How to Turn a Wyze Security Camera into a Webcam!

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Күн бұрын

Buy it on Amazon - lon.tv/w5g07 (affiliate link) - Needing a webcam? Wyze rolled out a firmware update to convert their inexpensive security cameras into webcams. It removes the security camera features but turns it into a simple web camera. You'll also need a USB-A to A cable: lon.tv/sp7lo (affiliate link). Subscribe! lon.tv/s
Firmware download: lon.tv/wyzewebcam
See my other Wyze content: lon.tv/wyze
VIDEO INDEX:
0:00 - Intro
00:51 - Camera Prerequisitions
02:53 - Download Firmware
03:39 - Copy Firmware
04:15 - Flashing Firmware
05:23 - Windows Webcam Test with Google Meet
05:55 - Mac Test
06:34 - Camera visual quality
06:37 - Audio sample
07:28 - Conclusion
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Пікірлер: 128

@jmreinke 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Lon! Perfect timing! I've found myself needing to join video conferences on my home PC during this pandemic without a camera. All the webcams are either sold out or priced several times more than the new price, and I can't justify paying hundreds of dollars for something I'll only use a handful of times. I already have a Wyze camera and I was already considering purchasing another one, so I'll give this a try!

@edh9237 4 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU, Wyze and Lon. Keep it together, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy.

@cleantoronto3658 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Lon. I set this up yesterday. Took just a few minutes. Only thing I didn't have, surprisingly, was a USB A-A cable. After setup it worked well with Zoom on my Dell, running Windows 10. You're right, audio isn't great so use a headset or alternate microphone if you have one available.

@Link6155 4 жыл бұрын

That's pretty neat. You can also use this feature to use your own security cam software like ContaCam with the Wyze cam. The benefit of doing this would be that you won't need a Wyze account and it keeps all your data local.

@bobkas-mikha1241 4 жыл бұрын

Great information, especial the cable issue you mentioned. Thanks

@xjmdm 4 жыл бұрын

I laughed so hard when you said that the mac started charging off of a webcam :DDD

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

I was waiting for a snap crackle and pop!

@melcoeb 4 жыл бұрын

good one, worked great. Decided to make my own USB A to A cable out of the multiple cables I have in the house, very simple, just need to solder 4 wires of the same color, doesn't need to be USB 3.0 (the blue ends). I didn't get the flickering from my LED bulbs.

@KrispysRC 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Ordered two of these in hopes I could do this prior to seeing your video!

@bjmcduck 3 жыл бұрын

can you use it with two of them? I just bought a second one and am having issues getting it to be recognized

@MajorWhiner 4 жыл бұрын

Great Video. Clear and easy to follow. Now I know I don't want to use the little WAZE v2 I got as gift for a web cam. I would have taken a lot of time to figure that out if I had not visited your video. Thank you. FYI I used this little camera to keep an eye on my house when I visited my grand kids and it did give me piece of mind.

@ede8193 4 жыл бұрын

Wow that's very good stuff Lon!!

@Zentient1 4 жыл бұрын

If you can get to the Windows UVC property sheet for the camera, you can change the power line frequency (anti flicker) from its default 50Hz refresh to 60Hz, that cleared up the horizontal banding on my system.

@wokesnowflake393 3 жыл бұрын

How do you get to the uvc property sheet?

@andrewfitt697 4 жыл бұрын

After using downloading the firmware and using it as a webcam will I still be able to use it as a regular Wyzecam afterwards? Or does it overwrite the normal features?... Nevermind I watched the end of the video and you answered this there!

@feder11 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, this helped ALOT! :)

@adrianalborez5176 4 жыл бұрын

I have not been able to make it work with a mac mini and the cables I have. Can you please post cable and or adapters from Amazon, Staples or bestbuy?

@Brian-dk8uz 4 жыл бұрын

I got it to work by plugging the cam USB A to USB C on my computer while having it plugged into the power as well. Tested via google meet.

@lychordia 3 жыл бұрын

Hey.. This was a life saver! Thank you so much!

@jamez9021 4 жыл бұрын

can you add both demo files to the sd card to use on both mac and pc or will it default to one or the other

@johnnygeejr500 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your work kudos cheers

@jaakkoleppanen8634 4 жыл бұрын

Neos Smartcam is very similar with Wyze and also based on the same Xiaomi hardware. I wonder could this same firmware trick work with them too?

@TheSuitedEngineer 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! You're a lifesaver!!!

