How to connect your phone to your computer as a microphone via Wi-Fi: A step-by-step guide

Using your smartphone as a wireless microphone for your PC via Wi-Fi is a convenient solution for streamers, podcasters, or video conference participants when they don't have equipment on hand. This method eliminates the need to purchase a separate USB microphone and allows you to use the high-quality built-in microphone of modern devices. iPhone or Android-devices. The main advantage is the absence of wires and the ability to move freely within the network coverage area.

However, not everyone knows that you don't need to buy expensive software to do this: there are free apps with minimal audio latency and noise cancellation support. In this article, we'll look at 5 proven connection methods (including WO Mic, Epic Pen and built-in tools Windows 11), we will compare them by key parameters and give recommendations on setting up for different scenarios - from calls to Zoom before recording voice comments.

Why Wi-Fi is better than Bluetooth for using your phone as a microphone

At first glance, the connection is Bluetooth It seems simpler: just pair the devices and select the phone as the audio device. But in practice, this method is inferior to Wi-Fi in three key ways:

• 🔊 Sound quality: Bluetooth compresses the audio stream (codecs SBC or AAC), which leads to a loss of high frequencies. Wi-Fi transmits sound in its original quality (up to 48 kHz/16 bit in most applications).
• ⏱️ Delay: even in mode aptX Low Latency Bluetooth latency is 30–80 ms, while Wi-Fi in a local network is 10–30 ms (with the correct settings).
• 📶 Stability: Bluetooth is susceptible to interference from other devices (such as wireless headphones), while 5GHz Wi-Fi provides a more stable connection.

The only time Bluetooth might be preferable is if your PC isn't connected to a Wi-Fi network (for example, at a workplace with strict IT policies). In all other situations, Wi-Fi provides superior performance.

⚠️ Attention: If you use your phone as a microphone for streaming on Twitch or YouTubePlease note that audio delays of 50+ ms can cause dissonance with video. In this case, test apps that support UDP protocol (For example, WO Mic in mode Transport → UDP).

Method 1: WO Mic – a universal solution for Windows and macOS

WO Mic — one of the most popular apps for using your phone as a microphone over Wi-Fi. It supports Android (version 5.0+) and iOS (version 12+), and also works with Windows 7–11 And macOS 10.12+The main advantage is minimal latency (up to 20 ms with a good signal) and the ability to fine-tune audio.

To connect, follow these steps:

1. Download and install WO Mic Client to your computer from the official website (wolicam.com). Select the version depending on the bit depth of your OS (x64 or x86).
2. Install the application WO Mic to the phone from Google Play or App Store.
3. Run the program on your PC, select Connection → Transport → Wi-Fi and remember the IP address and port (default 2222).
4. In the mobile app, specify the same IP and port, click Connect.
5. In Windows sound settings (Settings → System → Sound) select Microphone (WO Mic Device) as an input device.

To improve sound quality:

• 🎤 Turn on the option Noise Suppression in the mobile app settings (effectively suppresses background noise).
• 📊 Set the bitrate 128 kbps or higher (in the section Audio Quality).
• 🔄 If the sound is interrupted, try changing the protocol from TCP on UDP (less latency, but packet loss is possible).

Connect your phone and PC to the same 5GHz Wi-Fi network|

Set the bitrate to 192 kbps in the application settings|

Enable UDP mode in transport|

Disable power saving for WO Mic in Android settings|

Check your PC's firewall (allow port 2222) -->

WO Mic allows you to use your phone as a microphone even without root access on Android, but for iOS it requires a connection to a Mac - on Windows, the iPhone will only work via USB or Bluetooth.

Method 2: Epic Pen – for screen recording and annotations

If you need to record voice comments for presentations or streams, Epic Pen (previously WO Mic (from the same developers) offers advanced screen annotation features plus audio streaming from your phone. This solution is ideal for teachers, educational video creators, and analysts.

Epic Pen Features:

• 🖊️ Built-in drawing tools on your PC screen (markers, arrows, text).
• 🎙️ Simultaneous transmission of audio from the phone microphone and video from the camera (optional).
• 📹 Support for screen recording with voice overlay (useful for creating tutorials).

Setup instructions:

1. Install Epic Pen on PC and mobile app WO Mic (it is compatible).
2. In Epic Pen, select Audio Source → WO Mic Device.
3. Activate the mode Screen Annotation, if you need to draw over screen content.

⚠️ Please note: When using the Epic Pen for streaming in OBS Studio add WO Mic Device as a separate audio source in the mixer, rather than through the system microphone. This will prevent echo.

Method 3: Built-in Windows 11 tools (no third-party programs)

Starting from Windows 11 22H2, an experimental function has appeared in the system Windows Studio Effects, which allows you to use remote devices (including phones) as microphones via the protocol Wi-Fi DirectThis method does not require the installation of additional software, but works only with a limited list of devices (mainly Surface and phones on Android 13+).

To activate the feature:

1. Open Settings → System → Sound → Input Devices.
2. Click Add a device and select Wireless microphone.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your phone (you will need to scan a QR code).

The main drawback of the embedded solution is high latency and limited compatibility. For example, Samsung Galaxy S23 the function works stably, but on Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 The connection option may be missing.

