If you often upgrade your phone as soon as a new model comes out to take advantage of the latest features, you may be left with an old well-functioning iPhone gathering dust in a drawer.
Having enjoyed a great relationship with your iPhone in the past, you may have a hard time letting go. This means trading in your old iPhone is off the table. So, consider the following creative ways to use your old iPhone.
1. Apple TV Remote Control
If your Apple TV remote control spends more time sliding down the couch cushions than helping you control your TV, you may consider using your old iPhone as a remote control instead. All you need to do is add the Apple TV Remote app to the Control Center.
To do this, go to Settings > Control Center and tap the green plus sign next to Apple TV Remote. From here, you can access the app through your Control Center by swiping down from the upper right corner. Open the app and pair it with your Apple TV by following the on-screen instructions.
That's not all; you can also use your old iPhone to control other smart devices. For example, you can download the best TV remote apps for your iPhone and use them to control your smart TV.
2. High-Res Webcam
Most MacBooks come with a built-in webcam, but the quality isn't always the best. If you spend a lot of time on video calls for work, you may consider using your old iPhone as a high-quality webcam instead.
You will be glad to know Apple has recently released a feature that allows you to use your iPhone's camera as a webcam. So, if your Mac is running macOS Ventura and your iPhone is running iOS 16, you can use Continuity Camera to turn your iPhone into a webcam.
If you use a Windows PC, you can download an app called Camo to connect your iPhone, PC, or Mac (if it runs on an older operating system). With this app, you can use your iPhone as a webcam to make high-quality video calls on popular apps like Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams.
Download: Camo for iOS (Free)
3. Home Security Camera or Baby Monitor
If you want to keep an eye on your home while you're away but don't want to spend money on an expensive home security system, you can use your old iPhone as a security camera. All you need to do is download an app like Alfred Home Security Camera.
Alfred Home Security Camera is an easy-to-use app that turns your iPhone into a security camera. All you need to do is download the app on your old and current iPhone, sign in on both phones using the same account, and set the older phone as the viewer. You will then be able to see a live feed of your home on your current iPhone.
Alternatively, you can use several apps that are specifically designed to help you monitor your baby. Some of them send you notifications when your baby wakes up, let you speak to them through the app, and even play lullabies.
Download: Alfred Home Security Camera for iOS (Free, offers in-app purchases)
4. Alarm Clock
Chances are, the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is reach for your iPhone to stop your alarm. However, one of the downsides of using your primary phone as your alarm is that you're more likely to start going down the Twitter rabbit hole and stay in bed longer. Most people will agree that this isn't a productive morning routine.
You can use your old iPhone as your dedicated alarm clock to avoid this pitfall. This means you will have to delete all distracting apps off your old phone and only keep the Clock app. Doing this will make you less tempted to start scrolling through social media when your alarm goes off in the morning.
5. Work Phone
If you want to separate your work life from your personal life, you can use your old iPhone as a work phone. This is especially useful if you rely on your phone for work-related tasks such as email, scheduling, and managing projects and deadlines. Having a dedicated work phone is also a great idea if you deal with sensitive information (just ensure your phone still gets the latest security updates).
To set up your work phone, all you need to do is sign into your work email and download any work-related apps on your old iPhone. For example, a calendar to schedule meetings, a project management app to keep track of deadlines, and a note-taking app to jot down ideas.
Once you have all the apps you need, make sure to disable notifications for any personal apps. Alternatively, you can just delete them since you have them on the other phone.
Last but not least, you want to ensure you observe some basic security measures such as using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and not sharing your work phone with anyone.
6. A Portable Game Console
Mobile games are more popular than ever, and there's a good chance you've downloaded a few games on your iPhone—scratch that, a lot of games. If you play games on your phone more often than you'd like to admit, but you are also worried about killing your battery life, you can use your old iPhone as a portable game console.
You can clear all unnecessary apps off your old iPhone and fill it up with games. You could also subscribe to Apple Arcade if you want access to a wide range of games without paying for each one of them. Moreover, you could use this phone to stream games from your PS5 using the Remote Play app.
Don't Give Up on Your Old iPhone Just Yet
You can now take your old iPhone out of that dusty drawer and put it to good use. We bet you have found some inspiration in this article and have a few ideas for repurposing your old iPhone. If none of these work for you, you can still sell, trade in, or give it away.