@johnallerton6948 4 жыл бұрын

Will this work with the Neos SmartCam? They look identical to the Wyze camera

@motoplay2321 4 жыл бұрын

BTW, you can get rid of that annoying flickering by simply changing the "power line frequency (anti-flicker) setting" from 50 Mhz (default) to 60 Mhz in the webcam software you are using.

@smoothsmash 4 жыл бұрын

If we download and install the new firmware to turn it in to an usb cam, will it still be able to record video in the dark?

@cid1307 4 жыл бұрын

Do you have the electrical diagram of the a2a usb cable?

@ChintanCG 3 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to connect it directly to the TV for zoom calls ? (maybe by installing zoom on fire stick)

@phillipdarby4724 3 жыл бұрын

I’m trying to use the WYZE cam for Lockdown Browser for school and I’ve installed the program on the MicroSD card but once I am done and plug it into the laptop, how do I get the laptop to recognize it and switch the internal camera over to it for all times?

@vbottoni 4 жыл бұрын

lon, you are a saint

@lianemorris1682 2 жыл бұрын

Is there a way to use the Wyze camera as a live web camera (as in the link to the web camera live on an external website) as in a weather cam.

@JboriDaDon 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sir!!! Smoothh process

@feder11 3 жыл бұрын

Hi I'm trying to revert my Wyze cam back to its intended use as a security cam after using your technique to turn it into a webcam. I cannot seem to find the correct firmware to revert it back to its intended security function. Please help!

@evolvinganglicans 4 жыл бұрын

Tried with a mac running catalina - the demo.bin that downloads is called an ‘unsupported format’ and will not open

@NithinJune 3 жыл бұрын

6:45 can this be removed with software 60hz flashing removal?

@theweekendphoto 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, got a question, so it did work for me,. I have used the Xiaomi Version but same build and look. Now my. question is can we reverse this back to being a wifi security camera? tnx a lot

@orlyangeloandthesoundcrate 3 жыл бұрын

Link in the description does not take me to the exact support page on Wyze site. for download. Any clues?

@thisismicah3152 4 жыл бұрын

How can I set it up as a security camera once i do this?

@lionelhuts875 4 жыл бұрын

USB-C to USB-A works just fine for me. It just doesn't supply power. So you will need to use two cables (the included micro-USB for power plus the USB-C to USB-A for data).

@Azura.Ashton 3 жыл бұрын

I was looking for this comment 😄👍🏼

@Gleeleeglee 3 жыл бұрын

Also has this been stable on a windows 10 pc?

@Maccccccc 4 жыл бұрын

So having a desktop PC and a macbook Pro I wanted to use the WyzeCam to stream on my desktop. Unfortunately my desktop didn't have an SD slot for it so I had to do a lot of shuffling back and forth. A lot of people who are having the issue of the light never turning blue should try to format their SD card to FAT, that worked for me. Quick google search should help with that issue.

@Gleeleeglee 3 жыл бұрын

Does anyone knows if I can disable the Wyze mic and use ONLY the pc’s mic?

@pradikarevianda3886 3 жыл бұрын

Can this method available for xiaomi xiaofang wifi cctv?

@gumbo3063 4 жыл бұрын

You and your family stay safe

@lindastrickland6743 4 жыл бұрын

The webcam worked the 1st day but now my computer doesn't recognize it and the light isn't flashing - it is solid. Any suggestions?

@BlacksGodDaughter 3 жыл бұрын

I’m using a 64GB SD card and followed the steps but the Wyze can when I reset says ready to setup and never turns blue. Can I not use a 64GB SD?

@ITSJUNE2 3 ай бұрын

Will the night vision still work when using it as a webcam??

@deandrerawlins6306 4 жыл бұрын

Mine is stuck on the blue light and ideas

@handyman7259 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😊

@slappymcphee 4 жыл бұрын

Nice idea however definitely only in a pinch situation. Along with how slow shipping is it might not make any sense to bother with it needing other components. Thanks as always though Lon!

@vbottoni 4 жыл бұрын

Home Depot has them !

@NithinJune 3 жыл бұрын

hows the latency?

@Insomniac89 4 жыл бұрын

Questions? I made a USB 2.0 A to A cable, and it comes on for a millisecond, and then turns off (the cable is sound), do you know if it's possible with a USB 2.0 Cable? I am using a 8GB card because it was only 9 mbs for the file, is a 32GB really necessary?

@vash9852 4 жыл бұрын

it'll work with male USB A to male USB A 2.0 cords. i just tested mine and it works so the whole " you need a 3.0 cord) is false. This will work with male USB A to male USB A 2.0 cords.

@adamcanizares3798 4 жыл бұрын

Does the usb A to A cable have to be usb 3.0? I have an older USB 2.0 cable.

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

2.0 should be fine

@vadoelz 4 жыл бұрын

Hey, thank you for the videos, but i have different cctv camera, i have Yi Home Security Camera, can it turn into a webcam also? because i find this Yi Home Camera is good and clear to be a webcam, rather than i buy a new webcam which is expensive right now because WFH, Thank you so much before.

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

I don't believe so.

@peteole 4 жыл бұрын

how do i get the firmware to the SD without that SD writer dongle that he used?

@CinnamonWilson 4 жыл бұрын

Connect it to a computer like you would any SD card. Search Amazon for USB microSD adapter if you don't have one.

@pekaywi Жыл бұрын

How do i turn it back to a security camera?

@christianjouloamay1825 4 жыл бұрын

is this also working to Xiaomi Xiao Fang Camera?

@Azura.Ashton 3 жыл бұрын

I had the same question, since both camera looks amazingly alike. Have you tried it on Xiao Fang camera?

@Enkephalin1 4 жыл бұрын

After installing the new firmware, will it still work as a webcam if the SD card is removed?

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

yes

@kanetkarrev8731 4 жыл бұрын

Can you revert it to a wifi cam if you don't want to use it as webcam anymore? If yes, how to revert the firmware update to factory settings?

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

Yes covered in the video

@vbottoni 4 жыл бұрын

did your windows machine recognize the camera automatically or did you have to do something else? Not getting anything when I plug in the usb :/

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

Yes it just popped up - is the light blinking blue?

@brianduffy8291 3 жыл бұрын

will this work on the xiaofang camera (exactly looks like this wyze camera)

@heroheroin4718 3 жыл бұрын

hope hes answer,, i have xiaofang too

@deannawilliams115 4 жыл бұрын

When downloading the software to a Mac, there is no way to unzip it....Did anyone else have this issue.

@mathewsenn 4 жыл бұрын

get Keka

@odysseusrex2751 4 жыл бұрын

I am following the instructions explicitly, however the LED flashes blue for a heartbeat once the micro-USB connector is plugged in, then goes yellow, then goes flashing yellow. Any suggestions? It's pretty clear the firmware is not getting flashed for me

@odysseusrex2751 4 жыл бұрын

ok update: the LED flashes from yellow to a brief blue, then flashes yellow/blue if I catch the timing just right, then goes solid blue........................forever. Still not detected by Win10. Tried downloading BlueStacks and the Wyze Labs app, but its not usable in Win10.

@peterkeyser3141 2 жыл бұрын

Anyone have an issue trying to get it back to a security camera? Following steps but it's not factory resetting.

@philipsalernirealtor9687 3 жыл бұрын

ATTENTION: If you are having a problem where the light won't turn blue and update the firmware, then the issue is likely that you are not using a 32GB MicroSD Card. I was using a 64 GB MicroSD card and it would not work. I tried dozens of times on 2 different Wyze Cams for an hour without success. Dumbfounded, I carefully read the instructions again and saw that Wyze recommended a 32 GB card. I switched to a 32 GB card and everything worked like a breeze.

@oxla 2 жыл бұрын

the demo file is a bin file why?

@henskirawk 4 жыл бұрын

NOTE: Make sure the Micro SD is in FAT32 (MS DOS FAT) format, not exFAT. I reformatted my card and my Wyze cam was able to read it. Thanks for the great vid!

@bazdarinothebizier9085 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, just the comment I was looking for.

@elliotness6560 4 жыл бұрын

Hey lon does it work with android os for shield tv

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

It should work with anything that supports a standard webcam.

@elliotness6560 4 жыл бұрын

@@LonSeidman thanks lon you make videos more in detail

@notnizzzle5590 3 жыл бұрын

I did everything in this video, but the camera wont flash yellow and blue, it just stays flashing yellow. If I try to restart it, it just says "ready to connect.". plzz help!!

@minds4game 3 жыл бұрын

Is your sd card 32g? If it's anything bigger it won't work.

@bertdelisle393 4 жыл бұрын

Will the camera continuously record to the SD card when in webcam mode?

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

Negative

@bertdelisle393 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, so if I understand correctly an SD card is required AND the settings have to be set to "continuously record" then reboot the camera for the setting to take effect?

