10 DIY uses for your old iPhone or iPad
You can count on death, taxes and a steady stream of shiny new Apple devices vying for your money. We upgrade even when the old one works perfectly fine. Which poses the question: What to do with the old one?
Your old device contains a lot of personal information. Be sure you thoroughly erase everything before selling it or trading it in for a discount.
But there are lots of other ways to upcycle your Apple tablet or phone and keep using it every day. You may not need every app in its arsenal, but that slick screen and slender design can be handy for a variety of tasks.
While I focus on an older iPad, keep in mind that your old iPhone can handle many of the same tasks.
1. Make it a car dashcam
With the right brace or holder, you can install your older iPad or iPhone into your car. This can serve as a hub for music and entertainment, and if you position it right, you can use it as a dashcam.
Dashcam apps constantly record what’s happening outside your car while you’re driving. This evidence is crucial in case of an accident. Most apps are designed for phones, but a tablet usually can use the exact software.
2. Make it a reader
The iPad can access almost any supplier of ebooks, including Kindle, Nook, and Apple’s own Apple Books. The iPad screen is backlit, so it isn’t ideal for extended reading, but the display is incomparable. Just turn down the brightness to make it easier on the eyes.
Best of all, there are thousands of free ebooks available from your local library to NASA.
3. Turn it into a security cam
With its powerful processor and built-in cameras, an old iPad can keep an eye on your home at all times. You can download the Skype app and set it up to automatically accept incoming video calls so you can check on things while you’re out.
For more sophisticated surveillance, you can find special home security apps. A popular option is Presence, which streams live video to a remote device and sends motion-detection alerts. You can keep an eye on your front door, use it as a nanny cam, or check in on your pets when you’re traveling.
4. Use it to stay connected
The iPad was practically designed for video chats. It’s light, with two cameras and a sizable screen. For free calls, you can use the FaceTime app that is already installed, as long as the other person is an Apple user, too. You can also download a video conferencing app like Zoom or Skype.
5. See your favorite memories
Within the Photos app, Apple allows you to generate and play slideshows of any photo album, local or on the cloud. To turn an old iPad into a permanent decoration, go to Settings, tap Do Not Disturb and toggle it on. This step will silence any calls or notifications that would otherwise distract from photoviewing.
Then go back to Settings, tap “Display & Brightness,” then set Auto-Lock to “Never.” This will keep your screen continuously on. Finally, go back to Settings, tap “Accessibility,” then “Guided Access,” which you can toggle on. This allows you to lock your iPad to the photo app.
6. Control your TV
iPads can be easily used to control other devices across the Apple ecosystem. Controlling your other Apple products, like an Apple TV or your iTunes library, can be done by way of downloading the appropriate app from the App Store. (In this case, the Apple TV app or Apple’s iTunes Remote app.)
Many streaming services like Netflix and Hulu support casting content from your iPad to a streaming device, smart TV, or computer. This makes it easy to start watching something on your iPad and smoothly transition to another screen when needed.
7. Organize and play your music
IPads make comprehensive musicstreaming hubs. Whether you choose to store your music locally or use a streaming service, iPads can transmit music to various devices over Bluetooth and using AirPlay. If you have a relatively modern speaker system, your iPad can probably stream music to it.
8. Make it your kitchen companion
Leaving an iPad in the kitchen as a dedicated recipe station is surprisingly useful. Fitness apps like MyFitnessPal or LoseIt allow users to store recipes as well as track the nutritional makeup of their creations. There are endless apps built around the idea of discovering new recipes, like Tasty. Or apps all about cooking simple, healthy meals like Fork Over Knives.
9. Give it to the kids
There are almost a million games available for iPad that children can entertain themselves with.
In addition to games, there is a huge number of streaming services available on iPad that offer kid-friendly content. Apple also has a robust set of parental controls to help keep track of how much time your kids are spending on the device, as well as restrict the content they can access.
10. Use it as a second monitor
If you have a Mac and a supported iPad running iPad OS 13 or later, Apple’s Sidecar lets you use the iPad as a second screen. Sidecar can be used wirelessly and can be accessed by clicking the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac and selecting your iPad.
This will extend your Mac’s screen onto your iPad. By checking the blue rectangle on the AirPlay menu, you can instead mirror your Mac’s screen.