XSCameraBackground video recorder for iPhone and PC
Many people look for an iPhone version of XSCamera. There is not one, and the reason is Apple’s rules, not a missing feature.
An iPhone cannot record video with the screen off using a third-party app. iOS suspends the camera when an app leaves the screen or the phone locks. XSCamera is Android only. On iPhone the practical options are keeping the Camera app open with brightness at minimum, or using a spare Android phone for background recording.
Why iOS does not allow it
On iOS, an app’s camera session is interrupted as soon as the app goes to the background or the device locks. Apple does not offer third-party apps a background camera mode. Apps on the App Store that advertise “screen off recording” show a black or dimmed screen while the app stays open in the foreground. The display is still on, and locking the phone ends the recording.
What you can do on an iPhone
- Record with the Camera app and dim the display. Lower brightness fully. The recording continues as long as the Camera app stays in front.
- Use Guided Access (Settings → Accessibility) to lock the phone to the camera screen so taps do not stop it.
- Picture in Picture does not apply. It works for playback and video calls, not for camera recording.
- Use a spare Android phone. For dashcam or home-camera use, an inexpensive or old Android phone running XSCamera does what an iPhone cannot.
Windows and Mac
Computers have no such restriction. The free program OBS Studio records a webcam while minimized, on Windows, macOS and Linux. To use an Android phone as that camera, start Live Streaming in XSCamera and add the rtsp:// address to OBS or VLC as a network source.
On Android
Android permits background camera use through a foreground service with a visible notification. That is the method XSCamera uses. Here is the full guide.
Questions people ask
Is XSCamera available for iPhone or iOS?
No. XSCamera is Android only, and iOS rules prevent an equivalent app.
Can an iPhone record video while locked?
No. Locking the iPhone ends video recording in the Camera app and in third-party apps.
Can you record video while using other apps on iPhone?
No. The camera stops when the recording app leaves the screen. Only video calls continue in Picture in Picture.
Is there a background video recorder for PC?
OBS Studio is free and records a webcam in the background on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Is there an XSCamera APK for PC?
No. XSCamera runs on Android phones and tablets. Install it from Google Play.