9 Ways to Make Your Old Android Phone Useful Again

Upgrading to a new phone is exciting, but that doesn't mean your old Android device has to collect dust in a drawer. There are plenty of creative ways to give it a second life and make it useful again.

Table of Contents

• 9. Use as a security camera or baby monitor
• 8. Use as dash cam or Android Auto companion app
• 7. Turn your phone into an e-reader
• 6. Use as a handheld game console
• 5. Turn your phone into a digital clock or photo frame
• 4. Use as a GPS tracking device
• 3. Boost your Wi-Fi by turning it into a signal booster
• 2. Turn it into a second monitor for your PC or laptop
• 1. Reuse as portable storage device

9. Use as a security camera or baby monitor

You don't necessarily have to spend money on an expensive security camera or baby monitor if you have an old Android phone around the house. You can simply download a baby monitor app like BabyCam or turn your Android into an IP webcam with the IP Phone Camera app.

These apps allow you to stream live video, listen to audio, and even take photos and videos remotely. Once the app is set up, all you have to do is place your phone in a stable position with a clear view of the area you want to monitor. Make sure to plug the device into a charger to ensure uninterrupted use.

• Get BabyCam (Free, in-app purchases available)
• Download IP Phone Camera  (Free, in-app purchases available)

8. Use as dash cam or Android Auto companion app

If your old Android phone has a good camera, you can repurpose it as a dash cam for your car. This can be useful for recording road accidents, scenic drives, or unexpected events. To set it up, simply install a good dash cam app, mount your phone to your dashboard or windshield, and connect it to a power source.

Alternatively, if your car doesn't have Android Auto , you can bring the Android experience into your car using an old phone or tablet. You can do this using an app like Car Launcher, AutoZen, or AutoMate. These launchers simplify the screen layout so you can quickly access the features and information you need.

• Get Dash Cam Travel (Free, in-app purchases available)
• Download AutoZen (Free, in-app purchases available)

7. Turn your phone into an e-reader

If you love reading, you can download e-book apps like Kindle, Google Play Books, and Moon+ Reader to turn your phone into an e-reader. These apps support a variety of formats and give you access to a huge library of books, magazines, and comics.

For a more enjoyable and distraction-free reading experience, consider turning off notifications and using a simple launcher. You can also turn on grayscale mode to reduce eye strain and improve battery life.

• Get Amazon Kindle (Free, in-app purchases available)
• Get Google Play Books (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Use as a handheld game console

Dedicated consoles or PCs are great, but they can't compete with the convenience of a handheld gaming device. Using your spare phone as a gaming device lets you enjoy your favorite games without draining your main device's battery.

You can download your favorite games from the Play Store or use cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming , NVIDIA GeForce Now, or Steam Link to stream high-quality titles without the need for powerful hardware. If you like classic or casual games, you can use an Android emulator to play classic games.

5. Turn your phone into a digital clock or photo frame

If your old Android phone isn't powerful enough for gaming, why not turn it into a stylish and functional nightstand clock? You can do this by downloading an app like Flip Clock and mounting your phone on a stand - preferably one with wireless charging.

You can also use your phone as a digital photo frame using the slideshow feature in the Google Photos app .

If you want more options, apps like Fotoo let you pull photos from multiple cloud storage services , adjust transition effects, set slideshow duration, and even add background music.

• Download Flip Clock (Free, in-app purchases available)
• Get Fotoo (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. Use as a GPS tracking device

Your old Android phone can act as a reliable GPS tracking device, thanks to the built-in Find My Device feature. You can use it to track the location of your car or keep your kids safe.

To set it up, turn on Find My Device in your phone's settings, sign in with your Google account, and put your phone in a safe place — like your car's glove compartment or your child's backpack.

You should use a small power bank to keep your phone from running out of battery too quickly. This also allows you to use Google Maps' timeline feature to check your location history.

3. Boost your Wi-Fi by turning it into a signal booster

There are a number of ways you can boost your Wi-Fi signal at home or in the office. However, instead of buying a dedicated Wi-Fi extender, you can repurpose your old Android phone into a Wi-Fi repeater.

For this, you need to make sure your phone supports Wi-Fi and hotspot at the same time. If yes, just connect your Android phone to the main Wi-Fi, turn on the hotspot and place it in a place with weak signal.

While this doesn't offer the same performance as a dedicated signal booster, it's a cheap way to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones using equipment you already own.

2. Turn it into a second monitor for your PC or laptop

Using a second monitor can significantly increase your productivity when working on a laptop or PC. If your old Android phone has a large screen, you can use an app like Spacedesk to turn your phone into a second monitor for Windows.

You can connect your phone wirelessly over Wi-Fi, but it's best to use a USB cable for a more stable connection. Once connected, you can extend your desktop and drag apps onto your phone as if it were an additional screen.

Similarly, you can also use your Android phone as a webcam , speaker or microphone for your PC.

• Get Spacedesk for Android | Windows (Free, in-app purchases available)

1. Reuse as portable storage device

Even if your old Android phone has a broken screen, poor battery life, or insufficient processing power, it can still be useful as a portable storage device. Unless the device is extremely outdated, it probably still has a decent amount of internal storage that you can put to good use.

You can connect it to your laptop, desktop, or even your gaming console via a USB cable. It can act as a flash drive, allowing you to transfer and store important files. If the screen is active, you can also transfer files between your phone and PC wirelessly.

Repurposing your old Android phone not only extends its usefulness, but it can also save you money on a new phone. The ideas above are a great place to start, but if you're willing to put in the work, there are plenty of DIY projects you can try with your old phone.