DroidCam turns an Android or iOS phone into a webcam for a Windows or Linux computer. The phone app supplies the camera feed, while the desktop client makes it available to programs that accept a webcam. DroidCam Classic also carries phone audio, so a conferencing application can select DroidCam as its microphone as well as its video source.
Phone connection
DroidCam connects the phone and computer over WiFi or a USB cable. In WiFi/LAN mode, the desktop client connects to the network address and port displayed by the phone app. The incoming pictures then become the webcam output that a meeting or chat program receives. On Android, the phone can continue running DroidCam in the background while you use other applications.
The desktop client supplies the connection between the mobile camera and the receiving software. On Windows, this uses webcam drivers; the Linux client uses Video4Linux and ALSA loopback drivers for video and audio. The classic client is available for those two desktop platforms and has no Mac edition.
Camera sources
The phone app’s Camera Swap control selects the camera before a connection begins. This lets you choose the front or rear view for the webcam feed. Phones with additional cameras may not expose every lens to DroidCam, depending on the device.
On Windows, the client can connect up to three devices at the same time with Compact View turned off. Smaller previews show the other inputs, and selecting one brings it into the centre.
DroidCam also accepts PNG, JPG, GIF and BMP files as image inputs on Windows. Dragging a picture into the preview or choosing Use Image from its context menu loads the file as a source.
HD video and paid upgrades
Free DroidCam has no usage time limit, but its video is limited to 480p. The Windows client’s HD Mode selects the webcam resolution, including 720p and 1080p. Choosing a larger output size with the free Android app enlarges the lower-resolution picture; it does not add captured detail. DroidCamX provides true HD video on Android.
On iOS, HD video is available with a watermark so it can be tried before buying the in-app Pro upgrade. Paid upgrades belong to their particular DroidCam app variant, so a purchase for one variant does not unlock the others.
Browser feed
The Android app also has an IP Cam route for viewing the phone camera in a web browser. Opening the address and port shown by DroidCam displays a page containing the live feed without requiring the desktop client.
An MJPEG viewer, including a compatible media player, can open the video feed directly. Its address can specify a requested resolution. DroidCamX also allows the text overlay on the IP Cam video to be edited or cleared.
