How to use a Samsung phone as a webcam on a Mac

A Samsung Galaxy phone can be a webcam for a Mac in two ways. The first is Android's built-in USB webcam mode, which only exists on a phone if its maker switched it on, so you have to check your own Galaxy for a Webcam choice in its USB options. The second works on any recent Galaxy: an app pair such as Camo or Iriun, or The Relay, which makes the phone's camera and microphone appear on the Mac wirelessly. Start with the two-minute check below, because if the option is there, it is free.

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.

This page is about Galaxy phones specifically. The full set of options for any Android phone is in how to use an Android phone as a webcam for a Mac.

Does a Galaxy have Android's USB webcam mode?

We cannot tell you for your model, and we would rather say so than guess. Here is what is documented.

The Android Open Source Project page, Use a device as a webcam, says that "for devices running Android 14 QPR1 or higher, Android supports using the device as a USB webcam", and that the phone then shows up to hosts including macOS as a standard USB camera. The same page tells phone makers that to enable the feature they "must set" a system property in their build of Android. When they do, "a Webcam option appears in the Settings app under USB preferences".

So the Android version alone does not settle it. A Galaxy on a new enough version has the feature only if Samsung enabled it for that model. Google's own help page, Use your Pixel phone as a webcam, is written for Pixel phones and does not mention other makers. For Samsung's position, check Samsung's support pages for your model. The quicker route is to look at the phone.

How do I check my Galaxy in two minutes?

1. Connect the Galaxy to the Mac with a USB cable that carries data, not a charge-only one.
2. Unlock the phone and pull down the notification panel. Look for a notification about USB or charging and tap it. On a Pixel it reads Charging this device through USB. Samsung's wording may differ, so look for anything that mentions USB.
3. You should see a list of things the USB connection can be used for, such as file transfer. Look for Webcam in that list.
4. If it is there, select it. Then open a video app on the Mac and look for the phone in its camera menu.

What the result means:

Why does the Mac not show the phone when Webcam is selected?

The Android documentation has a warning aimed squarely at Mac owners: "Android devices in webcam mode don't work with USB 3.0+ cables on macOS hosts because of a bug with Apple's UVC driver." If you used a fast USB-C cable, swap it for a basic USB 2.0 data cable. Then quit the video app on the Mac and open it again so it looks for cameras afresh.

Also expect camera only. The documentation describes a camera feed with a preview where you choose the front or back camera and the zoom. It does not describe sending the phone's microphone to the computer.

Which apps turn a Galaxy into a Mac webcam?

These do not depend on what Samsung enabled. Each is an app on the phone paired with a program on the Mac.

DroidCam needs a word of explanation, because many Galaxy owners know it from Windows. Its Mac route runs through OBS Studio, a video production program. That is covered in DroidCam on a Mac.

Where does The Relay fit for a Galaxy owner?

With The Relay, the Galaxy's camera and microphone appear on the Mac as a camera and a microphone that apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, and FaceTime can select. It is wireless, over your own Wi-Fi network, and it does not depend on which USB options your model has.

It is one feature of a wider app. The same install syncs the clipboard between the Galaxy and the Mac, lets you drag files either way, and shows the phone's notifications, incoming texts with their login codes, and incoming calls on the Mac. It costs $19.99, paid once, needs macOS 13 Ventura or later, and comes from the download page.

When it is not the right choice:

• Your Galaxy passed the check above. The USB mode is free. Use it.
• You want a cable. The Relay has no USB mode. Camo offers a plugged-in connection.
• You want detailed picture controls and nothing else. Camo is built for that.
• You want free and wireless. Look at the free versions of Camo and Iriun first.

We have not measured picture quality or delay for any of these. Run a practice call before the meeting that matters.

Questions people ask

Can I use my Samsung phone as a webcam for my MacBook without an app?

Only if your Galaxy shows Webcam in its USB options when you plug it in. Android's documentation says phone makers have to enable that mode, so it varies by model and software version. If the option is missing, an app is the way.

Can I use the Galaxy's rear camera in the USB mode?

If your Galaxy offers the mode, Android's documentation says its preview screen lets you select "the camera to stream, front or back", and set the zoom. With an app, check that app's own settings for a camera switch.

Which cable should I use for the USB webcam mode on a Mac?

A USB 2.0 data cable. Android's documentation says webcam mode does not work with USB 3.0 or later cables on macOS. Charge-only cables do not work either, since no data passes through them.

Will an older Galaxy work?

The built-in mode needs Android 14 QPR1 or higher and a maker that enabled it. The apps reach further back: Camo lists Android 7.0 or later and The Relay needs Android 8.0 or later. See using an old Android phone as a webcam.