How To: Use an Old Phone as a Security Camera

Do you have an old phone gathering dust somewhere in your house and don’t know what to do with it? There are many ways you can put your old iPhone or Android to good use, and one of the most practical is to turn it into a security camera. That’s right: as long as the phone camera still works and the device can connect to Wi-Fi, you can easily set it up as a security camera with the help of third-party apps and watch over your home when you are not around. And we’ll show you how to do it.

Download and install a security camera app

First, you’ll need to choose a security camera app. There are many good free apps for turning phones into security cameras, with AlfredCamera Home Security being among the most popular. It is cross-platform and available for iOS and Android, so you can download and install it from the App Store or Google Play Store. Whatever app you decide to use, the setup process is similar, so in most cases, you have to follow these simple steps:

• Download and install the app on your old phone, which will serve as the camera, and on your current phone, which you’ll use as a viewer device.
• Sign in with your Google or Apple account, or create a separate account using the email option. You must use the same account for both phones so they can communicate.
• Select your old phone as “Camera” and your current phone as “Viewer.”
• Pair the two phones by scanning the QR code that should appear on the viewer device
• Go to the app settings on both phones to see the additional options you can adjust. For example, you can turn on motion detection (which will notify you and record video whenever the camera detects movement), choose which camera you want to use (front or rear), or enable/disable audio.

It’s as simple as that. Your old phone is now ready to act as a security camera, and you should be able to see the camera live stream on your current phone.

Find the right place for your new security camera

Once the setup process is complete, the next thing to do is place the camera in the area you want to keep an eye on and position it correctly. You can prop it up or mount it on a small phone tripod or stand somewhere where you will be able to view an entry point to your home (windows or doors), the room where you keep your valuables, your garage, or any other place you would like to monitor. Here are some things you should consider when placing your camera:

• Make sure the camera is within range of your Wi-Fi.
• Position the camera close to a power outlet and connect it to keep your phone battery from dying.
• Try to pick a spot where the camera will not be visible to thieves. Hiding the phone cable connected to the power outlet is also a good idea.
• If you can’t connect your old phone to a power source, activate the power saving option to save its battery life, and charge your device regularly.

As you can see, using an old phone as a security camera can be a great way to repurpose old technology while improving your home security.