Using an iPhone as a webcam

[25thirtysix]

I have an Apple Mac Mini M1 (running Ventura 13.2.1 (22D68)) and an iPhone 11 (running iOS 16.3.1)

See this article: How to Use the iPhone Camera as a Zoom Camera on Mac

I have tried to use my iPhone as a webcam for FaceTime calls. It seems impossible to get the phone to work with the Mac; I get a FaceTime message saying "No camera available, use FaceTime to connect a camera" (see attached screenshot).

I have spent hours searching for a solution. I have come to the conclusion that there must be a problem with the Mac Mini.

Any thoughts please, this is so frustrating!

Regards,
Peter

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Buy a webcam, it's cheap, it works and will save you all the frustration you are having with trying to use something that is meant as a once in a while thing as your go-to solution for a webcam.

 

[25thirtysix]

Buy a webcam, it's cheap, it works and will save you all the frustration you are having with trying to use something that is meant as a once in a while thing as your go-to solution for a webcam.

Thanks!

I don't know why I didn't think of that!

Regards,
Peter

 

[pm-r]

I don't know why I didn't think of that!

BTW: and OT here, and welcome to mac-forums, but do I dare ask what your signature regarding Peter Anderson is all about???



- Patrick
=======

 

[pm-r]

Buy a webcam, it's cheap, it works and will save you all the frustration you are having

Just make sure it's Mac-compatible. Most are, but some are not.
But maybe that situation has changed and improved recently.



- Patrick
=======

 

[25thirtysix]

Just make sure it's Mac-compatible. Most are, but some are not.
But maybe that situation has changed and improved recently.



- Patrick
=======

Patrick,

First off; I don’t want a webcam, I only have an occasional need and would really like to use the technology I have. After all, its supposed to work!

Secondly, ahhh! my signature (and my avatar). The signature is from the opening lines of “Peter Anderson and Co.” by an Australian poet, Henry Lawson (born on the Grenfell goldfields, central west of New South Wales, on 17 June 1867 and he died in Sydney on 2 September 1922). You can read the whole poem at:

Peter Anderson and Co. [poem by Henry Lawson]

[Editor: This poem by Henry Lawson was published in In the Days When the World Was Wide and Other Verses, 1896.] Peter Anderson and Co. He had offices in Sydney, not so many years ago, And his shin…

www.australianculture.org

My avatar is an image of Henry Lawson as depicted on an Australian $10 note (the design is no longer in circulation, the current $10 note has a depiction of AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson another famous Australian poet).

I hope that is of some interest.

Regards,
Peter (Anderson)

 

[25thirtysix]

I have an Apple Mac Mini M1 (running Ventura 13.2.1 (22D68)) and an iPhone 11 (running iOS 16.3.1) …

I have tried to use my iPhone as a webcam for FaceTime calls. It seems impossible to get the phone to work with the Mac; I get a FaceTime message saying "No camera available, use FaceTime to connect a camera" (see attached screenshot).

I have spent hours searching for a solution. I have come to the conclusion that there must be a problem with the Mac Mini …

I should add that I can AirDrop between the iPhone and Mac Mini so the Mac knows the phone is there on the same network. BUT! I can't make or receive phone calls (via my iPhone) on the Mac. The call seems to establish then the line drops out.

Really annoying!

 

[MacInWin]

This is Apple's how-to on it: Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac

 

[25thirtysix]

This is Apple's how-to on it: Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac

Hi! I've seen that page before. I can't remember whether I tried with the iPhone connected to the Mac.

So; I have just connected the iPhone to the Mac via a Lightning to USB-C cable and FaceTime now works. Also sending and receiving phone calls also works.

This is odd! It all works if the devices are cable connected but does not work via WiFi and/or Bluetooth. My previous Mac (which I stopped using two years ago) was an 2013 MacBook Air and FaceTime and phone calls definitely worked via WiFi and/or Bluetooth.

I think there must be a problem with the Mac Mini.

CAN ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THIS FORUM TRY THESE CONNECTIONS USING THEIR MAC AND IPHONE PLEASE!

I would love to hear the results.

Regards,
Peter

 

[ferrarr]

I think there must be a problem with the Mac Mini.

The Mac Mini does not have a Camera or Microphone, like the MacBook Air does.

There was no need to use Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.

 

[25thirtysix]

The Mac Mini does not have a Camera or Microphone, like the MacBook Air does.

Really? I'm sorry to be sarcastic, but I have realised that my Mac Mini does not have a camera.

