How To Use A Cell Phone As A Security Camera

At that place are many reasons to use a smartphone as a security camera. When you are on vacation, you can keep an eye on your home no matter how far away y'all are. Alternatively, you can use your old smartphone as a baby monitor and permit information technology sit on the terrace for peace of mind. Peradventure you had always wanted to purchase a pet cam to see merely which of your hirsuite kids have been naughty while you are gone?

What are the devices required to use your smartphone every bit a security photographic camera? We've included a few shortcuts below to aid y'all swoop right into the relevant sections faster:

An erstwhile smartphone. Bonus points if it has an ultra wide-angle camera!
A free security photographic camera app for Android and iOS
A smartphone mount to position it securely
A suitable power supply to continue the smartphone running

Disclaimer: Inside your own iv walls, you are of form allowed to record as you like - as long equally your visitors know about it. If you desire to utilize the security camera for areas that are exterior of your home, please check beforehand to the degree of its legality.

AndroidPIT LG G6 9324 — Do you however have an erstwhile smartphone lying around? Then employ it as a security camera! / © NextPit

1. An former smartphone. Bonus points if it has an ultra wide-angle camera!

First of all, the smartphone that yous would like to use as a security camera should nevertheless role, of grade. Just that's about it, the WLAN required is already available on all modernistic smartphones. The same applies to the possibility of installing apps. Cameras are besides available on all smartphones, but there are differences to take note of.

clip lenses — With such cheap smartphone attachments you tin can brand your camera more flexible / © Selvim

If you want to monitor as large an area equally possible with your smartphone, then a model with an ultra wide-bending camera would exist the platonic choice. Of course, this but makes sense if the smartphone comes with such a sensor in the Camera2 API that can be used by tertiary-party apps. For older smartphones, simply the primary camera is most probable be able to be used for external applications. In this example, yous tin also become a simple lens attachment.

2. A suitable free security camera app for Android or iOS

The 2d stride is to install a security camera app on your smartphone. Depending on the app that y'all use, there are different features available. Before we get down to the apps themselves, here is a quick overview of what are the typical features that you tin expect.

Video streaming: Of course, the security camera app should exist able to send a video stream to your device.
Movement Detection: The app should exist able to send you button notifications whenever it detects motion. Ideally, you'll be able to mask out areas similar windows or gear up the sensitivity level so you don't trigger an alert every time there's a change in lighting weather.
Two-way audio: Not simply tin you hear what's happening in front end of the security camera, only you tin too transport your voice. Mayhap your cat will leave the vase on the table alone when information technology hears your voice.
Cloud storage: Some apps offer a cloud storage function. This way, a office of the video recording will always remain in the cloud. If a potential infiltrator rips your smartphone off the wall, you can still access the footage captured simply before that moment.
Direct connectedness: If you prefer not to have sensitive footage of your home being hosted online in the cloud, and then y'all should choose an app that allows a directly p2p connection between the security camera smartphone and your smartphone or PC.

Pick 1: Alfred Security Photographic camera

alfred camera app — Very not bad: This is how the Alfred Security Camera app looks on an iPhone / © NextPit

Probably the nearly pop app for repurposing your smartphone into a security camera is the Alfred Security Camera app. The interface is clean while the setup process is simple. Y'all merely install the app on your onetime smartphone and on your current phone. In order to connect, log in with your Google or Apple tree account, or scan a QR lawmaking to connect. You can then assign the smartphones to their respective roles.

Information technology really does take less than three minutes as promised on the provider'due south website before y'all get to view the epitome of the other smartphone from your primary device. Accessing the camera image via a browser will likewise work without any problems. In addition to video transmission (either via the main or front camera), Alfred offers ii-mode communication and even an alert siren (does that help against derisive cats? Probably only in one case before they wisen upwards).

The movement detection level is adaptable in terms of sensitivity, but zone masking is unfortunately non available in the free version. Alfred Security Photographic camera saves all detected events over the past vii days; where the premium version allows double the corporeality of time.

If you pay $iv.99 monthly (or $ii.49 monthly in the annual subscription), you will receive Hd quality video, longer recordings whenever motion is detected, a homo detection function, and a motion detection scheduling function (east.g. at night and during working hours). And, of grade, there will be no more than nasty advertisements to annoy yous.

Some other positive point is the provider's agile customer support, which contains a very agile forum on the website and in the app stores.

Download Alfred Security Camera for Android (4.7 stars) and iOS (4.7 stars) today!

Option two: WardenCam

Like the Alfred Security Camera, WardenCam is as well fast and easy to prepare up. The app is available on both iOS and Android platforms. After logging in on the various devices, your smartphone security camera is ready to use right away. The range of functions is very similar to our get-go recommendation, but the user interface is non quite as polished while the ads are more intrusive.