Method 4: Streamer Apps (Streamlabs, OBS)

If you stream in Twitch, YouTube or Facebook Gaming, you can integrate a phone microphone directly into your streaming software. The following are suitable for this:

• 🎮 Streamlabs Mobile (iOS/Android app) + desktop version Streamlabs DesktopAllows you to stream audio from your phone directly to your stream via Wi-Fi.
• 📡 OBS.Ninja (web service). Works through a browser: the phone connects as a guest, and its microphone is displayed as a separate source in OBS Studio.

Setup via OBS.Ninja:

1. Open obs.ninja on PC and phone.
2. On PC, click Create Room, copy the invitation link.
3. Enter the link on your phone and allow access to the microphone.
4. IN OBS Studio add a source Browser Source with your room URL.

Method 5: Using your phone as a USB microphone over Wi-Fi (via RTP)

For advanced users, there is a method for transmitting audio using the protocol RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), which is used in VoIP telephony. This method requires port configuration on the router, but provides minimal latency and high stability.

Instructions for Android:

1. Install on your phone AudioRelay (from Google Play).
2. Download on PC AudioRelay Server and run it.
3. In the mobile app, specify the PC's IP address and port 50006.
4. In Windows settings, select AudioRelay Virtual Audio as an input device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Full control over bitrate and buffering.
• 🛡️ Traffic encryption (optional) Enable Encryption in AudioRelay).
• 📱 Works even on older versions of Android (starting from 4.4).

⚠️ Note: When using RTP, make sure the following ports are open on your router 50006–50007 (TCP/UDP) and firewalling disabled for local devices. Otherwise, audio will be interrupted.

How to reduce latency and improve audio quality

Even when connected via Wi-Fi, audio latency can reach 100+ ms, which is critical for streaming or music recordings. To minimize lag:

• 📶 Connect your phone and PC to the same network 5 GHz (instead of 2.4 GHz). 5 GHz channels are less crowded and provide greater throughput.
• 🔌 Use a wired connection from your PC to the router (Ethernet), and leave your phone on Wi-Fi. This will reduce jitter (latency variation).
• ⚙️ In the app settings (for example, WO Mic), set:
  • Bitrate: 192–320 kbps;
  • Buffer: 5–10 ms (lower value = lower latency, but artifacts are possible);
  • Protocol: UDP (for minimal lag) or TCP (for stability).
• 🔇 Disable sound processing in Windows: go to Control Panel → Sound → Microphone Properties → Enhancements and uncheck all the boxes.

To check the current delay, use the service Audacity:

1. Connect your phone as a microphone.
2. Record a sound (such as hand clapping) from both the system microphone and the WO Mic.
3. Compare the time shift between tracks in Audacity.

Why might the delay increase over time?

With prolonged use, some apps (such as WO Mic) accumulate a data buffer to compensate for network fluctuations. To reset the buffer, restart the app on both your PC and phone. Also, check to see if your phone's processor is overheating—thermal throttling can cause lag.

Common problems and their solutions

Even with proper setup, difficulties can arise. Here are the most common ones and how to resolve them:

If the sound is distorted, try:

• 🔄 Restart the app on your phone and PC.
• 📵 Disable power saving for the app in Android settings (Settings → Apps → WO Mic → Battery → Unlimited).
• 🔧 Update sound card drivers on your PC (via device Manager).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to use a phone as a microphone for a PC without Wi-Fi?

Yes, there are three alternative ways:

1. Bluetooth: easier to set up, but with worse sound quality and 50-100ms latency.
2. USB cable: minimal latency (5-10 ms), but limited by cable length. On Android, you'll need to enable Developer mode and choose USB audio.
3. 3.5 mm audio cableConnect your phone's headphones to the PC's line-in port (if available). Quality depends on the sound card's ADC.

Which phone is best for use as a microphone?

Quality depends on the built-in microphone's specifications. The best options are:

• iPhone 13/14/15 Pro: three microphones with noise reduction and spatial sound support.
• Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 Ultra: four microphones with technology AI Noise Reduction.
• Google Pixel 7/8 Pro: optimized for voice recordings thanks to the chip Tensor.

Budget phones (eg. Redmi Note 12 or Realme 10) are also suitable, but may be inferior in terms of sound purity.

Will this method work for recording music or podcasts?

For professional music recording, a phone as a microphone is not the best choice due to:

• Limited frequency range (most smartphones record in the range 100 Hz – 16 kHz, while studio microphones cover 20 Hz – 20 kHz).
• Lack of phantom power and XLR connectors.
• Potential compression artifacts when transmitted over Wi-Fi.

However, for podcasts or voice memos, the quality will be acceptable, especially if you use iPhone with the application Ferrite (for iOS) or Dolby On (for Android) for post-processing.

Is it possible to connect two phones as microphones to one PC at once?

Yes, but with some reservations:

• IN WO Mic This is possible through the creation of multiple virtual devices (requires purchase) Pro versions).
• IN OBS.Ninja You can add multiple guests to one room, but the audio will be mixed on the server side.
• IN Windows 11 built-in tools - only one device.

To synchronize two microphones, you will need to manually adjust the delay in your audio program (for example, Audacity or Adobe Audition).

How to protect audio transmission from eavesdropping?

If you are transmitting confidential conversations (such as business calls), use:

• 🔒 AudioRelay with encryption enabled (Enable Encryption in the settings).
• 🌐 A virtual private network (VPN) on your router or PC to encrypt all traffic.
• 📡 A separate Wi-Fi network (guest) only for your phone and PC, without an internet connection.

Avoid transmitting audio over public networks (such as in cafes or co-working spaces).