Windows 11 will allow the use of the phone as a webcam.

The Windows 11 24H2 update introduces an innovative feature called Connected Camera, which allows users to use their smartphones as webcams. According to tests conducted by a specialized media outlet, the option is quite simple to use, although a smartphone with Android is required for it to work. The ability to use a phone as a webcam isn't new; however, native support has been inconsistent. Initially, users had to rely on third-party applications to achieve this. Later, Apple users enjoyed the Continuity Camera, and recently, Android 14 users received a similar feature. Now, Windows is joining this trend, offering an alternative to replace the low-quality webcams typically found in laptops by utilizing the higher-quality cameras we have in our pockets.

To test this functionality, you need a PC with Bluetooth running Windows 11 24H2 and a mobile device with Android 8.0 or higher. First, the phone must be connected to the computer using Phone Link or mobile device management options. Both devices should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and certain permissions will need to be granted for the PC to access the phone's camera. Once the phone appears in the My Devices menu on the management page, an option will be available to activate it as a connected camera. When this option is enabled, the phone will appear as a webcam device in video call applications such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. You can use either the front or rear camera to capture images, and the streaming will automatically adjust between portrait and landscape modes, depending on the phone's orientation. Additionally, if the PC supports Windows Studio Effects, these will continue to function when using the phone's camera.

However, as is often the case with new Windows features, not everything works perfectly. It was noted that when using this option on a laptop, the video resolution was limited to 720p, despite the integrated webcam being able to offer 1080p resolution. It’s likely that Microsoft is already aware of this issue and plans to address it in future updates.

On the other hand, the recent KB5041587 update also brings significant improvements for Windows 11 users. This new version makes file transfer between an Android device and the computer easier, fixes bugs in File Explorer, and makes performance adjustments in Windows Narrator and the voice access feature. To take advantage of this capability, it will be necessary to install the Microsoft Phone Link app on both devices and follow the setup process, which involves granting several permissions. When sharing files from the PC, you need to select Phone Link as the destination app, and on the Android device, choose the Windows option.

Moreover, there is expectation that Windows 11 will implement a more user-friendly update system through a hot-patching method, allowing updates to be applied without the need to reboot the PC. This information was disclosed through a support page that was reportedly removed by the company after being discovered.

Finally, with less than a year until Windows 10 reaches its end of life, Microsoft has intensified its push for migration to Windows 11. However, one of the main obstacles is the hardware requirements, which have now become stricter. A recent beta version of Windows 11 has closed a loophole that allowed users to bypass system requirement checks, making it possible to install it on computers that did not meet the established requirements, such as lacking TPM 2.0.