Continuity Camera: How to use your iPhone as a webcam in macOS Ventura

Belkin iPhone mount for MacBook, mounted on a MacBook
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Continuity Camera is getting a major upgrade on macOS Ventura that turns your iPhone into a webcam. This will be especially useful to people who have a MacBook with a low-quality 720p camera and would prefer to use their iPhone's higher-quality camera. So long as your MacBook and iPhone are updated to macOS Ventura and iOS 16 (respectively), you can try this feature yourself.

Using your iPhone as a webcam for your MacBook is relatively easy. Below, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on the process. We'll also show you how to enable Desk View, which is another big feature on macOS 13.

This is how to use your iPhone as a webcam in macOS Ventura.

How to use your iPhone as a webcam on macOS Ventura 

As mentioned above, you’ll need macOS Ventura and iOS 16 installed on your compatible MacBook and iPhone (respectively). Our guides on how to download the macOS Ventura public beta and how to download the iOS 16 public beta will get you started.

We recently tested a prototype of the Belkin iPhone mount for MacBook peripheral. First revealed during WWDC 2022, this product complements the updated Continuity Camera. It’s a great product that makes it easy to place an iPhone on a MacBook. At time of publication the Belkin mount isn't yet on sale; if it still isn't when you're reading this, you can also refer to our best iPhone tripods list to find a suitable holder.

Though we use Apple's FaceTime program in this how-to, the process outlined below works for any video conferencing program – including Google Meets, Zoom, Discord and more.

1. Open a video conferencing program on your MacBook. If you’re using macOS Ventura for the first time, you’ll be greeted with a screen that explains how Continuity Camera functions.

2. After that, move the cursor to the menu bar along the top of your Mac’s screen. Then click on Camera.

(Image credit: Apple)

3. You’ll see a drop-down menu listing available cameras. Select your iPhone from the list.

(Image credit: Apple)

The difference in quality between the MacBook Pro M2’s 720p camera and the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 12-megapixel camera is staggering.

How to use Desk View on macOS Ventura 

Desk View is easily the coolest thing about the updated Continuity Camera. When enabled, this feature uses the iPhone's ultrawide lens to display a live view of what's on your desk. Using Desk View is also a very straightforward affair.

1. Click on the Spotlight icon located in the menu bar.

(Image credit: Apple)

2. In the menu that pops up, type Desk View. Click on Desk View from the drop-down menu to enable it.

(Image credit: Apple)

You'll see whatever's in front of your Mac show up on the screen, captured by the iPhone's ultrawide camera.

Belkin iPhone mount for MacBook

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

That’s it! Enjoy the bewildered and shocked looks on people's when you show them Desk View.

For more Mac-themed guides, make sure you read how to right click on Mac, how to edit a PDF on Mac and how to clear cache on Mac.

And if you like the sound of having a more versatile Mac camera, take a look at this removable camera module patent for Apple laptops.

TOPICS
Tony Polanco
Senior Computing Writer

Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

Read more
An iPhone 16 in hand in front of MacBook Air 13-inch M3 on table
I paired an iPhone 16 with my MacBook Air — and now I pity Android users who are missing these features
AirDrop settings on an iPhone with a MacBook in the background.
How to transfer files from an iPhone to Mac — every method explained
The Action button settings in iOS 18.4 with a Visual Intelligence shortcut for the iPhone 15 Pro
iOS 18.4 adds a crucial Apple Intelligence feature to the iPhone 15 Pro — and it makes your phone more powerful
iPhone 16 in hand being held in front of Asus ROG Strix 17 on table showing Phone Link app
I paired my iPhone 16 with a Windows PC — and Microsoft Phone Link can't compete with a MacBook
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
Just got a new iPhone 16? Try these 10 features first
A render of the iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max just tipped for major camera upgrades — here's what we know
Latest in iPhones
Render of the alleged design of the iPhone 17 Pro
New iPhone 17 Pro dummy leak highlights redesigned camera and part glass body
Siri in iOS 18 on iPhone
Users complain that Siri can’t answer even the most basic questions — here’s what we know
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Apple iPhone 16 & 16 Plus hands-on.
Forget USB-C — a truly portless iPhone just got the all-clear from the EU
iPhone Flip render
iPhone Flip could solve one of the biggest problems with foldable phones — here's how
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
Latest in How To
a photo of a woman out for a walk
Forget running — doing this one thing boosted the calorie burn on my daily walks
Gemini logo on smartphone
Google's Gemini Deep Research is now free — here's how to use it
ChatGPT on iPhone
I use ChatGPT every day — here's 7 prompts I can't live without
Woman changing bedding
How to get rid of bed bugs and dust mites from your bedding and pillows if a hot wash isn’t an option
Ring Battery Doorbell next to door
Hate it when your Ring doorbell alerts you all the time? Here's how to schedule motion detection
How to delete TikTok
TikTok has rolled out a vital new security feature — here's how to use it