How to turn your old smart phone into a home security camera

The majority of us will have some sort of unused smart phone lying around our house, there are many different ways you can utilise your old smart phone so that it doesn’t remain unused. One way to ‘recycle’ your old smart phone is relatively easy and can bring you peace of mind when you are away from home is to turn into a home security camera.

Below are the different methods for turning an Android or iOS smart phone into a home security camera...

How to turn your old Android phone into a home security camera

1. Download the Home Security IPCamera App (Free) from the Google Play Store 

2. Follow the installation instructions on the Home Security IPCamera App 

3. Login to Trackview using the Home Security IPCamera App, you can login using your existing Gmail account user name and password. 

4. Set up your smart phone anywhere in your home you wish to monitor. Using the Home Security IP Camera App you can monitor, track or buzz using the smart phone you carry with you every day. You can also check the alert messages, record and playback your clips.

5. The Home Security IPCamera App allows you to use more than one device so if you have more than one unused smart phone lying around, you could use the steps above to set it up as an additional home security camera (just make sure you use the same login for all the devices you wish to use). 

How to turn your old iPhone into a home security camera

1. Download the Manything App (Free) from the App Store 

2. Follow the installation instructions on the Manything App

3. Register your device

4. Press record

5. Login into manything.com to watch live, playback to any point in time and to create and share your clips from your desktop computer or the iPhone you use every day.

6. The Manything App also allows you to connect to connect to any smarthome features you may have installed your home via the IFTTT channel.

Top Five Home Security Apps

Be one step ahead with the security of your home by downloading these handy home security apps for iOS and Android.

1. AtHome Camera (Free)

The AtHome Camera is an application for iOS and Android which allows the user to remotely turn a PC, smart TV/set-top box, smart phone and tablet into a home monitoring system, enabling you to keep an eye on your property through live streaming when you aren’t at home. The handy app will alert you wherever you are if motion is detected within your home whilst you’re away.

2. Manything Home Security Webcam (Free)

The Manything application allows you to turn any iOS device into a free home monitoring camera. The app features live streaming, motion alerts, remote control and cloud recording. Similar to the AtHome Camera this application will allow you to keep tabs on your home when you’re not there or in another room.

3. Yale Crime Watcher (Free)

Find out more about the burglaries that have occurred in your local area with the Yale Crime Watcher application. Simply input your postcode for current burglary statistics within a mile of your home (during a one month period). All statistics are powered by the Police API system which means all the information given is up to date and accurate. The app also gives you tips and advice on how you can secure your home using Yale products.

4. Tile App (Free) 

The Tile application is not only a handy app but is also a fantastic product which allows you to locate anything that you affix the tile (approx £20) to such as keys and valuables, what’s more if your stuff is lost or stolen as long as the tile is still with it you can ask other Tile users for help locating it!

5. Yale Home System (Free) 

To use this app you must have a Yale ‘Easy Fit Smartphone Alarm System’ installed in your home. This handy app allows users to control their Yale alarm from their smart phone.

Users are able to control the following remotely:

• Arm and disarm
• Activate accessories
• Show event reports
• View camera captures
• System programming