Just like Apple: Smartphones may soon become webcams under Windows too

With Microsoft Phone Link, Microsoft provides a way to operate your own smartphone from your PC. Messages can be read and answered from the PC, which allows users to use the keyboard to type up messages. In the future, Microsoft is likely to expand the functionality of the connection between PC and smartphone considerably.

Android Authority reports that an Android smartphone could also be used as a webcam on a Windows PC. This is shown by a code analysis of the corresponding APK, which provides clear clues of a webcam function. However, there has been no official announcement and this function has not been rolled out yet.

According to the code analysis, applying special effects to the video should be possible and the corresponding filters should be available, such as retouching the face. The code also contains error messages, including the message that the smartphone has become too hot. The advantage of such a solution is that most smartphones now offer high-quality cameras, even in the entry-level range, which makes purchasing an additional webcam unnecessary. In addition, many notebooks are equipped with poor webcams, so using a smartphone would mean a significant increase in quality.

Apple already offers such a solution, so it is available to all owners of a device with macOS 13 and an iPhone with at least iOS 16.