You can turn your old iPhone into a security camera for your home or business with a free app to install on your old iPhone and your new iPhone. This DIY security system can even issue motion detection alerts.
Turning your old iPhone into a security camera works over WiFi so you don’t have to pay for another line. You can use this same setup with cell service to place a security camera where there is no internet, but this is mostly designed to turn your old iPhone into an indoor security camera that you can plug in.
You can get motion alerts with these free iPhone security camera apps so you don’t always have to watch to see something. There are in-app purchases that allow you to record to the cloud in case you catch someone in your home or something in your garden. If you are looking for more full-featured smart security systems PCMag offers a great breakdown of out-of-the-box systems to protect your home and integrate with smart home accessories and assistants such as Alexa and Google Home.
Use your old iPhone as a security camera.
You will need to install the iPhone security camera app on your old iPhone and your current iPhone. This will turn the old iPhone into a security camera that you can put indoors or even outdoors in a protective case.
If you choose to set this to record 24/7, you’ll want to plug the phone in so you don’t have to constantly charge it. Video streaming and motion detection use up battery power fast. Apps recommend using an Apple original charger, and some users report that older iPhones like the iPhone 4 can overheat in hot environments. If you need to install a temporary security camera when there is no power outlet near you, you can choose battery saving options.
You have to choose which application to use. Here are the three most popular apps that turn your iPhone into a security camera: Alfred, A lot of things and availability. You can download them for free, but they all offer in-app purchases to unlock additional features. All of these apps support the following features:
The Manything app lets you set detection zones and use IFTTT support and stream to FaceBook Live if you want. The Alfred app allows you to switch between the front and rear cameras, as well as toggle the LED flash on and off.
You will see this on your iPhone while using your old iPhone as a free security camera.
Presence includes 50MB of free registration, but with Presence you can pay for more online storage. Manything and Alfred offer in-app purchases to get premium features or online registrations. In most cases, you’ll want to use cloud recording so you can take a remote backup in case someone gets the phone.
In addition to an app, you’ll probably want a mount or tripod to set your iPhone in a good position for recording. If it doesn’t have a mount, you can also put it in a mug or small glass to stand up.
If you need to capture an entire room, you can get a fisheye lens to attach to your iPhone to capture a larger area with a single phone. You can get them from Olloclip or from other companies.
After choosing the app you want to use to turn your old iPhone into a security camera, you need to install it on your old iPhone and your current iPhone. The app will walk you through a simple setup to link phones to an account and then you can view your DIY smart security camera from anywhere.
Check out the Momentum if you need a standalone camera and the Ring Floodlight Cam if you need an outdoor camera.
