How to use your phone as a camera in OBS Studio and Streamlabs

Before you start

• —LensLink on your iPhone, installed from the App Store.
• —OBS Studio or Streamlabs on your Mac, Windows or Linux computer.
• —For Wi-Fi: the phone and the computer on the same Wi-Fi network. For USB: a USB cable.

LensLink is a camera source for OBS Studio and Streamlabs. It does not install a system-wide virtual webcam, so it is not meant for video-call apps.

Connect over Wi-Fi

Video travels over your local network, not through our servers.

1. 1Put your phone and your computer on the same Wi-Fi network. For the lowest latency, use 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
2. 2Open LensLink on your phone and tap Start Streaming. The app shows a stream link and a QR code.
3. 3Get the link onto your computer with Share URL to PC in the app, or copy it and send it to yourself.
4. 4Add a Browser Source in your streaming software (steps for OBS Studio and Streamlabs below) and paste the link as its URL.

Connect over USB

USB is the steadiest option when the Wi-Fi is crowded or you have no shared network. It uses your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot over the cable, and the stream does not use cellular data.

1. 1Connect your phone to the computer with its USB cable. Tap Trust on the phone if it asks.
2. 2On the iPhone open Settings, then Personal Hotspot, and turn on Allow Others to Join.
3. 3On a Mac, an “iPhone USB” network interface appears by itself. On Windows, install iTunes or Apple Devices first so Windows can see the USB network adapter.
4. 4Open LensLink and tap Start Streaming. The How to Connect sheet shows the link for USB.
5. 5Paste that link into the Browser Source as described above.

Your iPhone leaves your Wi-Fi network while it acts as the hotspot. This is normal.

Wi-Fi or USB?

Quality settings: Free and Pro

LensLink is free to start: stream at 720p and 30 fps with no watermark. At 1080p and above the free version adds a small watermark. LensLink Pro removes the watermark and adds 60 fps, 2K and 4K on phones that support them, a custom streaming port and camera switching while you stream. Prices are shown in the app before you buy.

Troubleshooting

Nothing shows up in OBS or Streamlabs

Check that streaming is on in LensLink and that the phone and computer are on the same network, or switch to USB. Some guest and public Wi-Fi networks do not let devices reach each other: use USB or a hotspot there. In the Browser Source properties, refreshing the page can also help.

The picture keeps reconnecting

Add only one Browser Source per phone. Two sources pointed at the same phone compete for the single connection.

There is no sound

Open the Browser Source properties and tick “Control audio via OBS”. The microphone stays muted in OBS until you do.

The video is choppy

Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi or a USB cable, lower the resolution to 720p at 30 fps on slower networks, and avoid other heavy uploads on the same Wi-Fi.

Streamlabs closes when the camera starts (Apple Silicon Macs)

Use the Apple Silicon build of OBS Studio, or turn off hardware acceleration for the Browser Source.

Can I use LensLink in Zoom, FaceTime or other video-call apps?

No. LensLink is a camera source for OBS Studio and Streamlabs and does not install a system-wide virtual webcam.

Who can see my stream?

The stream link contains a private access key. Paste it only on your own computer: anyone on your network who has the link can view the camera.

Privacy

No account is needed, and by default your video stays on your local network. Optional usage analytics are collected only with your choice and can be changed any time in Settings, then Privacy.