In terms of functions, you'll too find motion detection, which allows for time command. When detected, the app sends y'all a push notification and stores the recordings in the cloud for upwardly to 30 days, with support for Google Drive or Dropbox.

There'southward too the choice to activate a alarm siren. WardenCam likewise offers a Pro version without any ads. Features include 1080p resolution and 60 days of online storage. The good thing is, yous can actuate the premium version by paying a one-fourth dimension fee of $v.99 without any further subscription after that.

Download WardenCam here for Android (four.0 stars) and iOS (3.seven stars) today!

Selection 3: IP Webcam

Amongst the surveillance camera apps reviewed here, IP Webcam happens to exist the nearly flexible. However, the interface is less polished while the configuration process can exist a little flake tricky. But in that location are too a lot of possibilities with IP Webcam.

You can either access the video stream via a local network using other devices or worldwide via the gratuitous cloud service, ivideon. With the third-party app Tinycam Monitor, it is fifty-fifty possible to enjoy two-way audio. If desired, IP Webcam can upload its recordings to Dropbox or FTP servers.

Other features include motion and racket detection, non to mention a bombardment life indicator. Unlike the aforementioned apps, IP Webcam can admission all cameras that have been shared via Camera2 API. At NextPit, we've already used IP Webcam during live streams to rely on Android smartphones equally wireless cameras connected to the same WLAN. In the gratuitous version, IP Webcam shows unobtrusive ads, which you can get rid of for a ane-time payment of $4.99.

Download IP Webcam for Android hither (iii.9 stars)

three. A smartphone mount to position it securely

First, a few words about the positioning of the smartphone security camera. If yous desire to use your smartphone as a security photographic camera confronting possible intruders, then y'all should pick a position where the burglars will definitely have to pass. Typically, this would be the hallway or the staircase. If, on the other hand, the smartphone is to monitor babies or pets, then of grade the children's room or your pet's favorite haunt for mischief would be the ideal selection.

wall mount smartphone — With this wall mount, you lot tin can position your smartphone simply nigh anywhere / © Ayizon

Tip: You'll usually find more than accessories for tablets - and when used creatively, your smartphone volition also fit near tablet mounts.

Option ane: Wall mount

The virtually flexible option is a wall mountain that requires drilling. You can attach it with two to four screws normally in almost any place. Of course, the advantage of that also doubles up every bit its biggest disadvantage: you will take to drill holes in the walls, no two ways almost information technology.

Option 2: Adhesive, suction loving cup, or magnetic mount

A simpler, but less flexible selection are magnetic, suction loving cup, or adhesive mounts for the smartphone. Logically, the onetime will only work on metallic surfaces so it is all-time to check in advance whether a magnet will exist uniform with the preferred surface. Finally, suction cups and adhesive mounts are only suitable for smooth surfaces.

Option 3: (Tabular array) Tripod

Another option is to use a tripod. This could be a Gorillapod that you tin just loop around a floor lamp or identify on a tabular array. Do comport in heed, however, that tripods are very visible and therefore easy for potential burglars to achieve and remove.

4. A suitable power supply to keep the smartphone running

Finally, yous will need a ability adapter to power the smartphone used as a security camera. I'k certain you accept a box of power adapters lying around somewhere in the house. Yet, yous may need a longer USB cable for charging purposes. The relevant USB 2.0 specification allows a maximum of five meters; so anything longer might not piece of work.

To hide the cable, y'all can either apply trunking - or but buy a largely invisible apartment cablevision, which you tin then glue to the plaster with hot mucilage or nail down with cablevision clamps.

More security camera organization ideas:

Y'all at present know the absolute basics of transforming your erstwhile smartphone into a security camera. However, in that location is nevertheless room for improvement, then here are a few more ideas that nosotros would like to throw out:

A solar panel works great if you want to use your smartphone as a security camera on the balcony or in the garden. This allows you to accept peace of mind, knowing that your device will never run out of juice and can be powered indefinitely. Only brand sure that both the smartphone and power depository financial institution are installed in a weather condition-protected location or meet the corresponding IP requirements.
SIM carte for independence from the WLAN: If your home area is larger than your WLAN network coverage, and then yous can also equip your security photographic camera smartphone with a SIM card. There are many mobile carriers who are willing to provide you with a 2d SIM for costless or for a small fee. However, be sure to cheque how much information is consumed past the app of your option - and whether this will exceed your contract or not.
Using a second smartphone as a permanent monitor: With a permanently installed second smartphone, yous tin can besides build a smart doorbell system with an intercom feature. And if you're non at home, you can also use the intercom part to enquire the parcel carrier to leave your parcel on the patio, for case.

Do you have old smartphones lying around? Observe new ideas in repurposing them in the following articles: