The latest versions of macOS system software allow you to use your iPhone as a FaceTime camera and webcam, offering much higher resolution and better video chat quality, especially when compared to the built-in cameras on most Macs.
You’ll need macOS Ventura 13 or later on Mac and iOS 16 or later on iPhone to be able to use the iPhone camera on Mac as a FaceTime camera. Also, both devices must be near each other and on the same Wi-Fi network for this feature to work properly.
How to Use iPhone Camera for FaceTime Calls on Mac
Using the iPhone’s high-resolution camera for FaceTime calls from your Mac is easy.
- Open the FaceTime app on Mac
- Hold your iPhone close and orient it so that the iPhone’s rear camera is pointing at you (or whatever you want to show during a FaceTime call).
- Pull down the Video menu in FaceTime on Mac, and under Camera, select your iPhone.
You should be able to see the difference right away as the iPhone’s high resolution camera becomes the FaceTime camera and the preview immediately becomes higher.
Now if you make a FaceTime call from a Mac, it will use the much higher resolution iPhone camera.
If you have other external cameras available or connected to your Mac, or virtual webcams set up from your Mac, they will also show up as available in the Camera section of the video.
This feature includes other Mac apps, and it’s easy to switch the webcam in each one.
Keep in mind that while this specific approach and ease of use requires macOS Ventura and later and iOS 16 or later, you can still use your iPhone as a webcam on older system software versions using third party software like described here.