Chances are, you’re holding on to an old iPhone or a cracked Android tablet you haven’t used in … let’s just say a really long time. Maybe you think it could come in handy, especially if your new device ever goes on the fritz, or that it could be worth money someday. Or maybe you just don’t know how to dispose of it properly. All legit reasons, even as the tech clutter keeps (and keeps) accumulating.
Well, we have some good news for you: Your time has finally come—and you’re about to save a bundle with this clever upcycling hack. I have turned old devices into everything from digital photo frames to oversized TV remotes, but my favorite trick, by far, is turning them into security cameras. You can put them in a nursery like a baby monitor, watch your pets while you’re at the office or even prop them up on windowsills to keep an eye on your packages.
It works like a charm, just like a pricey Nest camera—except it’s free. It’s also super easy to set up, as long as you have a clear set of instructions.
Read on to find out how to do it, plus some tips for making sure your old tech is secure.
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How does this work, exactly?
Apps can breathe new life into older hardware, whether you have a spare iPhone, iPad or Android. Essentially, you download an app to both your old device and the smartphone or tablet you use every day. This turns your old device into the “camera” and your everyday gadget into the “viewer.”
Place your old device where you want in your home, connect it to Wi-Fi and plug it into the wall for power. And that’s it!
So how do you turn your old device into a security camera?
There are a few “free security camera” apps I’ve tried over the years, but some were too difficult to use or not really free. I eventually found Alfred Camera, which I think is the best all-around choice. And yes, I use it in my own home. While there’s a premium (read: paid) option with extra features starting around $36 per year, you can get a lot out of the free, ad-supported version.
Here’s how to set it up
- Download Alfred Camera from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Do this on both your everyday phone (or tablet) and your old one.
- Create a free account.
- You will be prompted to upgrade to a paid version, but you can close this screen (tap “X” or “Skip”) and still use the app. (You will be asked this question again in the future.)
- Now log in to the same account on both your old and new phone or tablet. Alternatively, you can use your other device to scan the QR code shown on the app, to link the two.
- Place the old device in the room you want the camera. From the app’s main menu, find the pull-down menu that lets you use this phone or tablet as the “Camera” or “Viewer.” Select “Camera.”
- If you want, rename your camera based on what room it’s in (i.e., “Kids Playroom”).
- Finally, on your everyday device, ensure you select “Viewer” from the pull-down menu. You will instantly see what your other phone or tablet sees. On the device that serves as the “Camera,” you can even choose to be notified if it senses sound or movement.
- If you want to hook up more than one camera, follow the same process on other old devices. Give each camera a different name. (Note: You are allowed only two online cameras as part of the free tier.)
If you want to see your camera feed from a desktop computer, use the Alfred Camera WebViewer. And yes, it’s free too!
Does this work with all old phones and tablets?
Pretty much! As long as you can download the app, it works with all makes and models of older phones and tablets.
Are there any limitations to the free version?
Yes. Aside from the fact that you will see ads in the free version, there are also a few restrictions:
- You can’t view your recorded videos inside the app. On the “Viewer” device (presumably the one you use every day), tap Events, and then download the video files to your phone’s external storage to watch them.
- Your live feed will be in standard definition, not high definition. It should still be good enough, though.
- There’s less nuance with notifications. The free version gives you “all motion” (or sound) alerts, but the premium tier has AI that can distinguish between a person, pet or vehicle. You also cannot set custom “detection zones” in the free version; this feature lets you draw a virtual boundary box over your camera’s live view to monitor only a specific area.
- Cameras are limited. As previously mentioned, the free version limits you to two online cameras and one viewer.
But hey, free is free!
Buying an indoor Wi-Fi security camera could cost you anywhere from $25 to $150. And beyond that, there are the cloud service fees for recording and accessing the footage, which could run you $40 to $200 per year. So, yes, this old-device trick is quite the deal.
Are there any safety concerns when using an old device?
There are always privacy and security concerns when running apps, but that’s especially true on an older device, says Iskander Sanchez-Rola, senior director of AI and Innovation at Norton, a leading cybersecurity company. “If a new security flaw is discovered, an unsupported phone may never get the fix,” he cautions. “Before repurposing an old phone or tablet, check whether it’s still receiving security updates.”
It’s also important to remember that your old device may also contain loads of sensitive data about you that you may have forgotten about. “If you never wiped it, the device may still contain personal information from when you used it before,” Sanchez-Rola says. “So if the phone itself were ever compromised, both the camera feed and other personal data on the device could potentially be exposed.”
Plus, there’s something to consider about “free” apps: They are usually monetized in other ways. It could be advertisements, but also check to see if an app is using or sharing your data in any way. Sanchez-Rola says to start with the app store itself. On Apple devices, go to the app you’re interested in and look at “App Privacy” to see what it says; on Android, check “Data safety.” Sanchez-Rola says to “skim the privacy policy for terms like advertising, tracking, sharing and third parties. Think of the privacy label as the nutrition label, and the privacy policy as the ingredients list. Check both.”
Just remember that these disclosures are based on information provided by the developer. “They’re useful,” says Sanchez-Rola, “but they’re not an independent audit of everything the app is doing.”
Sources:
- Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of AI & Innovation for Norton; interviewed, August 2026
- Security.org: “The Ultimate Guide to Home Security Cameras”
- Norton: “Antivirus & Anti-Malware Software”
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