Android webcam
Use your Android phone as a wireless webcam
Pzync turns your Android phone into a wireless webcam for Ubuntu and Windows. The phone camera streams over your local Wi-Fi to a virtual camera on your computer, so any video-call or recording app that lets you choose a camera can use it, with resolution and frame-rate controls and no cable.
What you need
| Computer | Windows 10 or later (x64), or Ubuntu / Debian-based Linux (amd64) |
|---|---|
| Linux extra | v4l2loopback kernel module |
| Phone | Android 7.0 or later |
| Network | Phone and computer on the same Wi-Fi or local network |
| Ports | UDP 8200 (discovery) and TCP 8080 (connection) |
| Cost | Free, open source (MIT License) |
Steps
- Install Pzync on your phone and computer and pair them (see the connection guide for your system).
- On Ubuntu, install the virtual camera module with sudo apt install v4l2loopback-dkms. On Windows, allow the permission prompt the first time you use the camera.
- Open the camera feature in the Pzync Android app and allow camera access.
- Choose your resolution and frame rate, then start the stream.
- In your video-call or recording app, select the virtual camera as your camera. Restart the app if it does not appear.
Set up the virtual camera on Ubuntu
On Ubuntu the webcam uses the v4l2loopback kernel module to create a virtual camera device. Install it once:
sudo apt install v4l2loopback-dkmsSet up the virtual camera on Windows
Pzync includes a virtual camera component and registers it the first time you start the camera. Windows may ask for permission. If your app does not list the camera, restart that app once.
Why use Pzync as a webcam
- Wireless: the stream goes over your local Wi-Fi, with no USB cable.
- Private: video goes directly from your phone to your computer, not through a cloud server.
- Adjustable: choose the resolution and frame rate.
- Free and open source, with no account.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use my Android phone as a webcam on Ubuntu?
Install Pzync on Ubuntu and Android and pair them, then install the v4l2loopback-dkms package on Ubuntu. Start the camera stream in the Android app and select the virtual camera in your video-call app. The stream goes over your local Wi-Fi without a cable.
Can I use my Android phone as a webcam on Windows without a cable?
Yes. Pzync streams your phone's camera over Wi-Fi to a virtual camera on Windows 10 or later. Start the stream in the Android app, then choose the virtual camera in the app you want to use. Windows may ask for permission the first time.
Does the phone webcam work with video-call apps?
It works with apps that let you choose a camera, because Pzync appears on your computer as a virtual camera. Select it in the app's video settings, and restart the app if it does not show up.
Does the camera stream go through the internet?
No. The video is sent directly from your phone to your computer over your local network, not through a cloud server.
Need more detail? Read the full setup documentation or visit support.