How to Turn an Old Android Phone into a Free IP Camera
Most of us have an old smartphone lying around in a drawer — too slow for modern apps, but still perfectly functional. Don’t rush to sell it for pennies or throw it away — you can give it a second life. One of the most practical ways is to turn it into a security camera.
Why would you need this?
An old smartphone can serve as:
- a home security camera;
- a baby monitor;
- a pet camera;
- a temporary camera for your garage, summer house, or office.
All you need is to install a free app called RTSP Camera, available on Google Play.
How RTSP Camera works
The app transforms your smartphone into a fully functional IP camera and streams video over Wi-Fi using the RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol). This means you can watch the live feed from a computer or any other device on your local network — and even remotely, if needed.
📺 Watch the video tutorial on YouTube
Benefits of this solution
Modern software like SmartVision takes things further: it’s not just about watching a video feed. Thanks to real-time computer vision, you get advanced features such as:
- motion, people, and object detection;
- facial recognition and license plate detection;
- instant alerts for suspicious activity.
Unlike basic motion detectors, video analytics greatly reduces storage requirements and network bandwidth.
Your PC as a security hub
By combining the free RTSP Camera app with SmartVision, you can easily turn any regular PC into a full-featured video surveillance server. The software lets you manage multiple cameras, record footage, access video locally or remotely, and even connect with cloud services.
Want to give your old Android phone a new purpose? Install RTSP Camera — and let it become your reliable “watchdog,” while SmartVision transforms your computer into a powerful security system for your home or office.