How to Use Your Phone as a Microphone on PC
A decent USB microphone costs $60-150, but most people already carry a better one in their pocket. Modern smartphones have noise-cancelling mic arrays that outperform budget desktop mics. With the right app, your phone becomes a fully functional wireless microphone for Windows, macOS or Linux – and the whole setup takes about five minutes.
Why use a phone instead of a dedicated microphone?
Smartphones pack multiple microphones with hardware noise suppression, automatic gain control and echo cancellation. For voice calls, online classes, podcasting and streaming, the audio quality is often better than a $30 desktop mic. There is also zero cost: no cables, no audio interface, no drivers to fight with.
- No extra hardware to buy
- Built-in noise cancellation and AGC
- Works over Wi-Fi – no cable length limits
- Compatible with Zoom, Discord, OBS, Teams and any app that accepts a microphone
What you need before you start
You need three things: the WO Mic client installed on your computer, the WO Mic app on your phone, and both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. A USB cable works too if Wi-Fi is unstable, and Bluetooth is supported for short-range setups.
Step-by-step setup
Download and install the WO Mic client for Windows from the official site. Launch it and note the connection status. Install the WO Mic app on your phone, open it and pick the connection type – Wi-Fi, USB or Bluetooth. On the PC client, click Connect. Within a couple of seconds the phone appears as a virtual microphone in Windows Sound settings.
- Install the PC client and the mobile app
- Connect both devices to the same network
- Choose Wi-Fi, USB or Bluetooth in the app
- Press Connect in the PC client
- Select 'WO Mic Virtual Microphone' in your app's audio settings
Choosing the right connection type
Wi-Fi gives you freedom to move around the room and is the best choice for meetings and recording. USB is the most stable option and charges the phone at the same time – ideal for long sessions. Bluetooth has the highest latency, so avoid it for live monitoring and lip-sync sensitive work.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent problem is a firewall blocking the connection: allow the client through Windows Defender Firewall on private networks. The second is using a guest Wi-Fi network that isolates clients from each other. The third is leaving the phone on battery saver, which suspends the app in the background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone as a microphone without installing software on the PC?
Not for a real virtual microphone. You need a client that creates the audio device. WO Mic provides both the mobile app and the desktop client for free.
Does it work with Zoom, Discord and OBS?
Yes. Once the virtual microphone is installed, every application sees it as a regular recording device.
What is the audio latency over Wi-Fi?
Typically 50-150 ms depending on the network. For voice chat and recording this is fine; for live monitoring use USB instead.
Learn more about the app at womic.org.
