What VTube Studio does and why you'd connect it to your phone
VTube Studio is software that turns a 2D or 3D character model into a live avatar you can control with your face and body movements. When you connect it to your phone, the phone's camera becomes the input device — your facial expressions and head movements drive the avatar's animations in real time. This is useful if you stream, record videos, or want to use an avatar in video calls without needing a dedicated webcam or expensive motion-capture equipment.
The connection works through your local network (WiFi), not the internet. Your phone and the computer running VTube Studio talk to each other on the same network. The phone sends camera data to the computer, and the computer sends back the animated avatar for you to see on your phone's screen or to use in streaming software.
Key Takeaways
- VTube Studio runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and your phone connects to it over WiFi using the official VTube Studio mobile app.
- Both your phone and computer must be on the same WiFi network, and you need to enable the connection in VTube Studio's settings before your phone can find it.
- The mobile app shows you a live preview of your avatar controlled by your phone's camera, but the actual streaming happens from your computer.
- If your phone cannot find the computer, check that WiFi is on for both devices, that they are on the same network, and that the VTube Studio app has camera permission.
Installing VTube Studio on your computer and phone
Start by downloading VTube Studio to the computer where you plan to use your avatar. Go to vtube.app and read the version for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Install it the way you would any other program. When you open it for the first time, you will see a setup screen asking you to load or create an avatar model. You can use one of the built-in models to test the connection, or load your own if you already have one.
Next, read the VTube Studio app to your phone from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Install it like any other mobile app. Do not open it yet — you need to set up the computer side first so the phone has something to connect to.
Turning on the connection in VTube Studio on your computer
Open VTube Studio on your computer. Look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner and click it. Scroll down to find Settings and click it. Inside Settings, look for a section called API or Connection — the exact name varies slightly depending on your VTube Studio version, but it controls how other devices talk to the program.
In that section, find the toggle or checkbox that says Enable API or Allow connections from other devices. Turn it on. You should see a message showing your computer's local IP address — it will look something like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50. Write this number down or leave the Settings window open so you can see it. This is the address your phone will use to find the computer.
Some versions of VTube Studio also show a port number (usually 8001). If you see one, note that too. Close the Settings window and leave VTube Studio running in the background.
Connecting your phone to the computer
Make sure your phone is on the same WiFi network as your computer. Open the VTube Studio app on your phone. The app will ask for permission to use your camera — tap Allow or Yes. You should then see a screen asking you to enter the computer's address or showing a list of nearby VTube Studio instances.
If the app shows a list and your computer appears on it, tap your computer's name. If the app asks you to enter the address manually, type the IP address you wrote down from the Settings window (for example, 192.168.1.100). Tap Connect or OK. The app should connect within a few seconds.
Once connected, you will see a live preview of your avatar on your phone's screen. Move your face, tilt your head, or open your mouth — the avatar should mirror your movements. If nothing happens, check that your phone's camera is pointing at your face and that the lighting is reasonable (not too dark).
What to do if your phone cannot find the computer
The most common reason the connection fails is that the phone and computer are on different networks. Check that both devices are connected to the same WiFi network — look at the WiFi name (SSID) on both devices and make sure they match. If you have a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network with the same name, try connecting both devices to the same band (usually 2.4 GHz works more reliably for this).
If they are on the same network, go back to VTube Studio on your computer and check that the API is still enabled. Sometimes it turns off if you restart the program. Also check that the IP address shown in Settings has not changed — if your computer's IP address changed, your phone will not be able to reach it. If it changed, note the new address and enter it in the phone app again.
Make sure the VTube Studio app on your phone has permission to use your camera. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and check that VTube Studio is listed and toggled on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > VTube Studio > Permissions and turn on Camera. Then close and reopen the app.
Using the phone connection while streaming or recording
The phone app shows you a preview of your avatar, but it does not stream the avatar itself. The actual streaming happens from your computer. If you are using streaming software like OBS or Streamlabs, add VTube Studio as a source or window capture the way you normally would — the phone connection does not change that workflow. The phone is just another way to control the avatar's movements.
You can hold your phone in your hand, place it on a stand, or prop it up while you stream or record from your computer. The phone's camera will track your face, and the computer will display the animated avatar. This is useful if you want to move around more freely than a stationary webcam would allow, or if you want to see yourself in the avatar in real time while you are streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a powerful computer to use VTube Studio with my phone?
VTube Studio runs on most modern computers, but performance depends on your avatar model and your computer's graphics card. A straightforward 2D model works on almost any computer. A detailed 3D model needs a better graphics card. The phone connection itself uses very little bandwidth, so the bottleneck is usually the computer's ability to animate the avatar smoothly, not the network.
Can I use VTube Studio with multiple phones at the same time?
VTube Studio is designed for one phone connection at a time. If you connect a second phone, it will disconnect the first one. If you need multiple input devices, you would need to use a different setup or run multiple instances of VTube Studio on different computers.
What if my WiFi network does not show up on my phone?
Make sure WiFi is turned on in your phone's settings. If the network is hidden (does not broadcast its name), you may need to enter the network name and password manually in your phone's WiFi settings before the VTube Studio app can connect. Some older routers also have compatibility issues — if this happens, try connecting both devices to a mobile hotspot instead to test whether the problem is your router.
Can I use VTube Studio with my phone over the internet, not just WiFi?
The standard mobile app connection only works over local WiFi. If you want to control your avatar from outside your home network, you would need to set up port forwarding on your router or use a VPN, both of which are more advanced steps. For most users, keeping the phone and computer on the same WiFi network is simpler and faster.
Does the phone app work with avatars I created in other software?
The phone app controls avatars that are loaded into VTube Studio, regardless of where the avatar came from. If you have a 3D model from another program, you can import it into VTube Studio and then control it with your phone. Some model formats work better than others — VTube Studio supports common formats like VRM, but not all 3D models are compatible.