Transform your old phone or tablet into something genuinely useful. No tech skills required — just follow the steps.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android & iOS
Security Camera
Turn your old phone into a live security or baby monitor camera using the free Alfred app. Get motion alerts on your main phone.
📷 Security Camera with Alfred
Time: ~15 min | Difficulty: Easy | Works on: Android 5+ and iOS 12+
Alfred is a free app with over 15 million users. It lets your old phone act as the camera while your new phone (or a browser tab) is the viewer. You get live streaming, motion alerts, and even two-way talk.
Apps Needed
📱 Alfred Camera (free on App Store & Play Store)Install on both devices
Steps
1
Download Alfred Camera on both your old phone and your main phone (or open alfred.camera in a browser).
2
Sign in with the same Google or Apple account on both devices.
3
On the old phone, tap Camera. On your main phone, tap Viewer.
4
Position and mount the old phone where you want to monitor — prop on a shelf, use a phone stand, or a cheap clip mount.
5
In Settings, turn on Motion Detection to receive push alerts when movement is detected.
6
Plug the old phone into a charger. Done — you now have a 24/7 camera.
💡 Security tip: Put the camera phone on Wi-Fi only — remove the SIM so it can't be called or tracked.
Easy⏱ 20 min📱 Android Tablet
Smart Home Dashboard
Wall-mount your old tablet as a permanent smart home control panel showing lights, weather, calendar, and more.
🏠 Smart Home Dashboard
Time: ~20 min | Works on: Android tablet (Android 7+)
Fully Kiosk Browser locks your tablet into a full-screen kiosk mode. Pair it with a free dashboard like Home Assistant or even a Google Calendar tab.
🏠 Fully Kiosk Browser ($7 one-time)📌 Wall tablet mount (~$12–20)
1
Install Fully Kiosk Browser from the Play Store.
2
Go to Settings → Start URL. Enter your dashboard URL. Good free options: calendar.google.com, home-assistant.io, or search "free smart home dashboard".
3
Enable Kiosk Mode — this hides the status bar and keeps the app front and centre.
4
Enable Screen Off Timer and motion-wake to save burn-in. The screen turns off after idle and wakes when you walk up.
5
Mount the tablet on the wall. A magnetic adhesive mount or a clip-style bracket works perfectly and costs ~$12 on Amazon.
6
Plug into a USB power adapter permanently. The tablet is now always on and always useful.
Easy⏱ 10 min📱 Android
Offline Music Player
Load your music library onto your old phone and use it as a dedicated offline iPod-style player. No Wi-Fi needed.
🎵 Offline Music Player
Time: ~10 min | Works on: Android 5+ or iOS 12+
Since old phones often stop getting security updates, it's safer not to keep them always online. A dedicated music device with Airplane Mode on is perfect for this.
🎵 Musicolet (Android, free)🎵 Flacbox (iOS, free)💻 USB cable
1
Install Musicolet (Android) or Flacbox (iOS) on your old phone.
2
Connect the old phone to your computer with a USB cable. On Android, choose "File Transfer" mode.
3
Drag your MP3, FLAC, or AAC files into the phone's Music folder.
4
Open Musicolet — it scans and organises your library automatically by artist, album, and genre.
5
Enable Airplane Mode for maximum battery life. Musicolet works 100% offline.
💡 Tip: Don't have music files? Use Spotify's offline mode (Premium) or download albums from Bandcamp.
Easy⏱ 25 min📱 Android & iOS
Kids' Safe Device
Set up your old phone or tablet for a child — parental controls, screen time limits, educational apps, and restricted browsing.
👶 Kids' Safe Device Setup
Time: ~25 min | Works on: Android 6+ and iOS 12+
🔒 Google Family Link (Android, free)🔒 Apple Screen Time (iOS, built-in)📚 Khan Academy Kids (free)
1
Factory reset the old phone first (Settings → System → Reset → Erase all data).
2
Android: Set up with a child's Google account supervised by Family Link. This gives you full remote control. iPhone: Set up with your Apple ID and immediately enable Screen Time (Settings → Screen Time).
3
Set content filters: restrict apps to age-appropriate only, enable SafeSearch, block adult web content.
4
Set daily screen time limits — e.g. 1 hour school days, 2 hours weekends. Schedules can enforce bedtime too.
Remove the SIM card if the child doesn't need to make calls.
