Using my Samsung Fold 6 as a webcam on Arch Linux

The Problem

I was trying to use my Android phone as a webcam for Discord using DroidCam OBS on Arch Linux, but ran into several frustrating issues:

  • The virtual camera wouldn’t show up initially
  • When it did appear, it would stay black in Discord
  • Getting the error: Failed to start streaming on '/dev/video0' (Invalid argument)

My Setup

  • OS: Arch Linux x64
  • Original OBS: Version 31 (installed via paru)
  • Android App: DroidCam OBS
  • Connection: Works with both USB cable and WiFi

The Solution

After some googling and troubleshooting, here’s what fixed it:

Step 1: Install Git Version of OBS

The issue was related to OBS bug #11891. I needed to install the development version:

paru -S obs-studio-git

Step 2: Reconfigure v4l2loopback Module

The key was reloading the v4l2loopback module with exclusive mode:

sudo rmmod v4l2loopback
sudo modprobe v4l2loopback video_nr=2 card_label="VirtualCamera" exclusive_caps=1

Step 3: Configure DroidCam OBS

  1. Start the DroidCam app on your Android phone
  2. Open OBS and add a DroidCam OBS source
  3. Double-click the source and configure:
  • Resolution: 1920×1080
  • Video Format: AVC/H.264
  • Device: Select WiFi connection or your phone name (if USB)
  1. Click Activate then OK

Step 4: Set Up Virtual Camera

  1. Click the settings cog next to Start Virtual Camera
  2. Configure your Scene and Output Type settings
  3. Set your Output Selection preferences
  4. Start the virtual camera

Step 5: Update Android App Settings

  • Restart the DroidCam app
  • Set frame rate to 60 FPS for smoother video

Result

After following these steps, I can now:

  • Start the DroidCam app on my phone
  • Configure the source in OBS
  • Start the virtual camera
  • Use it seamlessly in Discord and other applications

The virtual camera now appears properly and provides a stable video feed without the black screen issues I was experiencing before.

Key Takeaways

  • The git version of OBS resolved the underlying compatibility bug
  • The exclusive_caps=1 parameter for v4l2loopback was crucial for proper device access
  • Using video_nr=2 instead of the default video device helped avoid conflicts

Filed under: Uncategorized - @ May 27, 2025 1:42 pm