Zoom, Google Meet, Teams : Can't get a webcam? That old phone in a drawer can help

When work, school, healthcare and even happy hour goes from real life to video teleconference, dedicated webcams go MIA. And everyone is getting ready for their close-up – for school, for work and for the sanity and comfort of any kind of outside human contact.

As Jefferson Graham noted, webcams are in high demand -- and short supply. Logitech is sold out. Amazon and Best Buy are out of stock. And used webcams listed on eBay are going for as much as $420.

But don’t worry, and don’t pay a fortune to price gougers, there’s an easy and free way to use old smartphones as a webcam for better-looking video chats. Here’s how:

Dust off old devices

Many of us have an older smartphone or tablet shoved in a junk drawer somewhere. As long as it isn’t ancient, you’re likely to get a better image from an old mobile device than your laptop's default camera. A smaller dedicated screen is also easier to move around so that you’re not forcing other people to look up your nose or casting an image that looks a little too much like a mugshot for everyone’s comfort.

Use a webcam app

Once you charge up your old device, download a dedicated webcam app. These can add super handy video conference features, and you can often find them for free, though I prefer the paid versions for the best quality and no ads.

For Android phones, the DroidCamX Pro ($5 for the Pro version) is the easiest to use and has the best overall look and feel, but it only works with Linux and Windows operating systems. For those devices, follow the in-app instructions to turn your old Android device into a wireless webcam to chat on Skype, Zoom or Teams, or use with other programs like OBS & XSplit for your live streams to Twitch or YouTube. IP Webcam ($4 for Pro version) is another decent choice with a lot of options including two-way audio and video recording. I found it more difficult to navigate overall though, and best for more tech-savvy types. If you have a Mac, you’ll have to go with the EpocCam Webcam app ($5 for the Pro version), though it’s not intuitive to set up or use, tends to have more blurry image quality, and the overall experience feels very 2007.

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For iPhones though, EpocCam Webcam (free, or $8 or $20 for the Pro version) is actually my favorite for my Mac. Setting it up is simple, downloading the drivers to your Mac or PC is quick and painless, and it lets you connect wirelessly over WiFi network or with a USB-cable. You can also connect using Newtek NDI technology without installing drivers to your computer. iVCam (free), iCam ($5) and the NDI HX Camera app (free right now) are all good choices as well.

Whatever app you use, it will likely drain your smartphone battery, so it’s best to keep it plugged in. You’ll also have to allow access to your microphone and camera and be sure to turn it off completely when you’re not using it, for an added layer of anti-snooping security precaution.

No tripod? No problem use a hair-tie or rubber band and glass to stabilize your smartphone camera. Also, put it on a box to raise it to eye level so that no one has to look up your nose during video conferences.
No tripod? No problem use a hair-tie or rubber band and glass to stabilize your smartphone camera. Also, put it on a box to raise it to eye level so that no one has to look up your nose during video conferences.

Put your phone on a tripod, even a homemade one

This is something I can’t stress enough. For video calls, handheld shots are too Blair Witch Project shaky. Putting it on a tripod and making sure the camera is at eye level – even using a hair tie on a glass on a box – is better than watching your screen shake all over the place. Also, use your phone’s main camera versus the selfie side. Most newer smartphones have 1080p rear-facing cameras that deliver much high image quality and more options for zooming than the 720p or even lower resolution options found on most laptops. Most of the webcam apps let you customize video resolution, screen orientation and color effects as well.

Do a test run

Now that you have it all set up, do a test run with a family member, friend or colleague before jumping right into a big meeting or presentation. This gives you a chance to fix any glitches, and make sure your background looks tidy and professional. I've been using my Airpods Pro and think that it sounds more clear and crisp than the built-in mic on my laptop or smartphone, especially when they're on a desk a few feet away.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist. Email her at jj@techish.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zoom, Google Meet, Teams: How to video chat without a webcam