the installation process on your computer.
Make sure both PC and Mobile device are on the same Wifi network if you choose to connect your device via WiFi or LAN. You could also connect to the phone directly via a USB cable.
With the plugin installed, open OBS studio and you will find DroidCam OBS in the list of sources you can add, and add an instance.

Enter the IP address displayed on your phone in DroidCam App.

IP address displayed on your phone in DroidCam App

Click “Activate” to start the video!

Setup your Smartphone

If you’ve been wondering how to use your iPhone as a webcam, with all these noisy notifications and other distractions, here are some tips for you.

It is recommended that you close all open applications before you start streaming from your mobile device. This will ensure that your device runs as fast as possible and it will reduce any slowdowns or crashes during streaming.
It is also a good idea to turn off notifications since anything you receive during the stream will be fully visible to your audience.
You might need to turn on Airplane Mode to prevent people from calling you, though make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth remain functional.
You will have to disable the automatic screen lock so that the camera always stays active. This will drain a lot of the battery, so you may need to connect or charge your smartphone at some point.
An additional tip is to use a smartphone holder with a tripod bracket and then attach it with a standard bracket. It doesn’t have to be huge and fancy. Even a cheap mini tripod will do the trick!

How to Use Mobile Phone to Stream – Final Thoughts

A professional webcam can be quite expensive, and for more ambitious streamers this is a good temporary solution. You can get great results just by using your phone as a webcam. It will handle exposure and dynamic range better, and you would get a professional-looking video.

As you can see, knowing how to use your iPhone as a webcam in your streams is very useful! If you already have an average webcam, it is still a great way to take your streams to another level by adding a mobile camera.

This way you can make the most of this feature and have dual-shot streaming!

With the right mobile device, app version, and Wi-Fi connection, you get the right setup to boost your streaming and ultimately purchase a professional webcam!

Related: How to Stream IRL on Twitch

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I use my phone as a webcam without an app?

Access any meeting with a video chat app that you already have on your phone, and you get a microphone and a camera. Then re-enter the meeting via PC or laptop but mute the sound and you get your screen sharing device. It’s easier than setting up the app and will give you quality results, but it will take you a while to get used to.

How can I use my iPhone as a webcam for twitch for free?

You can use iPhone as webcam for free if you download the free version of the EpocCam app in the Apple App Store. Paid version will give the best results and features, but the free version is a good starting point to make sure you’re satisfied with the general results before you hand over the money.

How do you stream on two phones?

You will need a laptop, the main phone for streaming, and another phone to download the necessary app for this setup. The app that has proven to work for this kind of setup is CamON Live Streaming. Both phones must be connected to the same Wifi network.

Is it better to stream with or without a camera?

It is advisable but not mandatory, the choice is yours. Quality content and better connection with your audience are achieved mostly by streaming with a camera. If using a camera while streaming is still not your thing, that’s fine too. As you stream, you may become more comfortable and one day decide to use it.

Can you stream Twitch from multiple devices?

You can keep using your webcam, and at the same time configure the mobile camera to have a different angle, whether you point to your hands while drawing, or so your viewers can see exactly which keys you press to give them another try. Using a mobile device as a webcam will provide great angles and a new perspective to your streaming.

How to Use Your Phone as a Webcam for Twitch – 2 Ways!