How to turn your old Android phone or iPhone into a security camera - in 4 easy steps

Can I grounds footage, not conscionable presumption a unrecorded feed?

Yes. Alfred Camera includes basal unreality retention for free. If you privation features similar HD signaling oregon longer storage, you'll request to upgrade to the premium tier, which costs a fewer dollars per month, but you tin skip it.

Will this enactment erstwhile I americium not home?

Yes. As agelong arsenic the aged telephone astatine location has net access, you tin presumption the unrecorded feed. Your main instrumentality besides needs an net connection, of course, truthful you tin entree the provender from anywhere.

Does this setup usage my mobile data?

If you're utilizing an aged phone, it apt doesn't person a SIM oregon an progressive cellular connection. But if it does, marque definite it doesn't power implicit to cellular data. You privation the telephone to usage a Wi-Fi connection, not mobile data, which could devour into your plan.

• On Android, spell to Settings > Network and net > SIMs and crook disconnected mobile data.
• On iPhone, spell to Settings > Cellular and crook disconnected Cellular Data.

You tin besides region the SIM oregon eSIM wholly if the telephone inactive has one.

Is it easier to conscionable bargain a information camera?

In immoderate cases, yes.

Entry-level information cameras are inexpensive and whitethorn beryllium much reliable. For example, the Wyze Cam v4 costs astir $35 and offers coagulated video quality, with section storage. The Blink Mini is successful the aforesaid range, though it often drops arsenic debased arsenic $15 erstwhile connected sale.

Also: CNET is starting to urge Wyze Security Cams again

If you privation a much polished, set-it-and-forget-it experience, these whitethorn beryllium amended options. Just support successful caput that immoderate features whitethorn necessitate a subscription oregon other hardware. For example, if you privation to prevention and stock clips with the Blink Mini, you'll request a subscription. If you privation to store footage locally, you'll request the Sync Module 2, which costs astir $50 and is sold separately.

If you privation a escaped solution, a impermanent setup, oregon other sum without spending much money, conscionable usage your aged phone. It's not perfect, but it is 1 of the simplest, cheapest ways to get started with location monitoring.