How to use your phone as a webcam for streaming

The quick way

In Streamdzy press Connect, scan the code with the phone’s camera, open the page, allow the camera and press Start sending to PC. There is nothing to install on the phone, and it works on iPhone and Android.

Wi-Fi, USB or hotspot?

• Home Wi-Fi is easiest. We measured a smooth 1080p picture at about 30 fps with a steady delay of roughly 0.15 to 0.35 seconds on a normal home network.
• USB cable is the most stable and the sharpest, and it charges the phone.
• The PC’s own hotspot (turn it on from the Connect panel) gives the phone a private network. It helps when the shared Wi-Fi is crowded.

One trap: if the PC itself is on Wi-Fi and hosting a hotspot, one radio does both jobs and both suffer. Plug the PC into the router with a cable.

Keep the picture good

• Light your face from the front. Phones lower their frame rate in dim light to collect more; Streamdzy holds the rate steady and raises sensitivity instead, but a lamp is better.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb so a call or notification does not interrupt the camera.
• Keep the screen on, and plug the phone in for long shows.

Mounting

A cheap phone clamp on a desk arm at eye level makes a bigger difference than any setting. Use the back camera: it is the better one.

Keep the full-quality file

While you record, the phone can keep its own full-quality copy and send it to your PC when you stop, so even a shaky Wi-Fi moment does not cost you the best footage.