Your phone's camera is usually much better than a laptop webcam. Briefcast can use it directly: you scan a QR code, and the phone streams to your computer over your Wi-Fi. Nothing needs installing on the phone or the computer.
What you need
- The phone and the computer on the same Wi-Fi network.
- A recent phone browser: Safari on iPhone, or Chrome on Android.
Pairing
- In Briefcast, open the recording options (the arrow at the bottom-right, or the webcam list in Screen Options) and choose Phone camera in the camera list. The Use your phone as a camera panel opens with a QR code.
- Point your phone's camera at the QR code and open the link it shows.
- The phone warns that the connection isn't private. This is expected: browsers only allow camera access over a secure connection, and the only kind Briefcast can create on your home network shows this warning. Tap Advanced → Proceed (Chrome) or Show Details → visit this website (Safari).
- Tap Start camera and allow camera access when the phone asks.
- The phone shows Streaming, and your phone's picture appears in Briefcast. Phone camera is now ticked as a camera.
Tap Flip camera on the phone to switch between the front and back cameras. Tap Stop to pause the stream.
The first time, Windows may ask whether Briefcast can communicate on your network. Allow it for private networks, or the phone won't be able to connect.
If the QR code doesn't connect
Computers often have several network addresses; for example, VPNs, WSL and Hyper-V each add a virtual one, and Briefcast might pick one your phone can't reach. Under the QR code, try the other addresses listed, each with its own QR code.
The link only works for your computer: each time pairing starts, the QR code carries a fresh private key, and nobody else on the network can connect without it. If you type the address by hand, include everything after the #.
Recording with the phone
Once paired, record as usual with the phone ticked as your camera. The phone's video is saved as a separate camera file next to the screen recording, so in the video editor it appears as a picture-in-picture layer you can move, resize or reshape. You can also switch the main view between screen and phone while recording, with Alt+Shift+V.
Closing the pairing panel doesn't disconnect the phone. Use Disconnect in the panel when you're finished. The connection also ends when Briefcast closes.
Tips
- Prop the phone up or use a small tripod. Landscape orientation suits screen recordings best.
- Keep the phone on charge for long sessions; streaming video uses its battery quickly.
- Briefcast keeps the phone's screen awake while streaming.
