7 Things to do with your old iPhone and iPad

There are a lot of useful things your old iPhone can be used for so rather than dump it somewhere, read this article to find out the things to do with an old iPhone.

Updated Jun 21,2017 | by Shannon

So you have bought a new iPhone and you have no idea what to do with your old iPhone. You are torn between dumping it somewhere or finding something useful to use it for. There are a lot of useful things your old iPhone can be used for so rather than dump it somewhere, read this article to find out the things to do with an old iPhone.

1. Recycle or trade it in

This is usually the first thing you would think. The Apple Reuse and Recycle Program is Apple’s own trade-in service through which you can trade in your old Apple products. You can get a gift certificate in return with which you can get some money off your next Apple product purchase. If this is not something you are interested in, keep reading this article to find out other things you can do with your old iPhone.

2. Use as a media player

Your old iPhone can also be used as a media player as long as it still works quite well. In the early days of the iPhone, it was described as an iPod that could make calls so why not convert your iPhone to an iPod. Rather than use your new iPhone for all your media purposes, why not free up some space and use your old iPhone instead. You will be able to keep your new phone’s battery on for a long time since you would have less use for it in terms of play music or watch videos on it.

3. Use as a remote for your Apple TV or iTunes library

Download the Apple remote App from the App Store on your old iPhone and you will be able to control your Apple TV with it in case you misplace the remote that originally came with your TV. You can also use this remote app to control the music being played on your iTunes.

4. Give the old iPhone or iPad to a close relative or to a homeless person

At the time the iPhone or iPad was in use, it was a difficult thing to hand over to other people to play games with it, especially younger siblings. Since you now have a new one, download a couple of children’s games and apps on it and pass it on to the younger ones.

One other thing that you can do with your old iPhone or iPad is to give it out to a homeless person who needs it. Such person can stay connected, search for jobs, learn new skills and be in contact with social support groups.

5. Use as a baby monitor

There are several apps on the app store with which you can monitor your baby and watch live feeds from another iPhone, iPad or Mac. Normal baby monitors with inbuilt video and audio costs as much as $70 but with your old iPhone or iPad, you get to save a lot more and may not spend more than $5.

6. Use as a security camera

If you can use your old iPhone or iPad as a baby monitor, you can also use it as a security camera. Place the phone in strategic places in your home, plug it to a power outlet so it never runs out of juice, download a free iOS app that lets your old iPhone or iPad act like a camera and get live feeds on your new iPhone or iPad or other devices.

7. Use as a backup device

In case anything happens to your new iPhone or iPad, you have the option of going back to your old iPhone or iPad. Just keep it somewhere safe so you can easily pick it up any time.

Related:

An iPhone/iPad manager can help you manage/transfer/sync/edit/delete contents on your iPhone or iPad easily.