Discover how to use your old cell phone to improve your family's security. Watch the tutorial.
You know that old cell phone at the bottom of the drawer? Thanks to the app that activates this feature on your device, you can give new life to this device as a security camera.
With a constant power supply, you can monitor your home, garage, office, etc. using even a basic smartphone. Read on to learn how to do it easily.
How to Turn Your Phone into a Security Camera
There are several surveillance apps, but one of the most complete and best is Alfred Home Security Camera. It is available for iOS (iPhone) and Android devices and offers several free features as well as others with a monthly subscription. In short, you don't have to pay to use its main features and you can monitor any environment, regardless of location, using Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Installing and configuring Alfred is a simple task. You will need two mobile phones. These can be the phones you use every day, regardless of which one you use as a camera and which one will be the one that will host the mobile operating system on which the app runs. Follow the steps and start using it.
- Download and install Alfred on both devices
- On a cell phone, open the application that will function as a security camera.
- Select “Camera” from the options that ask how you want to use your phone (it may appear as Observer or Camera).
- When Alfred prompts you, sign in with your Google Account on your device.
- Now, open the app on your primary phone and select “Viewer” from the device usage questions.
- Sign in with the same Google Account you used on your previous device. And that's it, this is the default configuration for Alfred.
From now on, you can view recordings from your old device on your primary phone. Cell phones/security cameras should be placed in a fixed location and have access to a nearby power source to ensure the device is always on if you intend to use it permanently.
How to use other Alfred features
Alfred also has other features, such as motion detection. To enable it, follow these steps on your old phone:
- Click on the menu.
- Then, click on “Detect Motion” and select OK. Once the feature is activated, there is no need to constantly monitor the camera.
The app will send you a notification when the camera detects movement in the monitored area, which is very useful for keeping an eye on your home while you're away, for example. Or, monitor areas that are rarely accessed by occupants, such as the garage. You can also activate audio recording using a special command in the main menu or by selecting the camera you want to activate.
The Android version of the app has many more features, including reopening apps after an unexpected reboot of the old phone, enabling continuous focus, setting a fixed resolution, enabling lock password and more. On your main phone, you can turn notifications on or off, name your surveillance camera, enable baby monitor mode (important for monitoring children), enable two-way audio, and grant camera access to other users in your circle.
Plus, you can use as many cameras as you want. The limit is the number of old phones you have at home. Finally, while Alfred isn’t the only option for turning your existing phone into a security camera, it’s certainly one of the most complete. Plus, the app doesn’t limit its use through a subscription. Now, you can improve security from your home for free.
