Redson Dev · Idea
Turn an old Android phone into a home security camera
Published May 4, 2026
That dusty phone in your drawer still has a camera, a CPU and Wi-Fi. With one free app and a USB charger you get a 24/7 motion-detecting camera streaming to your current phone — no subscription, no new hardware.
What you'll need
- Any old Android phone (4.4+) with a working camera
- USB charger and cable (it has to stay plugged in)
- Wi-Fi network
- A second phone or laptop as the viewer
Step-by-step
- 01
Factory reset the old phone
Wipe it so old apps and accounts don't drain battery or leak data. Settings → System → Reset → Erase all data. Sign in with a fresh Google account if possible.
- 02
Install Alfred Camera (or AtHome Camera)
Both are free. Install on the OLD phone in 'Camera' mode and on your CURRENT phone in 'Viewer' mode. Sign into the same account on both.
- 03
Mount and aim
A cheap phone holder, two strips of double-sided tape, or a coffee mug all work. Aim at the door, driveway, or pet zone. Plug in power — Wi-Fi cameras die fast on battery.
- 04
Tune motion detection
In Alfred, set motion sensitivity to medium and turn on 'Person detection' if available. Otherwise leaves and shadows will spam you.
- 05
Test and harden
Wave at it. Confirm you get a notification on the viewer phone within seconds. Turn on auto-restart on boot, lock the screen, and disable other apps so it survives a power blip.
Tips
- If Wi-Fi is weak, move the router or use a mesh node — security footage that buffers is useless.
- Cover the front-facing speaker with tape to stop two-way audio echo.