Easy⏱ 10 min📱 Android & iOS
Digital Photo Frame
Display a rotating slideshow of your favourite photos. Place it in the living room, bedroom, or give it to a grandparent.
🖼️ Digital Photo Frame
Time: ~10 min | Works on: Android & iOS
🖼️ Google Photos (free)🖼️ Fotoo (Android, ~$3)📌 Phone stand or picture frame
1
Install Google Photos and sign in. Your cloud library is now on the device.
2
Android: Settings → Display → Screen Saver → Google Photos. Select your albums. Set the screen saver to activate when charging. iOS: Use Slideshow in the Photos app or download a slideshow app.
3
For best results, try Fotoo on Android — it shows photos beautifully, supports cloud sync, and has a dedicated frame mode.
4
Set the screen to stay on while plugged in: Settings → Display → Sleep → Never (only works when charging).
5
Place in a small picture frame or use a stand. Plug in permanently. Done — it updates automatically whenever you add photos to Google Photos.
💡 Great gift idea: Set this up for a grandparent with a family album. New photos appear automatically when you add them from your phone.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android & iOS
Dedicated Car GPS & Dashcam
Mount your old phone permanently in the car as a GPS navigator and dashcam — without draining your main phone battery.
🚗 Car GPS & Dashcam
Time: ~15 min | Works on: Android & iOS
🗺️ Google Maps (offline maps)📹 DashCam or AutoBoy (Android, free)🔌 Car mount + USB car charger
1
In Google Maps, tap your profile → Offline Maps → Download your region. Now it works without mobile data.
2
For dashcam: install DashCam (Android) or Car Dash Cam (iOS). These auto-start when the car moves and loop-record over old footage.
3
Buy a windshield suction mount or dashboard vent clip (~$10–15). Position so it doesn't obstruct your view.
4
Plug the phone into a USB car charger so it stays charged during drives.
5
Leave the phone in the car permanently. It's now a dedicated GPS, dashcam, and music player.
Easy⏱ 10 min📱 Android & iOS
Dedicated E-Reader
Load ebooks from your library (free!) and use your old phone as a lightweight reading device — offline and always ready.
Install DroidCam (Android) or EpocCam (iOS) on your old phone.
2
Install the companion desktop app on your PC or Mac (linked inside the mobile app).
3
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi. Open both apps — they pair automatically.
4
In Zoom, Teams, or Meet: go to Video Settings and select DroidCam Source or EpocCam as your camera.
5
Prop the phone on a small tripod or stand at eye level. Plug in for long calls.
💡 Tip: Phone cameras (even old ones) are usually sharper than built-in laptop cameras. This is a genuine upgrade for free.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android & iOS
Baby Monitor
Use your old phone as a two-way audio/video baby monitor — see and hear your baby from anywhere on home Wi-Fi.
👼 Baby Monitor Setup
Time: ~15 min | Works on: Android & iOS
Same app as the security camera guide — Alfred Camera. Set the old phone to Camera mode in the baby's room.
👶 Alfred Camera (free)
1
Follow the Security Camera tutorial above to set up Alfred. In the baby's room, the old phone is the Camera.
2
Enable Sound Detection — Alfred will push-notify you the moment it detects crying or noise.
3
Enable Two-Way Talk so you can speak back to your baby from your phone without entering the room.
4
Enable Night Vision for dark-room monitoring. Alfred uses the front flash as infrared.
5
Place the old phone safely outside the crib — at least 1 metre away. Plug it in to stay charged overnight.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android
Remote Computer Controller
Use your old Android as a wireless mouse, keyboard, and trackpad for your PC or Mac using Unified Remote.
🖥️ Remote Computer Controller
Time: ~15 min | Works on: Android (Windows/Mac/Linux)
🖱️ Unified Remote (Android, free)💻 Unified Remote Server (PC/Mac, free)
1
Download Unified Remote Server on your computer from unifiedremote.com. Install and run it.
2
Install Unified Remote on your old Android phone.
3
Connect both to the same Wi-Fi. Open the app — it will auto-detect your computer.
4
The app has 90+ remotes: trackpad, keyboard, media player, presentation, power controls, and more.
5
Use it as a couch remote for your TV PC, or a presentation clicker during meetings. No Bluetooth required.
Easy⏱ 10 min📱 Android & iOS
Dedicated AI Hub
Set up your old phone as a permanent AI assistant station with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude always one tap away.
