How To Make An Old Cell Phone A Security Camera

In that location are many reasons to use a smartphone equally a security photographic camera. When you lot are on holiday, you tin can keep an eye on your home no matter how far away you are. Alternatively, you can use your old smartphone as a babe monitor and let information technology sit on the terrace for peace of mind. Possibly y'all had ever wanted to buy a pet cam to see just which of your furry kids have been naughty while you lot are gone?

What are the devices required to utilise your smartphone every bit a security photographic camera? We've included a few shortcuts below to assist you dive right into the relevant sections faster:

An erstwhile smartphone. Bonus points if it has an ultra wide-angle camera!
A gratuitous security camera app for Android and iOS
A smartphone mount to position it deeply
A suitable power supply to go on the smartphone running

Disclaimer: Within your own iv walls, y'all are of course allowed to record as you similar - as long as your visitors know well-nigh it. If you want to apply the security photographic camera for areas that are exterior of your domicile, delight cheque beforehand to the degree of its legality.

AndroidPIT LG G6 9324 — Exercise you even so have an old smartphone lying around? Then utilise information technology as a security camera! / © NextPit

ane. An old smartphone. Bonus points if it has an ultra wide-angle camera!

Get-go of all, the smartphone that yous would similar to use as a security camera should all the same function, of course. But that'south almost it, the WLAN required is already bachelor on all modern smartphones. The same applies to the possibility of installing apps. Cameras are also available on all smartphones, just there are differences to take notation of.

clip lenses — With such cheap smartphone attachments you tin can make your camera more than flexible / © Selvim

If y'all want to monitor as large an area every bit possible with your smartphone, then a model with an ultra wide-angle photographic camera would be the ideal choice. Of course, this only makes sense if the smartphone comes with such a sensor in the Camera2 API that can be used by third-party apps. For older smartphones, just the principal camera is most likely exist able to exist used for external applications. In this case, you can also get a elementary lens zipper.

2. A suitable free security photographic camera app for Android or iOS

The 2d step is to install a security camera app on your smartphone. Depending on the app that you use, there are different features available. Before nosotros get down to the apps themselves, here is a quick overview of what are the typical features that you can expect.

Video streaming: Of course, the security camera app should be able to transport a video stream to your device.
Movement Detection: The app should exist able to send you push notifications whenever it detects movement. Ideally, y'all'll be able to mask out areas like windows or gear up the sensitivity level so you don't trigger an alarm every time there's a modify in lighting conditions.
Two-way sound: Non only can you hear what's happening in front end of the security camera, just y'all tin also send your vocalism. Maybe your cat volition leave the vase on the table lonely when it hears your vocalization.
Cloud storage: Some apps offer a cloud storage function. This way, a function of the video recording volition always remain in the deject. If a potential burglar rips your smartphone off the wall, y'all can still access the footage captured just before that moment.
Direct connectedness: If you prefer not to take sensitive footage of your home being hosted online in the cloud, then you should choose an app that allows a direct p2p connection between the security camera smartphone and your smartphone or PC.

Choice 1: Alfred Security Photographic camera

alfred camera app — Very neat: This is how the Alfred Security Photographic camera app looks on an iPhone / © NextPit

Probably the nigh pop app for repurposing your smartphone into a security camera is the Alfred Security Camera app. The interface is clean while the setup process is elementary. You simply install the app on your old smartphone and on your current phone. In lodge to connect, log in with your Google or Apple business relationship, or scan a QR code to connect. You lot tin can then assign the smartphones to their corresponding roles.

Information technology really does take less than 3 minutes as promised on the provider'south website before you lot become to view the image of the other smartphone from your primary device. Accessing the camera image via a browser will also work without any issues. In add-on to video transmission (either via the main or front camera), Alfred offers two-way advice and even an alarm siren (does that aid confronting cheeky cats? Probably merely once earlier they wisen upward).

The movement detection level is adjustable in terms of sensitivity, simply zone masking is unfortunately not available in the gratis version. Alfred Security Camera saves all detected events over the past vii days; where the premium version allows double the amount of fourth dimension.

If you pay $4.99 monthly (or $ii.49 monthly in the almanac subscription), you will receive HD quality video, longer recordings whenever motion is detected, a human detection part, and a motion detection scheduling function (eastward.one thousand. at night and during working hours). And, of course, there will be no more nasty advertisements to annoy you.

Another positive signal is the provider'southward active customer support, which contains a very active forum on the website and in the app stores.

Download Alfred Security Camera for Android (4.seven stars) and iOS (iv.seven stars) today!

Option two: WardenCam

Like the Alfred Security Camera, WardenCam is also fast and piece of cake to set upwards. The app is available on both iOS and Android platforms. After logging in on the diverse devices, your smartphone security camera is ready to use correct away. The range of functions is very similar to our start recommendation, simply the user interface is not quite every bit polished while the ads are more intrusive.

In terms of functions, y'all'll as well find motion detection, which allows for time control. When detected, the app sends you a push notification and stores the recordings in the cloud for up to 30 days, with support for Google Drive or Dropbox.

There'due south also the option to actuate a alert siren. WardenCam too offers a Pro version without any ads. Features include 1080p resolution and sixty days of online storage. The good thing is, yous tin can activate the premium version by paying a 1-fourth dimension fee of $five.99 without any further subscription after that.

Download WardenCam here for Android (4.0 stars) and iOS (3.7 stars) today!

Option three: IP Webcam

Among the surveillance camera apps reviewed hither, IP Webcam happens to be the most flexible. However, the interface is less polished while the configuration procedure can be a little bit tricky. Simply there are likewise a lot of possibilities with IP Webcam.

You can either access the video stream via a local network using other devices or worldwide via the free cloud service, ivideon. With the third-party app Tinycam Monitor, it is fifty-fifty possible to enjoy ii-fashion audio. If desired, IP Webcam can upload its recordings to Dropbox or FTP servers.

Other features include motion and noise detection, not to mention a battery life indicator. Unlike the aforementioned apps, IP Webcam tin admission all cameras that have been shared via Camera2 API. At NextPit, nosotros've already used IP Webcam during live streams to rely on Android smartphones as wireless cameras connected to the same WLAN. In the complimentary version, IP Webcam shows unobtrusive ads, which you can go rid of for a 1-time payment of $4.99.

Download IP Webcam for Android here (3.9 stars)

three. A smartphone mount to position it securely

Kickoff, a few words most the positioning of the smartphone security photographic camera. If you want to employ your smartphone as a security camera confronting possible intruders, and so yous should selection a position where the burglars will definitely have to pass. Typically, this would exist the hallway or the staircase. If, on the other manus, the smartphone is to monitor babies or pets, then of course the children's room or your pet'due south favorite haunt for mischief would be the ideal pick.

wall mount smartphone — With this wall mount, you can position your smartphone just about anywhere / © Ayizon

Tip: Yous'll unremarkably notice more than accessories for tablets - and when used creatively, your smartphone will as well fit almost tablet mounts.

Option i: Wall mount

The most flexible option is a wall mount that requires drilling. You can attach it with two to four screws unremarkably in almost any place. Of course, the advantage of that also doubles upward as its biggest disadvantage: you will accept to drill holes in the walls, no 2 ways about it.

Selection ii: Adhesive, suction cup, or magnetic mount

A simpler, but less flexible selection are magnetic, suction cup, or adhesive mounts for the smartphone. Logically, the former will simply work on metallic surfaces then it is best to check in advance whether a magnet volition be compatible with the preferred surface. Finally, suction cups and agglutinative mounts are only suitable for smoothen surfaces.

Option iii: (Tabular array) Tripod

Some other option is to utilize a tripod. This could be a Gorillapod that yous can simply loop around a floor lamp or place on a table. Do bear in listen, however, that tripods are very visible and therefore piece of cake for potential burglars to attain and remove.

iv. A suitable ability supply to keep the smartphone running

Finally, you will need a power adapter to power the smartphone used as a security camera. I'grand sure you have a box of power adapters lying around somewhere in the house. Still, you lot may need a longer USB cable for charging purposes. The relevant USB 2.0 specification allows a maximum of 5 meters; so annihilation longer might not work.

To hide the cable, yous can either use trunking - or simply buy a largely invisible flat cable, which you tin and then glue to the plaster with hot glue or nail downward with cable clamps.

More security camera arrangement ideas:

You now know the accented basics of transforming your old smartphone into a security camera. However, in that location is even so room for improvement, so hither are a few more ideas that nosotros would like to throw out:

A solar panel works great if you want to use your smartphone every bit a security camera on the balcony or in the garden. This allows you to have peace of listen, knowing that your device will never run out of juice and can be powered indefinitely. Just make sure that both the smartphone and power bank are installed in a weather-protected location or meet the corresponding IP requirements.
SIM carte for independence from the WLAN: If your dwelling house expanse is larger than your WLAN network coverage, and so you tin can likewise equip your security camera smartphone with a SIM card. There are many mobile carriers who are willing to provide you lot with a 2d SIM for free or for a small fee. However, be sure to check how much data is consumed by the app of your selection - and whether this volition exceed your contract or not.
Using a 2d smartphone every bit a permanent monitor: With a permanently installed second smartphone, yous can also build a smart doorbell system with an intercom characteristic. And if you're not at dwelling, you can also employ the intercom part to ask the package carrier to exit your parcel on the patio, for example.

Practice you have old smartphones lying around? Discover new ideas in repurposing them in the following articles: