
Turning your old Android phone into a security camera sounds hard.
But, honestly…
It’s harder to budget your monthly grocery list.
Converting your old Android phone into a security camera takes minutes.
No spreadsheets and zero numbers involved.
Just the plain old app store and good WiFi connection.
Keep reading to find out:
- 5 easy steps to turn your old Android phone into a security camera.
- One tool to monitor the best angle of your home using your Android phone.
- If your old Android phone’s camera is clear enough to capture suspicious activity.
- How to set up your old Android phone as a security camera in less than 5 minutes.
- And a whole lot more…
Can I use my old Android phone as a security camera without the Internet?
First, Download the AlfredCamera app. Either on the App Store or Google Play Store. Install the app on your old and current Android phone. Set up the app on both Android phones. Then, choose the best angle for monitoring your space. You can use a tripod or car mount to hold your phone in place.
5 steps to turn an old Android phone into a security camera without the internet
#1: Download the Alfred Home Security Camera app
The Alfred Home Security Camera app is available on the App Store and Google Play store.
It’s also free to use with a paid subscription available (more on that later).
For this first step, download the app on both your old and current Android phone:
- Launch the Google Play store.
- Search for “Alfred Camera” on the search field.
- Tap “Alfred Home Security Camera”.
- Tap Install.
- Wait for the installation to finish.
#2: Create a new account
After installing the app, here’s what you should do:
Step 1: Launch the AlfredCamera app.
Step 2: Create a new account through either of the following options:
- “Continue with Email”.
- “Continue with Apple”.
- “Continue with Google”.
Step 3: Sign in to whichever account you’re comfortable with.
#3: Set up the Alfred Home Security App on your old Android phone

After signing in, the app will ask what you want to use the app for. From here, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Choose one or several options from the list shown on your phone app’s screen:
- Others.
- Caregiving.
- Kid Monitor.
- Pet Monitor.
- Baby Monitor.
- Business Use.
- Away for a trip.
- Home Security.
Step 2: Choose all that apply and tap “Done” on your old Android phone.
Step 3: Grant the app permissions needed to keep AlfredCamera working properly:
- Camera.
- Microphone.
- Appear on top.
Then, tap “Continue”.
Step 4: Log in to the same account on your current Android phone.
Step 5: Set your current Android phone as the “Viewer” and your old Android phone as the “Camera”.
How the Viewer and Camera functions work in the AlfredCamera app
On the top-left corner of your app screen, you should see “Viewer” or “Camera”. Here’s what these both mean:
- The camera function allows the app to record and monitor your space.
- The viewer function lets the user monitor the device while they’re away on a trip.
Need an example?
Say you’ve planned a trip abroad for a week.
You download the app and set it on both your current and old Android phone.
Your old Android phone will be set to the “Camera” function. This will allow you to record any suspicious activity that happens.
Your current Android phone will be set to the “Viewer” function. As a result, you can see what’s happening in real-time even when you’re halfway across the world.
In other words…
- Your new Android phone should be set to the “Viewer” function.
- Your old Android phone should be set to the “Camera” function.
#4: Choose the best angle to monitor your space
After you’ve granted access and permission to the AlfredCamera app, you’re all set.
But, there’s one more thing to do.
And it’s to set up your smartphone in a place that gives you the best angle.
“How do you do it?”
You can use a tripod or suction-cup car mount to hold your smartphone in place.
Note: If your smartphone moves or fidgets, the app will automatically pause the camera. This is why it’s important to use a tripod or car mount.
“Do I need a car mount and a tripod?”
Not necessarily. You should use…
- A car mount if you plan to set your old Android phone by your window or garage.
- A tripod if you want a wider angle of a certain area in your home. (For example, your living room).
#5: Don’t forget to plug your old Android phone into a power source
Wait – hold on for just a minute.
It’s important to note that your old Android phone will be running for days while you’re away.
That means the battery of your old Android phone will drain quickly.
So, make sure to plug your old Android phone into a power source with a USB power adapter.
But if your power source is far from where you set up your old Android phone, don’t worry.
You can use an extension cord or a longer USB cable that extends up to 10 feet (120 inches).
Finally, if you want to learn more about how the app works, this video should help:
People also ask:
Do I need the paid version of AlfredCamera?
You don’t necessarily need the paid version of AlfredCamera. It’s always better to try the free version first.
If you feel the free version is lacking a few features, you can try the app’s paid version.
Take note, though.
The free version already has solid features that work well as a security camera. These features include:
AlfredCamera app free features | Benefit |
Siren. | Used to ward off an intruder. |
Trust Circle. | Provides shared access to family, friends, and neighbors. In turn, they can monitor your home while you’re away. |
Two-Way Talk. | A walkie-talkie feature for interacting with a friend or family member while you’re away. |
Low-Light Filter. | Grants your camera better vision and capturing capabilities in the dark. |
Motion Detection. | Get a notification in an instant when your camera captures any movement. |
As you can see, the free version is more than enough.
But, if you want the premium version, here are some of its upgraded features:
- No ads.
- HD viewing, capturing, and recording.
- Access a Zoom call directly from the AlfredCamera app.
- Record longer motion-detect videos in 120-second intervals.
- Recorded videos are stored for viewing anytime for up to 30 days.
Are there alternative apps to use aside from AlfredCamera?

There are a lot of alternative apps you can use aside from AlfredCamera.
All of these apps have free versions and premium versions as well. These apps include the following:
Is my old Android phone’s camera enough for monitoring my home?
Your old Android phone’s camera should be enough for monitoring your home.
On average, Android phones will have a 12-megapixel rating. That means it’s enough for capturing any suspicious activity.
But, if you want to improve your security, there’s one solution for this.
Get a wide-angle lens. This will give you a broader field of view for your old Android phone.
There are some wide-angle lenses that also go below $10 but it’s worth considering the quality too.