@cleantoronto3658 4 жыл бұрын

@@bertdelisle393 I didn't set anything to "continuously record". Just followed steps and video and it worked great. Camera reboots automatically during the setup process.

@kyleebrock 4 жыл бұрын

Wyze takes care of their customers.

@theboybrutus9894 3 жыл бұрын

POV: You’re here because all other webcams are sold out due to everyone working from home because of Covid

@buki29 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks I now use this on my xbox to stream lol. Cause we had an extra one

@RFrappuccino 3 жыл бұрын

my camera's light doesn't turn blue, it flashes blue for a second but doesn't stay blue

@flpaintman71 4 жыл бұрын

Does the SD Card need to be re formatted?

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

Of course you need to write the firmware file to it

@threepercentmilk 4 жыл бұрын

I just did this firmware flash - was having lots of problems doing the manual flash... the microSD card I had was exFAT formatted, but when I used the Wyze App to format the microSD, when I brought back to computer, it was formatted as FAT32, and dropping the demo.bin file there finally worked! so maybe it does have to be FAT32 and not exFAT?

@RGOdenJr 3 жыл бұрын

Old data. Didn't find these problems in the camera I bought from Walmart. How ever I did find if you have the power cable and USB cable both attached the USB IS powered. Not a good thing when plugged into the computer.

@trinhk 3 жыл бұрын

Has anyone set this up? How's the audio quality? Good enough for MS Teams or Zoom calls?

@TomCatalini 4 жыл бұрын

If you hold the setup button and it doesn't turn blue, the problem may be that your SD card is not formatted to FAT, which is maybe the only format that works. Thanks to these comments on the Wiki, I found out: @t

@melissagedrimas9136 4 жыл бұрын

Tom, do you have any more info on this? It looks like the rest of your comment is cut off. This is the same problem I am having.

@omarmoncada2036 4 жыл бұрын

I was using a 128 GB SD Card and it didn't work. I had to erase the Volume of my SD Card and create a 32GB Partition, and boom it worked.

@valeriansalad6904 2 жыл бұрын

Wyze needs to give all of these a plug and play Webcam option.

@djxcel23 3 жыл бұрын

My man has the super old school computers in the back..

@PantheraPhotoSafaris 4 жыл бұрын

my light never turned blue

@cesarespinoza4642 3 жыл бұрын

Same

@itz-trystin 4 жыл бұрын

Anyone else having trouble getting the light to go from yellow to blue even following the steps perfectly?

@arithmetik 4 жыл бұрын

Yes. I've tried a few times over the last month. I basically wasted $30.

@itz-trystin 4 жыл бұрын

arithmetik i figured it out. set it up like a regular camera with the app. and the sd card in it. go to the setting in the app. format the sd card or whatever. then take the sd out and put the demo on it from the computer, put it back in and hold the setting, add power and it starts up as a webcam. i promise you. i’ve been streaming ever since‼️

@twinklinglicin 4 жыл бұрын

@@itz-trystin worked for me, thanks, bud.

@rollover36 4 жыл бұрын

OMG, you don't need to power the camera AND connect the USB A-A cable, just the A-A cable will do.

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

OMG I said that in the video

@WalrusFPGA 4 жыл бұрын

for the cost of entry this is a very cheap way to get a 1080p webcam. I would have liked to see what it looks like without the LED interference

@douglasspiller5608 4 жыл бұрын

It's easy in Skype. Go to settings:Video & Audio. Click Webcam settings, and change the frequency to 60 Hz.

@cleantoronto3658 4 жыл бұрын

@@douglasspiller5608 - this is why I always read the comments. Thanks so much. Couldn't find an equivalent setting in Zoom.

@edgardoortizjr 4 жыл бұрын

Didnt you upload this yesterday ?

@LonSeidman 4 жыл бұрын

Live streamed the video shoot

@edgardoortizjr 4 жыл бұрын

Oh okay sorry I thought I had deja vu

@vbottoni 4 жыл бұрын

2 pack for 50 bucks at home Depot

@opderrickcds 4 жыл бұрын

This is a life hack micro center has these for $30

@Mysteriouscreaturefacts 2 жыл бұрын

like. im form vietnam. firmware best work on xiaomi xiaofang 12$

@ZERONEINNOVATIONS 3 жыл бұрын

If you guys are doing this, make sure to change the firmware file name to "demo". On Wyze website, they instruct you to change the file name to "demo.bin" but that didnt work for me. Just change the file name to "demo", NOT "demo.bin"!!!