I am trying to use my iPhone 11 as a webcam for FaceTime (I know I could buy a webcam) and also be able to make and answer phone calls on the Mac via my iPhone. All these things were possible on the previous MacBook Air I owned but only work on the Mac Mini M1 when the Mac and iPhone are connected via a USB cable.

Apple's Continuity Camera technology is supposed to work with or without a cable connection. Without the cable I presume it uses either Bluetooth or WiFi.

I seem to not be expressing myself very well because many of the responses above are way off the topic of my post. Ideally, I can find somebody who knows something about this problem. I've seen references to Bluetooth and/or WiFi issues with the Mac Mini M1.

Regards,
Peter

 

[25thirtysix]

but do I dare ask what your signature regarding Peter Anderson is all about???

pm-r have you had a chance to read Peter Anderson and Co.?

 

[ferrarr]

I should add that I can AirDrop between the iPhone and Mac Mini so the Mac knows the phone is there on the same network. BUT! I can't make or receive phone calls (via my iPhone) on the Mac. The call seems to establish then the line drops out.

Really annoying!

Have you looked in Settings on all your devices? In Settings go to Apple ID, then Name, Phone Number, Email. Confirm your iPhone phone number is listed correctly on all devices. Then go to the Phone Settings and make sure you have enabled Calls on Other Devices has been enabled for any of your Apple devices.

I am trying to use my iPhone 11 as a webcam for FaceTime (I know I could buy a webcam) and also be able to make and answer phone calls on the Mac via my iPhone. All these things were possible on the previous MacBook Air I owned but only work on the Mac Mini M1 when the Mac and iPhone are connected via a USB cable.

Are you saying you used Continuity Camera between your MBA and iPhone, even though your MBA has a camera and mic?

 

[25thirtysix]

Have you looked in Settings on all your devices? In Settings go to Apple ID, then Name, Phone Number, Email. Confirm your iPhone phone number is listed correctly on all devices. Then go to the Phone Settings and make sure you have enabled Calls on Other Devices has been enabled for any of your Apple devices.

Are you saying you used Continuity Camera between your MBA and iPhone, even though your MBA has a camera and mic?

Question 1: Yes!

Question 2: I have not used Continuity Camera on my MacBook Air as it was not available then. However, I have made and received phone calls on the MacBook via my iPhone XR (I think).

See this article (that I referred to in my first post): How to Use the iPhone Camera as a Zoom Camera on Mac

 

[pm-r]

pm-r have you had a chance to read Peter Anderson and Co.?

I must be honest and admit that I have not 25thirtysix, and I'll be honest enough to say that's in an area that really doesn't interest me, especially while I have been busy resurrecting my iMac that crashed seriously last month.

But thank you for the information.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Jimmysb]

pm-r have you had a chance to read Peter Anderson and Co.?

The poem by Henry Lawson !!

 

[MacInWin]

Really? I'm sorry to be sarcastic, but I have realised that my Mac Mini does not have a camera.

Sarcasm is not generally a good way to get help.

I am trying to use my iPhone 11 as a webcam for FaceTime

See this article (that I referred to in my first post): How to Use the iPhone Camera as a Zoom Camera on Mac

So, which is it, FaceTime or Zoom?

 

[25thirtysix]

So, which is it, FaceTime or Zoom?

I think I've mentioned FaceTime several times. The article is about using the iPhone as a webcam for Zoom. I would have thought that the same principles apply whether you are using FaceTime or Zoom.

Regards,
Peter

 

[MacInWin]

Zoom and FaceTime are two entirely different apps. You did mention FT, but then kept pointing to the article on Zoom, which was confusing.

Here is what Apple has to say:

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac - Apple Support

Use the powerful camera system of your iPhone to do things never before possible with a webcam, including Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and Desk View.

support.apple.com

Have you seen that and tried what is says? I just did it with my MBP and iPhone and it worked perfectly. I opened FT, then selected Video on the menu bar and picked my iPhone, which was then immediately connected. No cable, so it was either BT or WiFi.

EDIT: Given that your Mini doesn't have any camera or microphone at all, FT may well just look for your iPhone automatically, or it may require a USB cable. On my system, FT defaulted to the internal camera and mic, but then shows my iPhone as an option.

 

[Slydude]

I tried that on a mew to me M1 Mini and haven't gotten it to work wirelessly yet. I'm going to try the steps again later to see if I can get it to work. It's entirely possible I missed something.