How-to

How to Turn Your Old Phone Into a Security Camera (Free, in Minutes)

Jul 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Most of us have an old phone sitting in a drawer. Instead of letting it gather dust — or worse, adding it to the world's growing pile of e-waste — you can turn it into a fully working security camera in about five minutes. Here is how.

Why an old phone makes a great security camera

A modern smartphone already has everything a dedicated security camera has: a high-quality camera, a microphone, Wi-Fi and enough power to encode video. The only missing piece is software to record around the clock and keep the footage somewhere safe. That is exactly what a camera app like iCameraPlus adds.

What you will need

  • An old iPhone (iOS 12 or newer) or Android phone
  • A charger and a spot near a power outlet
  • A Wi-Fi or mobile data connection
  • A second device to watch from — your current phone or any web browser

Step by step

1. Install the app. Download iCameraPlus from the App Store or Google Play on the old phone.

2. Create an account. Sign up with your email inside the app. A free trial starts automatically.

3. Position the phone. Place it where it can see the area you care about — a doorway, a living room, a shop counter — and keep it plugged in so it never runs out of battery.

4. Press record. The app records continuously and uploads clips to your private cloud archive. When storage fills up, the oldest footage is deleted automatically, so recording never stops.

5. Watch from anywhere. Sign in at icameraplus.com from any device to see the live view and browse past recordings.

Tips for a reliable setup

  • Keep the phone charging at all times — 24/7 recording uses power continuously.
  • Turn on screen dimming so the display does not light up the room or waste battery.
  • Have more than one old phone? Point each at a different room and watch them all from one dashboard.

That is it. A device that was about to become e-waste is now protecting your home or business. If you have a specific need, we also have guides for using an old phone as a baby monitor, a pet camera or a nanny cam.

Machen Sie Ihr altes Handy heute zur Kamera

Im App Store ladeniOS
Bei Google Play holenAndroid

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