Can’t Use iPhone As Webcam on Mac Using Continuity Camera? Here is the Fix
Why is Continuity Camera Webcam Not Working Between iPhone and Mac?
Based on my personal experience, there could several reasons why the Continuity Camera Webcam is not working between the iPhone and Mac. First and foremost, the problem could be due to the wrong setup. Aside from the possible software bugs that have become way too frequent on iOS and macOS, you should also keep in mind the compatibility thing.
Ensure That Your Device is Compatible
The very first thing that you should do is to ensure that your device supports the Continuity Camera Webcam. Bear in mind that not all iOS 16-supported devices are compatible with this feature. That’s not all, only the latest models are able to take full advantage of this feature. iPhone XR or later models support basic Continuity Camera Webcam functionality:
iPhone XRiPhone XSiPhone XS MaxiPhone 11iPhone 11 ProiPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13iPhone 13 miniiPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone SE 2 and 3
To use the Desk View and Center Stage, you must have an iPhone 11 or newer model:
iPhone 11iPhone 11 ProiPhone 11 Pro MaxiPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13iPhone 13 miniiPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone SE 2 and 3
It’s important to note that the Studio Light feature requires iPhone 12 or a newer model:
iPhone 12iPhone 12 miniiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13iPhone 13 miniiPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone SE 3
Note:
Continuity Camera Webcam supports both first-party and third-party apps. You can select your iPhone as the camera source by heading into the camera/video section of a respective app. For example, if you want to use your iPhone as Mac’s webcam in FaceTime, click on the Video menu at the top and choose your device name. The process is almost the same in other apps like Zoom and Google Meet.
Disable/ Enable Continuity Camera Webcam
iOS 16 comes with a setting called Continuity Camera Webcam. Make sure it is enabled on your device. If the issue occurs, even after it is turned on, disable/enable the toggle.
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General.
- Now, tap on AirPlay & Handoff. Then, turn off the toggle next to Continuity Camera Webcam. After waiting for a few seconds, turn on the toggle.
Turn OFF/ON Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Since Wi-Fi and Bluetooth play a vital role for Continuity Camera Webcam, make sure they are enabled. Again, if you face the issue even after they are turned on, disable/enable their toggles.
On your iPhone: Head over to the Settings app > Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. Now, turn off/on the toggle.
On your Mac: Click on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth menus and then turn them off/on.
Restart Your iPhone and Mac
At times, all you have to do to overcome any iOS or macOS-related issue is to just reboot the device. Therefore, you should not miss out on this simple but very effective trick.
On your iPhone: Press and hold the volume up/down button and the side button. Then, drag the power off slider to shut down your iPhone. Next, hold down the side button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo on the screen to restart your device. On Your Mac: Click on the Apple menu at the top left corner of the screen and choose Restart in the menu.
Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign Back In
Many a time, you can get rid of a common issue by just signing out of Apple ID and signing back in. Considering how effective it has been, it would be wise to give it a try as well. On your iPhone: Open the Settings app and then tap on the Apple ID banner. After that, scroll down and tap on Sign Out. Next, make sure to keep a copy of all the important data like contacts and calendar. Next up, hit Sign Out. Up next, wait for some time, and then sign back in using your Apple ID. On your Mac: Launch the System Settings app or click on the Apple menu at the upper left corner of the screen and choose System Settings in the menu. Now, click on your profile and then hit Sign Out. Wait for some time and then sign back in using your Apple ID and password.
Reset Network Settings
If your device is faced with any network-related issues, the Continuity Camera Webcam may not work properly in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. The good thing is you can easily fix most network issues by resetting the network settings on your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- When prompted, make sure to enter your device passcode and confirm.
Reset All Settings on Your iPhone
When faced with major iOS issues, I make sure to try out the ever-reliable factory reset trick. More often than not, it does not disappoint me. So, I’m going to count on it to fix the Continuity Camera Webcam issues as well.
- Navigate to the Settings app on your iPhone > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Now, enter your device passcode and confirm.
Update Your iPhone and Mac
If you are still unable to use your iPhone as a webcam on Mac, there is a good chance that the problem could be due to a software bug. Knowing how rampant bugs have become on iOS and macOS, it would not be wrong to put sole blame on a hidden bug. To troubleshoot it, update the software on your device.
On Your iPhone: Open the Settings app > General > Software Update. Now, download and install the latest version of iOS.
On Your Mac: Launch the System Settings app > General > Software Update. Then, download and install the latest iteration of macOS on your device.
Read more: How to Fix Depth Effect Not Working on iOS 16 Lock Screen Wallpapers
Fixed Continuity Camera Not Working Issue on iPhone and Mac
That’s pretty much done! Hopefully, Continuity Camera has started to work once again on your device. It would indeed be great to know the solution that has worked for you. Besides, if something else (not mentioned in this guide), has helped you resolve the problem, be sure to let us know their names as well.
