The latest updates to iOS and macOS have brought very interesting functions, like the one we are going to tell you about in this post. And it is that, now your iPhone becomes your Mac’s webcam, so that you get a much higher image quality, for when we talk in video calls or remote conferences. And if you want to know how you can do it, we are going to tell you everything you need to know.
How to use iPhone as Mac webcam
Before we begin to see how this process is carried out, first we are going to see the requirements that are needed to make the iPhone the webcam of the Mac. So, we will see the configurations that are needed, the operating systems required and the Continuity Camera compatible devices.
The first thing that we are going to need is a iPhone XR, XS, XS Max or higher. The previous models, despite the fact that they may be compatible with the iOS version, will not be able to have this function. As for the Mac, we are going to need a computer that is compatible with the macOS Ventura operating system. In this case, the models that support this version of the system are the following:
- Mac Pro 2019
- Mac Studio 2022
- Mac mini (2018, 2020 and 2023)
- 24-inch iMac
- iMac 21.5-inch, 2017
- iMac Retina 21.5-inch 4K (2017 and 2019)
- 27-inch iMac Retina 5K (2017, 2019, and 2020)
- 2017 iMac Pro
- MacBook 12-inch (2017)
- MacBook Air (2020 and 2022)
- MacBook Air Retina (2018, 2019, 2020)
- All MacBook Pros with Intel from 2017 to 2019
- All MacBook Pros with Apple Silicon
Once we know the compatible models and systems, it’s time to see how to configure the basic parameters. These are not from the Continuity Camera feature, but from what you need so that this feature can later be activated. For a start, We are going to need to have the same Apple ID activated on both computers. This is very important since both will recognize each other thanks to the iCloud ID.
Once we have the same Apple ID, activated and with the session started, we will see all the connections that we are going to need. Both must be on the same Wi-Fi network, connected. But it’s also important to have Bluetooth turned on on both computers. In addition, it is necessary that the two are within a connection range that is not greater than 9 meters. After this distance, the connection between the two will be lost.
This is how the Continuity Chamber is activated
On the iPhone, we will have to go to Settings > General > AirPlay and Handoff. We must activate the Continuity Camera function. In principle, this should already be activated by default. But it may be the case that this is not the case and, therefore, it is time to review it.
On the Mac we must go to System Settings > General > AirPlay and Handoff. Here we are going to find a single option called Allow Handoff between this Mac and your devices with iCloud. We activate it. And once we have done all this, when we start a video call on the Mac, we can select the input source of the camera. To select our iPhone, we must look for the option of Camera or Video input in the interface itself, and select iPhone of (our name). Automatically, the signal will already be captured from the phone.