Use Continuity Camera Without Same iCloud Account

You cannot natively use Apple's Continuity Camera on macOS 13 Ventura without signing into the same iCloud account on both your Mac and your iPhone. Apple strictly requires both devices to be linked to the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled for the feature to function. However, if you need to use an iPhone as a webcam for a Mac running on a different account, third-party software alternatives can bridge the gap seamlessly.

Apple's Native Continuity Camera Requirements

Apple designs Continuity features around security and automatic device discovery within a single user's ecosystem. For native Continuity Camera to work on macOS 13, the following conditions are mandatory:

  • Identical Apple ID: Both the iPhone and the Mac must be actively logged into the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
  • Network Settings: Both devices must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
  • Proximity: The devices must be near each other or connected directly via a USB-to-Lightning/USB-C cable.
  • System Settings: The Continuity Camera toggle must be enabled under Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff on the iPhone.

Because authentication happens at the iCloud level, there is no setting or workaround within macOS 13 to pair two devices logged into separate Apple accounts natively.

Third-Party Workarounds

If switching your Mac or iPhone to match accounts is not an option—such as when using a work computer with strict profile restrictions—you can achieve the same functionality using third-party software. These applications do not rely on iCloud and function over local USB or local Wi-Fi connections:

  • Camo by Reincubate: Camo allows you to use your iPhone camera as an advanced webcam on any Mac. You install the desktop client on your Mac and the mobile app on your iPhone, then connect via a USB cable. It does not require matching Apple IDs and supports resolutions up to 4K, along with manual video adjustments.
  • EpocCam by Elgato: EpocCam turns your iPhone into a high-definition webcam for macOS via USB or Wi-Fi. Like Camo, it bypasses iCloud by using its own driver system, making it compatible with Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other video conferencing tools.
  • OBS Camera: If you use OBS Studio for streaming or recording, the OBS Camera app lets you feed your iPhone’s camera directly into the macOS OBS client over a standard lightning or USB-C cable without account verification.

To use your iPhone as a webcam across different accounts, installing one of these third-party utilities is the only viable method on macOS 13.