Turn Your Old Smartphone Into a Home Security Camera
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Got an old smartphone gathering dust in a drawer? Don’t let it go to waste! You can easily repurpose it into a functional home security camera, saving money and boosting your peace of mind. This guide will walk you through the process, from choosing the right app to ensuring your old device remains secure.
What You’ll Need
- An old smartphone (iPhone or Android)
- A power source (USB cable and wall adapter)
- A stable Wi-Fi connection
- A security camera app (see recommendations below)
- A smartphone to monitor the feed
- A mount or stand for the camera
setting Up Your Security Camera
- Choose a Security Camera App: Several apps transform your phone into a security camera. Popular options include:
- AlfredCamera: Offers motion detection, live viewing, two-way talk, and cloud storage. AlfredCamera Website
- Manything: Provides motion detection, IFTTT integration, and cloud recording. Manything Website
- AtHome Camera: Features two-way talk, motion detection, and scheduled recording. AtHome Camera Website
- install the App on Both Phones: Download and install your chosen app on both your old phone (the camera) and your current phone (the viewer).
- Configure the App: Open the app on both devices and follow the on-screen instructions to connect them. Typically, you’ll sign in with the same account on both phones. designate one phone as the “camera” and the other as the “viewer.”
- Position and Power the Camera: Place your old smartphone in a strategic location with a clear view of the area you wont to monitor. A USB-C cable and spare phone charger will give you more versatility in where you can put it.
- Start Monitoring: Open the app on your current phone to view the live feed from the old phone’s camera.
Tips for Optimal Performance
- Wi-Fi Connection: Ensure both phones are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network for uninterrupted streaming.
- Power Supply: keep the camera phone plugged in to prevent battery drain during extended use.
- Motion Detection: Enable motion detection in the app settings to receive alerts when movement is detected.
- Resolution: Adjust the video resolution in the app settings to balance video quality and data usage.
- Audio: Most apps allow you to enable audio recording, providing a more complete picture of what’s happening.
Note: When choosing your mounting location, be sure to avoid furnace vents and other heat sources, such as in a window that gets full sun all day. Heat sources can damage your camera’s lenses and battery over time, especially when combined with the heat of a power-hungry task like livestreaming.
Old Smartphones and Security Concerns
Smartphones will eventually age out of security updates, which means they can eventually become vulnerable to attacks. If your old phone is still online – like when you’re using it as a security camera – that’s a problem.
First, we recommend wiping any personal data off the phone before you transform it into a camera. Second, automate your updates when possible. Third, consider giving the phone a final use-by date, after which you’ll recycle it.These days, companies try to push security updates for five to seven years after release (with some going even longer in recent years). How-To Geek provides a comprehensive list of update timelines for various phone manufacturers.
if we’ve got you excited about using your smartphone for home security purposes, don’t forget that you can also download an app like Hidden Camera Detector to automatically search for telltale signs that there’s a cam watching in the room. Airbnb may have outlawed indoor security cameras, but we don’t blame you if you still want to check when you’re traveling.
For more, check out the best DIY home security systems.