# Tethercam > Your iPhone as a Windows webcam over USB, at up to 4K. - Price: free, open source - Warranty: none; built with AI assistance and provided as is - Platforms: Windows 11, iOS 16+ - Status: Beta - Built with: C++20, Media Foundation, Direct2D, Win32, Swift, AVFoundation, VideoToolbox, WiX, GitHub Actions - Author: Kshitiz Wagle (https://kshitizwagle.com.np) - Download: https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/releases/latest - Source: https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam - Page: https://projects.kshitizwagle.com.np/tethercam - Last updated: 2026-10-13 ## Overview Tethercam turns an iPhone into a standard Windows 11 webcam that Teams, Zoom, OBS, Streamlabs and browsers can use. The phone hardware-encodes H.264, the PC decodes it on the GPU, and a Windows 11 virtual camera hands it to any app. No account, no watermark, no Wi-Fi: plug in the cable and pick the camera. ## Highlights - **Full resolution**: Every format the phone's lenses offer, up to 3840×2160 at 60 fps, exposed as standard webcam formats. - **USB only**: Video travels through Apple's USB tunnel; nothing touches the network. ~100 ms glass-to-glass at 1080p30. - **A real virtual camera**: A Frame Server media source registered with MFCreateVirtualCamera, so it works in every Windows 11 camera app. - **Built for streaming**: A local status API lets stream overlays hide the camera while the phone is offline. ## FAQ ### Is Tethercam free? Yes. Tethercam is free to use and open source. The full source code is on GitHub at https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam. ### What does Tethercam run on? Tethercam runs on Windows 11 and iOS 16+. ### How do I get Tethercam? Download the latest release from https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/releases/latest. Setup steps are in the user guide: https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/blob/main/docs/USER_GUIDE.md. ### Is Tethercam ready to use? Tethercam is in beta and was last updated on 13 Oct 2026. Report problems on GitHub: https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/issues. ### Is there a warranty or support for Tethercam? No. Tethercam was built with AI assistance and is provided as is, without warranty. Kshitiz Wagle is not liable for damage or loss. Use it at your own risk. ### Who makes Tethercam? Tethercam is built and maintained by Kshitiz Wagle, a software engineer in Lalitpur, Nepal. Role: Solo: design, Windows (C++), iOS (Swift), CI/CD. Portfolio: https://kshitizwagle.com.np. ## README **Use your iPhone as a webcam on Windows 11, over a USB cable, at up to 4K. Free and open source.** **[Project page →](https://kshitizwagle.com.np/projects/tethercam)** Tethercam turns an iPhone into a standard Windows webcam that Teams, Zoom, OBS, Streamlabs, browsers and the Camera app can use. No account, no watermark, no Wi-Fi, no overlays: plug in the cable, open the app, pick **Tethercam (Windows Virtual Camera)**. > **Status: beta.** Works end to end with a real iPhone 15 Pro Max: 1080p30/60 and 4K30 through the > Windows camera stack, ~100 ms glass-to-glass latency at 1080p30, hardware encode and decode. > See [MILESTONES.md](MILESTONES.md) for what's still open. ## Get started 1. **PC:** install [Apple Devices](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9np83lwlpz9k) from the Microsoft Store, then the latest `Tethercam--x64.msi` from [Releases](https://github.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/releases/latest). 2. **iPhone:** in AltStore add the source `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kshitizwagle/tethercam/main/altstore/source.json` and install Tethercam (or sideload `Tethercam-unsigned.ipa` from the release). 3. Plug in the iPhone, tap **Trust**, open Tethercam, and choose **Tethercam (Windows Virtual Camera)** in your app. Full instructions: **[User guide](docs/USER_GUIDE.md)**. Streaming and call apps: **[STREAMING.md](docs/STREAMING.md)**. ## Features - Standard webcam formats from 640×480 to 3840×2160 at 30/60 fps, matched or scaled from the phone; sustained 4K60 is still being validated (see [measurements](docs/perf.md)) - All lenses: ultra wide, wide, telephoto, front; switch from the iPhone, the tray or the Tethercam window - Capture quality on both apps: Auto, 1080p30/60 or 4K30/60, synchronized and remembered per phone/PC - iPhone app styled like the Camera app; on Windows, a tray icon and a live Tethercam window with the same controls - Picture stays upright whichever way the phone is held; mirror and rotate on top - The phone camera only runs while something is using it; lens and settings are remembered - Outputs black (not a message) while offline, plus a local [status API](docs/STATUS_API.md) so stream overlays can show their own "camera off" design - No network traffic: USB only, loopback only ## How it works ``` iPhone Windows 11 PC ┌──────────────────────┐ USB cable ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────────┐ │ Tethercam iOS app │ (usbmuxd, │ tethercam-agent.exe │ shm │ tethercam-vcam.dll │ │ camera → H.264 (HW) │──TCP tunnel──▶│ H.264 decode (HW) → NV12│────▶│ Windows 11 virtual │──▶ Teams / Zoom / │ loopback :5321 │ │ tray, window, status API│ │ camera (Frame Server) │ OBS / browser └──────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘ └────────────────────────┘ ``` ## Documentation | Doc | For | |---|---| | [User guide](docs/USER_GUIDE.md) | Install, daily use, controls, settings, troubleshooting, FAQ | | [Streaming & apps](docs/STREAMING.md) | OBS, Streamlabs, Teams, Zoom, browsers; hiding the cam when offline | | [Status API](docs/STATUS_API.md) | `http://127.0.0.1:4790` for overlays and tools | | [Development](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md) | Building, tools, testing without an iPhone, CI and releases | | [Product](docs/PRODUCT.md) · [Tech spec](docs/TECH_SPEC.md) · [Design](docs/DESIGN.md) · [Protocol](docs/PROTOCOL.md) | Goals, architecture, internals, wire format | | [Performance](docs/perf.md) · [Compatibility](docs/compat.md) | Measurements and app checks | | [Plan](docs/PLAN.md) · [Milestones](MILESTONES.md) · [TODO](TODO.md) | Project status | | [Contributing](CONTRIBUTING.md) | Clean-room policy, code style | ## License [GPL-3.0](LICENSE). Tethercam is an independent, clean-room project built on public Apple and Microsoft APIs. It is not affiliated with Apple, Reincubate (Camo) or any other webcam vendor. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc.