How to use an old Android phone as a webcam for a Mac

An old Android phone in a drawer can become a permanent webcam for a Mac, and its rear camera is likely better than nothing on a Mac mini or a tired laptop. What decides whether yours can do it is the Android version. Android's built-in USB webcam mode needs Android 14 QPR1 or higher, which rules out most retired phones. Webcam apps reach much further back: Camo lists Android 7.0 or later, and The Relay needs Android 8.0 or later. The other two things to plan for are power and the fact that an old phone may no longer get security updates.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 1 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

Which Android version does each option need?

First find out what the phone runs. Google's page Check and update your Android version says to open Settings, then tap About phone, then Android version. Menu names vary a little between makers. That page also warns: "Older devices can't always run newer Android versions."

Then compare:

The general routes and their setup are in how to use an Android phone as a webcam for a Mac. This page is about what changes when the phone is old and stays on the desk.

Which option fits a spare phone best?

A spare phone and your daily phone are different cases, and our own product fits one better than the other.

For a spare phone that will do nothing but be a camera, a dedicated webcam app is the natural fit. Camo's stated range goes back to Android 7.0, it has a free version, and its support page describes both a USB connection to a Mac and Wi-Fi pairing by QR code. A cable suits a permanent setup, since one lead can carry the picture and keep the phone charged.

With The Relay, the phone's camera and microphone appear on the Mac wirelessly, as devices that apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime can select. It runs on Android 8.0 or later, so plenty of older phones qualify. But most of what you pay $19.99 for is about the phone you carry: its clipboard, texts and login codes, notifications, and calls showing up on the Mac. A retired phone with no SIM has little of that to share. If the old phone is only a camera, Camo's free version or a USB route is the more sensible choice. The Relay makes sense when you use it with your main phone and want the webcam as part of the set.

Two more limits. The Relay has no USB mode, so the old phone needs a separate charger. And we have not measured picture quality or delay for it or for any other option, which matters more with old hardware. Test before you mount anything.

How do I keep an old phone powered as a webcam?

A webcam phone is a phone with its camera on for hours. The makers are frank about what that does.

• The Android documentation tells phone makers that "a device's camera might be on for multiple hours a day" in webcam use and recommends steps to keep "power consumption and thermal" under limits.
• DroidCam's help page says: "Transferring video for long durations will put extra strain on your phone." Its advice is to keep the phone connected to power, dim the screen, and "place the phone in a way that will let it dissipate heat, away from other heat sources".
• Camo's FAQ says a warm phone is "nothing to worry about", because "Camo offloads its processing to your phone".

Practical steps for a permanent setup:

1. Keep the phone on a charger or a powered USB connection whenever it is in use.
2. Take it out of its case and keep it out of direct sun.
3. Use a moderate resolution. DroidCam's help recommends 1280x720 at 30 frames a second as the balance of quality and load.
4. If the phone has a charge limit, turn it on. On Pixel phones, Google's page Maximize charging on your Pixel phone describes Settings, Battery, Battery health, Charging optimization, with a Limit to 80% option "to prioritize the long-term health of your battery". Other makers have their own versions. Look in the battery settings.
5. Unplug it and turn the camera off when the working day ends.
6. If the app stops sending video after a while, check the phone's battery optimisation settings. DroidCam's help notes that some Android makers restrict apps from running in the background, and that disabling battery optimisation for the app, or keeping the phone on power, lifts the restriction.

Check an old battery before you leave it plugged in all day. If the back of the phone is bulging or the screen is lifting, do not use it.

Is an old phone that no longer gets updates safe to use?

It is a fair question, and the honest answer is that it carries more risk than a current phone. Google's Android help page says: "To get the latest security update available for your device, make sure that you have the latest Android version available for your device." It adds that update schedules "vary by device, manufacturer, and mobile carrier". For Pixels, Google's page Learn when you'll get software updates lists the Pixel 5a and earlier models as phones that "no longer receive Android version updates and security updates".

A phone past that point stays as it is, with whatever flaws were known when updates stopped. We cannot promise any outcome, but these habits reduce what is at stake:

• Check the security update date under About phone so you know where the phone stands.
• Install every update still on offer before you start.
• Remove accounts and apps the webcam does not need. A camera-only phone has no reason to hold your email.
• Install the webcam app from the maker's official source, and nothing else.
• Keep it on your home network, not on public Wi-Fi.

Questions people ask

What is the oldest Android version that can be a Mac webcam?

Going by the makers' stated requirements, Camo supports Android 7.0 or later and The Relay Android 8.0 or later. The built-in USB webcam mode needs Android 14 QPR1 or higher.

Does the built-in USB webcam mode work on an old phone?

Usually not. Android's documentation says it is for devices running Android 14 QPR1 or higher, and the phone's maker has to enable it. Plug the phone in and look for Webcam in the USB options. If it is missing, use an app.

Can I leave the phone plugged in all the time?

You can, and the makers recommend power during use. Constant charging and heat are hard on an old battery, so use a charge limit if the phone has one, and unplug it overnight.