Two free apps turn your iPhone into a USB webcam for your Mac. Select TetherCam in Zoom, Teams, Meet or another app that lists system cameras. The Mac app outputs 1080p30 video; choose a separate microphone for calls. The optional OBS plugin receives video and iPhone microphone audio. Requires iOS 17+ and macOS 14+ for the Mac app. Free and open source.
Continuity Camera stopped working in my recording setup after an iOS and macOS version mismatch. I wanted a small tool I could inspect and fix, so I built TetherCam.
Install the iPhone app and the Mac app, connect the USB cable, and choose TetherCam as the camera. The Mac app outputs 1080p30 video. For recordings and streams in OBS, a separate plugin brings in both video and the phone’s microphone.
Continuity Camera can also use USB. TetherCam is a separate implementation with its own setup and limits: the phone app stays in the foreground, only one receiver can connect at a time, and the Mac camera carries video only. You approve its camera extension once in macOS settings.
Both apps and the OBS plugin are free. The source is available on GitHub. If you try it in your setup, I would like to hear which app and devices you used.