Seven Best Ways to Use Your Old IPhone or IPad
There’s no reason to throw away or recycle your old iPhones. You can recycle them instead. Even without a carrier, an iPhone or iPad can still function as an all-in-one Wi-Fi device—perfect for setting up as a throwaway gadget, whether you want a free baby monitor, an otherworldly musical instrument, or an extra TV remote.
Turn it into a musical instrument
You can instantly turn your old iPhone into a synthesizer, drum machine, digital ocarina, or any other instrument. Just download your favorite music app (Synth One is a great starting point) and start playing. But don’t stop there. If you have an audio interface, you can connect your iPhone to an amplifier or other audio system. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen 3 USB audio interface to connect my old iPhone via a Lightning to USB adapter, then connect it to a guitar amp for maximum noise. Older iPhones with headphone jacks can also be connected to audio interfaces using 1/8-inch (3.5mm) to 1/4-inch (6.35mm) cables, or you can get dirty and just plug directly into the amplifier.
If you want to get really ambitious, download a few different music production apps onto a few old iPhones (perhaps combine Synth One with an 808 drum machine emulator and something esoteric like Seaquence ), attach them to a pedalboard, and plug them into mixer, such as the Pyle Professional Audio Mixer console sound card system . Then you can plug it into an amp and start jamming along to a custom, one-of-a-kind iPhone music beast like this one my buddy Matt Chapman made:
Recommended Products:
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen 3 USB Audio Interface
Suptig Phone Holder Gooseneck Desk Mount
Turn it into a home security system (or a baby/pet monitor)
You can save money on a home security camera and/or nanny cam by using an old iPhone instead. First, download an app that allows you to control one iPhone with another. Cloud Baby Monitor is a good choice. For $6.99, you can control one device with another, get motion alerts on your iPhone or Apple Watch, and use it to talk to your baby. These are the same core features as home security apps like Alfred , but you can unlock all the features without paying a monthly subscription fee. (Both of these apps also have free tiers.)
Once you’ve set it up, connect your Wi-Fi-enabled iPhone or iPad, point it at your baby or a chest full of jewelry, and you can remotely control it to your heart’s content. The “sending” phone doesn’t need to be connected to a carrier – Wi-Fi is sufficient – so you can also check your home while on the road.
Use it as a webcam
I bought an iMac Mini for a low price, but it doesn’t have a camera, so I’m using an older iPhone. It stays on because it connects to your computer and the quality is better than most webcams. All you need is a mount (I like the stupid snake-like ones ) and you’re good to go. (This only works if your iPhone supports iOS 16 or later operating systems.)
Use it as a kitchen helper
If your kitchen drawers are full of scraps of paper with your favorite recipes printed on them, like mine, be better than me and use your iPhone or iPad as a kitchen helper. Download an app like Recipe Keeper , which allows you to scan printed recipes or download them. You can also use it as a timer and measurement converter. Sure, your current phone can do it all, but cooking can be messy, and an older iPhone lets you do it without any consequences.
Use it as a TV remote
If you leave your old iPhone next to your couch, you’ll have a spare remote. You can use it for your Apple TV by simply being on the same Wi-Fi network and pairing the devices, and there are apps for a number of TV services that let you control them from your phone, including Roku and Amazon Fire. Many smart TVs also allow you to control them from your iPhone, although whether this will actually work depends on the type of TV and the age of the iPhone.
Use it as an MP3 player
I don’t know about you, but I still have a ton of mp3 files on my hard drive even though I’ve been streaming music for ten years. Putting all those old files on the iPhone and using it as a music player has two benefits: It’s a great device for places where there’s no network and where there’s no network access because it doesn’t need to be connected to the phone network, and who cares. what if it breaks? Plus, when it finally stops working, I’ll be able to free myself from those old MP3 files I’ve been saving for no reason but can’t bring myself to delete.
Turn it into your alarm clock
If your old phone works at all, the alarm clock probably still works, making it an ideal alarm clock. Of course, your current phone can do the same thing, but you can set your old phone on a nice stand on your nightstand (check out this site for inspiration ) and use it to customize the way you wake up in the morning. You can delete all the extraneous apps from your old device so you’re no longer tempted to lie in bed and watch TikTok videos, and if it can still connect to the app store, you can download any of the hundreds of dedicated watch apps. so that it matches your style.