As part of its macOS 13 Ventura presentation at WWDC 2022, Apple today announced Continuity Camera, which gives Mac owners the ability to use their iPhone as a webcam.
A Mac running macOS 13 can automatically recognize and use the camera on an iPhone when it is nearby, without the need to wake or select it, and the iPhone can also connect to the Mac wirelessly.
Continuity Camera includes FaceTime features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, and a new Studio Light effect that illuminates a user's face while dimming the background.
In addition, Continuity Camera uses the Ultra Wide camera on an iPhone to enable Desk View, which simultaneously shows the user's face and an overhead view of their desk, which is useful for creating DIY videos, showing off sketches over FaceTime, and more.
Continuity Camera is available on iPhone XR or later models. Using Continuity Camera wirelessly requires a Mac and an iPhone or iPad with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and both devices must be signed in to the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication.
Continuity Camera with Center Stage and Desk View is available on iPhone 11 or later running iOS 16. Studio Light is available on iPhone 12 or later running iOS 16.
For all the other details and new features in macOS 13 Ventura, see our dedicated article.