🤖 Dedicated AI Hub
Time: ~10 min | Works on: Android & iOS (Android 8+, iOS 14+)
Keep your main phone free while your old phone handles AI queries. Useful in the kitchen for recipes, at your desk for quick research, or anywhere you want a hands-free assistant.
🤖 ChatGPT (free)🤖 Google Gemini (free)🤖 Claude (free)
1
Install ChatGPT, Gemini, and/or Claude on your old phone. All have free tiers.
2
Pin your most-used AI app to the home screen or dock for instant access.
3
Set up voice input: Android users can use Google Assistant to trigger a specific AI app by voice.
4
Place the old phone on a stand in a useful spot — kitchen counter, home office desk, or beside the TV.
5
Keep it plugged in so it's always charged and ready. Disable notifications from other apps to reduce distraction.
Medium⏱ 30 min📱 Android
Retro Gaming Console
Turn your old Android into a handheld retro gaming device — play classic NES, SNES, and GBA games with a Bluetooth controller.
🕹️ Retro Gaming Console
Time: ~30 min | Works on: Android (requires Android 7+)
Emulators are legal apps — you provide your own game ROMs. This is ideal for games you already own. Old phones handle classic consoles (NES, SNES, GBA) effortlessly even with older hardware.
Install RetroArch from the Play Store (Android) or Delta from the App Store (iOS). Both are free and legal.
2
Download game ROMs you legally own and transfer them to your phone's storage via USB cable.
3
In RetroArch, go to Load Core and download the emulator core for your console (SNES, NES, GBA, etc).
4
Pair a Bluetooth controller (any $15–20 gamepad works). RetroArch auto-maps most controllers.
5
Use a phone clip attachment to connect the phone to the controller — you now have a handheld game console.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android & iOS
Kitchen Command Centre
Mount your old tablet in the kitchen for recipes, cooking timers, grocery lists, and hands-free music while you cook.
🍳 Kitchen Command Centre
Time: ~15 min | Works on: Android & iOS tablet or large phone
🍴 Paprika Recipe Manager (iOS/Android)📝 Google Keep (grocery lists, free)📌 Under-cabinet mount or stand
1
Install Paprika Recipe Manager to save and browse recipes. It can import from most recipe websites automatically.
2
Install Google Keep and create a shared grocery list with your household. Anyone can add items from their phone.
3
Add YouTube (for cooking videos) and a music app for background listening while cooking.
4
Mount the tablet under a cabinet with a velcro or adhesive strip mount, or use a fold-out stand on the counter.
5
Plug in permanently. Increase text size (Accessibility settings) so you can read recipes from arm's length.
Easy⏱ 10 min📱 Android
Contribute to Science
Your old phone's processor can help cure diseases, predict climate change, or search for alien signals — while you sleep.
🔬 Contribute to Scientific Research
Time: ~10 min | Works on: Android
Apps like BOINC use your device's idle computing power to run scientific research jobs — disease modelling, climate research, astrophysics, and more. It runs when the phone is plugged in and idle.
🔬 BOINC (Android, free)🌌 Folding@home (Android)
1
Install BOINC from the Play Store.
2
Choose a research project — options include cancer research, climate modelling, and pulsar mapping. Pick what matters to you.
3
Set BOINC to only run when plugged in and on Wi-Fi so it doesn't drain battery or use mobile data.
4
Leave the old phone plugged in overnight. BOINC downloads work units, processes them, and uploads results automatically.
5
Track your contribution in the BOINC app — you earn "credits" for completed research jobs.
Easy⏱ 15 min📱 Android & iOS
Factory Reset & Prep Guide
Before repurposing or donating your device, safely back up and erase all your personal data. Essential first step.
🔄 Factory Reset & Prep
Time: ~15 min | Works on: Android & iOS — do this before any repurposing
1
Back up photos: Open Google Photos or iCloud and ensure all photos have synced to the cloud.
2
Back up contacts: On Android, contacts sync automatically with your Google account. On iPhone, they sync with iCloud.
3
Remove SIM card and microSD card from their trays before resetting.
4
Android reset: Settings → System → Reset → Erase all data (factory reset). iPhone reset: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
5
Wait 5–15 minutes for the reset to complete. The phone restarts to the initial setup screen.
6
If donating: stop here and hand it over. If keeping: proceed to whichever tutorial fits your new use case.
⚠️ Important: After reset, verify that Find My iPhone / Google Find My Device is deactivated before giving to someone else.
