Free 4 webcam monitoring apps for Android.
Do you have an old desktop or Mac at home with dust? Ensure productive use of your device by turning it into a homemade security camera. All you need is an app that allows you to remotely view your webcam from your mobile phone or tablet.
This guide describes the applications that allow you to view your computer’s built-in camera or external webcam on your smartphone. With these tools, you can remotely monitor your children, elderly parents, household staff, or valuables from anywhere in the world.
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These apps are a boon for people who don’t want to invest in new security devices. They are easy to configure and do not require any technical port setup on your router. All it takes is an active internet connection.
Before You Proceed: Important Things to Note
We recommend connecting your computer to a power source if you are using these applications as a home surveillance system. Also, configure your computer display so that it never goes to sleep.
In Windows, launch Control Panel and select Hardware and Sound> Power Options> Change Plan Settings and set Put Computer to Sleep Mode to Never for On Battery and Plugged in. Select Save Changes to continue.
For Mac desktops and laptops, go to System Preferences> Battery> Battery and set the Turn off display after slider to Never.
It should be noted that you may not need these applications if you are using an external USB webcam with dedicated software that supports live streaming. Native webcam apps with remote streaming will definitely work better. Therefore, refer to the webcam instruction manual or manufacturer’s website for instructions on using the device to view the webcam remotely on Android and iOS devices.
1. AtHome Video Streamer (Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS)
We tested a lot of video surveillance applications putting together this snippet to view webcams remotely and AtHome Video Streamer came out on top for many reasons. First, it was not difficult to set up the app on our devices. It also boasts a lot of security-oriented features that you would like to have in a surveillance app: video snapshot / screenshot, two-way communication, night vision, video recording, etc. These features are available for free, but you need to pay to record. in the cloud, HD streaming and other advanced features.
The desktop client has a Power Saving Mode setting that sends the application to the background, locks the computer, and turns it off without interrupting the webcam stream. This feature saves battery power (on laptops) and allows you to privately view webcam videos.
Visit the developer website, download AtHome Video Streamer on your computer, and install the AtHome Camera app on your Android or iOS device. Launch the mobile client, create an account, tap the plus (+) icon in the upper right corner and select “Add camera by QR code”.
Launch AtHome Video Streamer on your computer, select “Generate QR Code” and scan the QR code that appears on the screen.
Select your computer’s webcam in the Camera section and the application will play the live webcam feed. The time stamp and percentage of your computer’s battery will also be displayed.
Use the control buttons at the bottom of the screen to change the video quality, record scenes from your webcam, enable night vision, and configure other settings.
2. Alfred Home Security Camera (Android and iOS)
This app has a free model that gives users free access to features like talkback, motion detection, and low light filter (or night vision). The Android app comes with additional features like motion detection reminder, Google Assistant integration, password lock, etc.
Install the Alfred Home Security Camera app on your Android or iOS device and create an account with your email address. You can also sign up using your Google account or Apple ID. Remember to verify your email address to sign in to the app client. The next step is to bind your phone to the Alfred Camera “WebCamera” client.
Visit the AlfredCamera website in your web browser and log into your account. When prompted, give the web app access to your Mac or PC’s camera and microphone. Then enable the camera and motion detection options.
Open the Alfred Home Security Camera app on your smartphone or tablet, go to the Camera section and select the webcam with the Live placeholder on the thumbnail. This will immediately display the image from your PC’s webcam.
If you have an external camera connected to your computer, click the gear icon in the lower right corner of the video stream, select the external webcam from the Camera drop-down menu, and click Finish.
In the free plan, Alfred Camera automatically records a 30 second clip (called an “Event”) in the “Event Book” when a motion detector detects motion. These events are then grouped into “Event Groups” – a collection of 30-second clips from the webcam. You can export these clips as Moments, save them locally on your device, or share them with friends.
Please note that unsaved events are deleted from the Alfred Camera server after seven days.
You will need to pay a monthly fee (from $ 5.99 per month) for premium features like HD streaming, advanced video recording (up to 120 seconds), people-only motion detection, simultaneous recording on multiple devices, extended cloud storage etc.
Alternatives: Remote Management Apps
While the remote control tools lack advanced security features, they may suffice as impromptu surveillance tools to remotely view your webcam feed from your iPhone or Android device.
3. Splashtop (Android and iOS)
While you need a subscription (from $ 5 per month) to remotely view your webcam using Splashtop, the developers offer a 7-day free trial. Install the Splashtop Business app on your Mac or Windows PC and smartphone. You also need to install the application support software (such as Splashtop Streamer) on your computer. Splashtop Streamer runs in the background and allows you to remotely stream from your webcam without launching the Splashtop Business app.
Install and configure Splashtop clients on your devices, create a Splashtop account, and sign in to desktop and mobile apps with your account credentials.
Please note that you must authenticate your devices before using remote webcam applications. Check your inbox, open the Splashtop authentication email, and check your devices.
After that, connect your devices to the Internet, launch the Splashtop Business app on your phone, and select your computer from the list of available devices. Wait for the app to establish a connection with your computer and launch the camera / webcam app. You should see the webcam feed on your phone. Tap the menu icon to change video orientation, frame rate, and other important settings.
Splashtop also has a Chromebook client and Chrome extension. So, if you have an old Chromebook, install the Splashtop app on your device and turn it into a video surveillance tool.
4. TeamViewer (Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS)
TeamViewer is one of the best apps that allows you to remotely access your PC or Mac from your smartphone. This free personal app uses the cloud to provide screen sharing, web collaboration, and remote control.
Install the free / personal version on your Windows PC or Mac. You can also start TeamViewer without installing it on your device. Choose this installation option if your computer is low on storage space or if you are only going to use the application once.
Go to the “Remote Management” section of the application and write down your connection ID (or “your ID”) and password.
Then download the TeamViewer app on your iOS or Android device, go to the Connect section, enter your connection ID in the Partner ID dialog box, click Remote Control and enter your password on the next page.
Make sure both devices are connected to the Internet, preferably on the same network. The TeamViewer application initiates the connection and projects an image of your computer onto your smartphone. Select your computer in the Teamviewer app dashboard and enter your partner password. If everything is in order, you should see the webcam image on your phone or tablet screen.
View Your Webcam Remotely: Limitations
Try setting up a CCTV system on a big screen. Since smartphones have a small screen size, the image / video quality of applications (especially in the free versions) is blurry and pixelated. HD streaming apps (such as the Alfred Home Security app) often require a subscription.
Remote control apps, as mentioned earlier, lack security features like motion detection, night vision, etc. Also, you cannot record clips or enhance video quality when streaming from a webcam via remote control apps. However, they represent a creative alternative to standalone webcam apps.
Whichever application you decide to deploy, make sure you grant it the necessary permissions it needs for optimal performance. You should also visit the manufacturer’s website for its usage policies and instructions.
Free 4 webcam monitoring apps for Android
Free 4 webcam monitoring apps for Android.
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