So you just got one of the best iPads of 2025 to replace your old model, huh? What are you going to do with the old one? Don’t be hasty. Before you trade-in or recycle your old iPad, consider putting it to good use. With just one simple app, you can turn it into a free and effective indoor security camera. This is especially useful if your trade-in value is low-why not repurpose your old device instead of letting it sit unused?
This trick works especially well with a dedicated iPad mount, but you can use the new camera’s live feed in a myriad of ways. That includes watching over an entryway, play area, home office and plenty more. Let’s walk through three easy steps to turn your old iPad into a security camera.
How to Use Your iPad as a Security Camera
Follow these steps to use your iPad as a security camera. These steps will also work on your iPhone.
Step 1: Install a security camera app on your old iPad
To begin, you will need to choose a security camera app. Most apps offer many of the same features, such as local streaming, cloud streaming, recording and storing footage locally or remotely, and motion detection and alerts. Once you’re set up, you will be able to monitor your living space and control your security camera from anywhere, straight from your iPhone or iPad.
One of the best app options for setting up your iPad as a security camera is Alfred. Alfred is free to use and gives you a remote view of your live feed, motion detection with alerts, free cloud storage, a two-way audio feed and use of both the front and rear cameras. To unlock additional features, like higher-resolution viewing and recording, zoom capabilities, ad removal and 30-day cloud storage, you can upgrade to Alfred Premium.
- Download Alfred on both your old and new iPads. You don’t have to use a iPad as a monitoring tool — you can also download Alfred to your iPhone, Mac or Windows PC if you prefer to keep watch from there. Just make sure the app is on both devices.
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On the new iPad, swipe through the introduction and tap Start. Select Viewer and tap Next.
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Once you get to the sign-in page, click Sign in with Google (a Google account is required) and sign in with your Google account credentials.
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On the old iPad, repeat the same steps, but instead of selecting Viewer, select Camera. And make sure to sign in to the same Google account.
Once both iPads are signed in to Alfred, you’re pretty much done with the setup. Alfred has simplified the camera options to include only a few settings. On iPadOS, you can only enable motion detection, choose between the front and rear cameras, and enable or disable audio.
From your new iPad, you can change a few more settings, such as turning notifications on or off, setting a camera or viewer name, adding other people to your Trust Circle (granting other people access to your video feeds), removing a camera, checking how many times a camera has disconnected, setting motion detection sensitivity and enabling a low-light filter on cameras.
If Alfred isn’t really doing it for you, you can explore other cam app options, too. Other apps that can give your old iPad a security cam upgrade include:
- Athome Camera: As the name suggests, the app helps turn your iPad into a home security camera. I like how Athome offers two versions of its app. One for the old device and the other for your current device. Thus they can add new features without worrying whether the old iPad and iPhone apps will support them. AtGome Camera Pro is priced at $9.99.
- Manything: With Manything, you install it on a spare device, then install it on your main device for monitoring. It has a free subscription plan to use with one camera, or you can choose another plan to add more devices and store video in the cloud. Manything gives you motion detection, IFTTT integration, 2-way talk, and more. Manything is Free.
- iVCam from E2ESoft: iVCam is a more open-source cam solution that’s best for those who really want to tinker with camera settings and customize them, although like EpocCam it’s focused a bit more on webcam-related activities than security.
- Camy: Camy offers a slew of live video monitoring features. The most impressive feature is the one that lets you share stream links with others. These links allow anyone to access a live feed without installing the app. Camy has a dedicated baby monitor mode paired with a motion sensor feature. The app promptly sends a notification when it detects a motion. Camy is not free; the premium subscription costs $3.99 and offers cloud storage.
Step 2: Pick a spot for your new iPad security camera
After you have the stream up and running, you will need to set up and position the camera. You may want it focused on the main entry point to your home, your backyard, the place where you store valuables or a point you think might be particularly vulnerable. You can also set up an IP camera as a baby monitor.
If you have multiple old iPads lying around, you can set up multiple cameras for fairly robust video coverage.
Step 3: Mount and power your security camera iPad
To mount or position the camera, an iPad tripod or suction-cup car mount can work wonders and help you position the camera in an inconspicuous place. To broaden the field of view, consider buying a wide-angle lens for your iPad, something that can be purchased for between $5 and $20 online.
Streaming video is very power-intensive, and the iPad will be on 24/7. To keep the iPad from dying in the first few hours, you will need to position it close to a power source. A 10-foot charging cable or USB-C will give you more flexibility in where you put it.
And that’s it: Now you can use the security cam app on your new iPad to view the feed from your old iPad’s camera, and you’ve made your home more secure without spending much at all.