In this article, we’ll guide you on how you can convert your old smartphone into CCTV Camera. It is safe to say that we all have upgraded our smartphones at least once, and have old ones lying around in the house. Reselling these old smartphones is a hard chose these days because their value drops very quickly over time, and it is not worth selling them for a small fraction of their original price. In the end, the fate of your old smartphones comes down to collecting dust in a random cabinet in your house.
To give your old smartphones a second chance and put them to good use, you can convert them into a CCTV camera without really investing too much time, effort or money. Setting up specialized CCTV gadgets is not an easy task for everyone and may require professional help along with heavy expenses. So this is an extremely sustainable and low-budget alternative as the only things that you require is an old smartphone and good security camera software.
Best Security Camera Apps
We have listed a few of the best security camera apps that are perfect for this job:
-
Alfred
The best CCTV software, no doubt, is Alfred which works on both iOS and Android. It is available on the Play store completely for free and has powerful features that work just as good as a typical CCTV camera. It has motion detection, a low-light filter that makes it easier to see at night, two-way talking and a front and rear camera. Alfred has a “trust circle” in which you can approve access to your friends to view the camera, if necessary.
Check it out if you’re looking for Music Apps like Deezer Premium APK
-
Manything:
This app can easily convert your smartphone into a Wi-Fi-connected CCTV camera. It has an IFTT channel of its own so you can connect any devices to it. For example, connect your Phillip Hue lights to this app so that whenever it detects motion, the lights turn on. Your phone can be both, a motion-activated smart switch and a reliable security camera.
-
AtHome Camera:
One of the most popular security camera apps, AtHome Camera can recognize different people and objects accurately so that it does not alert you at the smallest movements. It has night vision, two-way talking and a time-lapse feature so that you can review what the camera recorded in the past 24 hours. Download this amazing app on your smartphone and you will experience how powerful and useful it is!
-
Presence
Presence is one of the best security camera apps available these days. It has powerful features like motion detection that instantly alert you whenever something moves in your home. It can be used as a smart doorbell as it allows you to have two-way conversations and supports multiple viewers at once.
After selecting the best security camera app of your choice, download it on both your old and new smartphones and follow these steps to get them working:
- Open the app on your new phone and activate it by allowing all the necessary permissions
- Select the “Viewer” option in the app on your new phone
- Now, click on the “sign in with google” option and connect the app to your google account so that it is easy for you to use it later
- Follow the same steps on your old phone
- Instead of “Viewer”, select the “Camera” option on your old phone
- Sign in with the same Google account as your new phone
The app is now activated and your smartphone has turned into a reliable security camera.
The next step now is to select a location for your old smartphone, which is now a security camera. The important points to remember is that you must set up your security camera in vulnerable places where it is most needed. For example, the main entrance to your house, a place where you store all your valuables, the backyard, or even in your baby’s room as a baby monitor. The choice is all yours.
Position the camera in a subtle place with the help of a tripod or a suction cup so that it stays in place at all times. Make sure to keep your device close to a power cable so that it is easier to charge and does not die within a few hours. You can buy long wire cables so that you can place your security camera securely in whatever place you want.
The setup is now pretty much complete.
To Read More About the need and demand of security cameras Click here.
Important Precautions about Security Camera
Now, it is important for you to take the following precautions so that your “security camera” can do its job perfectly:
- Make sure that all necessary features and permissions are enabled in the app, for example: motion detection, night vision, continuous focus etc
- You can also choose certain features according to your own convenience for example: enable or disable audio, front or rear camera etc
- Ensure that your device is properly secured in place so that it does not move
- Preferably, place your device close to a power cable so that it is easier to charge instantly. Otherwise, you can buy a ten-foot micro USB or similar equipment so that you can place your security camera whenever you want
- Consider choosing a location that has sufficient lighting so that your security camera can easily detect motion and make it easier for you to view recordings later on
- Make sure that your phone is near your Wi-Fi device so that it can stream the footage to other devices smoothly and without any interruptions
Conclusion
This is how you can reuse any of your old smartphones and put them to good use instead of leaving them laying around in your house. All you have to do is download one of the best security camera apps of your choice and keep your house protected without spending any money.
