5 Creative Ways to Reuse Your Old iPhone

So say you’ve just upgraded to a new iPhone. Congratulations! But now, you have an old phone lying around. Even if you don’t plan on donating, selling, or giving your old phone away, there are still plenty of ways for you to reuse and repurpose your device.

To give you a head start, here’s a list of some creative ways to make the most of your old iPhone.

1. Use it as a car GPS

Even without a data connection, most newer iPhones can use their built-in GPS features. So you can use your old iPhone as a dedicated GPS device, allowing you to map out destinations even if your main iPhone is getting spotty signals.

While Apple Maps needs an internet connection, there are plenty of apps that you can use offline. TomTom USA, CoPilot GPS and NavFree USA all offer offline mapping capabilities — as long as you download the maps beforehand on a Wi-Fi connection.

A map of the entire continental US is about 2 gigabytes — but if you’re not using your old iPhone for anything else, this shouldn’t be a problem.

2. Use it as a step counter & music player combo

If you’ve even been worried about taking your shiny new iPhone on a run with you, you can use your old iPhone’s step counter as a handy way of tracking your fitness activities.

The iPhone 5s and above all have built-in pedometers that can track your steps. As a bonus, you can download music to your old phone via iTunes and listen to your favorite tracks while running — all without data.

3. Use it as a surveillance camera

Apps like Presence allow you to use your iPhone to keep tabs on what’s going on at your home. Presence turns your old iPhone into a motion-sensing security camera — as long as it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Worried about security, or curious about what your dog or cat does without you around? Just keep your old device plugged into a dock, and you’ll have an easy, practical surveillance feed you can view later.

4. Use it as a home command center

Even if your old iPhone has no data connection, you can still use it as a smart command center for your home. You can use your iPhone as a dedicated “smart” remote for Apple TV, Google Chromecast or Roku. There’s also an app called Remote that allows you to use it as a “mouse” for a Mac computer as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

If your old phone is connected to Wi-Fi, you can use it in the kitchen to download recipes, update shopping lists across iCloud, and follow YouTube cooking videos — all without fear of splashing your new device. And finally, you can use your old device to control smart appliances through HomeKit. Perfect if you to control the thermostat from the couch and your primary iPhone is charging somewhere else in the house.

5. Use it as a dedicated point-and-shoot

Your iPhone has a pretty awesome camera built into it. But if you use it as a travel or adventure camera, you run the risk of dropping or losing it.  So keep your new iPhone tucked away somewhere safe, and just set up your old device with some professional-level travel accessories. There are a plethora of companies that make accessories to turn your iPhone into a professional point-and-shoot camera. From tripods, to adapters that allow you to attach a DSLR lens to your iPhone, there’s no shortage of ways to convert your old phone into a perfect picture-taking device.