How to use it on a Windows laptop or PC
- Open retrocam.studio/booth in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Click Allow when the browser asks to use the camera.
- Pick a look from the row under the camera. The preview changes live.
- Click the round shutter button. It takes four photos, with a 3-second countdown before each one.
- Choose a format and click Save. The file goes to your Downloads folder.
If the camera stays black on Windows 11, open Settings, Privacy & security, Camera, and check that camera access and "Let desktop apps access your camera" are both on. Close Teams, Zoom or any other app that might be using the webcam, then reload the page.
Mac Photo Booth and RetroCam compared
| Feature | Photo Booth (Mac) | RetroCam |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Mac only | Any computer or phone with a modern browser: Windows, Chromebook, Linux, Mac, iPhone, Android |
| Install | Comes with macOS | Nothing to install. Open retrocam.studio |
| Four photos in a row | Yes, the "4-up" photo | Yes: a 4-photo strip, a 2 by 2 grid, or 3 photos in a row |
| Countdown and flash | 3-second countdown, screen flash | 3-second countdown before each photo, a white flash on the preview |
| Effects | Color effects like sepia and black and white, plus distortions like fish eye | Film and camera looks like Disposable, Polaroid, Portra and VHS. No face distortions |
| Video | Records video | No video. The four shots can be saved as a looping GIF |
| Saving | Kept in the Photo Booth library, exported as files | Strip, 9:16 story, square, 4x6 print sheet or GIF. The last 20 strips stay in Your roll on the device |
Mac details come from Apple's Photo Booth User Guide. RetroCam is not made by or affiliated with Apple.
What you won't get
The Mac app's funhouse distortions, such as fish eye, and video recording are not in RetroCam. If you want those, you need a Mac. If you want the strip of four, a vintage look and a print you can cut in half, RetroCam covers that on any computer.
Questions
Can I download Mac Photo Booth for Windows?
No. Photo Booth is Apple's app for Mac, and Apple's user guide only covers macOS. Anything offered as a Photo Booth download for Windows is not from Apple.
Do I need to install anything to use RetroCam on Windows?
No. It runs in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. If you like, you can install it from the browser as an app, and it then works offline.
Does it work on a Chromebook?
Yes. Open retrocam.studio in Chrome and allow the camera. The built-in webcam and USB webcams both work.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. The camera feed, the looks and the strips are all processed in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, and there is no account.
Need poses? See photo booth pose ideas. Setting up a laptop booth for a party? See the DIY photo booth guide.