About the app
SpareCCTV is a Home Security Cam app that turns a spare Android phone into a camera you can watch live from your everyday phone, with two-way talk and motion alerts that include a snapshot. It suits parents who want a baby monitor, pet owners who like to check in and talk back, shop owners who need a simple camera, and anyone who wants home CCTV without accounts, subscriptions or cloud storage.
Home Security Cam from your old phone: turn a spare Android phone into a home security camera with live video, two-way talk and motion alerts. Use it as a baby monitor, pet cam, shop camera or simple home CCTV, and watch it live from the phone in your pocket.
SpareCCTV needs no account, no subscription, and never stores your video in the cloud. Put one phone where you want to keep an eye on things, such as the living room, a baby's room, the front door or a pet's corner, and you are ready.
Camera mode
- Choose "Use as a camera" on the spare phone and it starts streaming
- The screen dims by itself to save power
- The camera keeps running in the background with a status notification
- It can restart on its own after a reboot
- Battery level and charging state are shown on the viewer
Viewer mode
- Choose "Use as a viewer" on your everyday phone
- Add a camera with its 6-character code or by scanning the QR
- Watch several cameras from one list and see which are online
- Tap any camera for live video
Live video and two-way talk
- Smooth live video with sound
- Hold the Talk button to speak through the camera phone's speaker: calm a pet, greet a family member or warn an intruder
- Pick Low, Medium or High (720p) quality to match your connection
Motion alerts
- The camera watches for movement and sends a push notification with a snapshot to every paired viewer
- Tune the motion detection sensitivity
- Arm or disarm detection from the viewer
- Browse the event list with thumbnails
- Long-press the Motion button on the camera to send a test alert
Snapshots and recording
- Save a photo of what you see, or record a clip while you watch
- Files go straight to your phone's Pictures and Movies folders
Remote controls
- Switch between the front and back camera
- Turn the flashlight on
- Enable night mode for dark rooms
- Mute the sound
- Sound a loud siren on the camera phone
Getting started
- On the spare phone, choose "Use as a camera"
- On your everyday phone, choose "Use as a viewer"
- Scan the QR or type the 6-character code
- Tap the camera in your list to watch live
Who is it for?
- Parents who want a baby monitor made from an old Android device
- Pet owners who want a pet camera to check in and talk back
- Shop owners who need a simple shop camera with motion detection and live streaming
- Anyone looking for a home CCTV setup without subscriptions, accounts or cloud storage
Tips
- Keep the camera phone plugged in for round-the-clock use
- Use night mode or the flashlight for dark rooms
- Lower the quality if your connection is slow
- Rename each camera so you know which room is which
FAQ
- Do I need an account? No, there is no sign-up and no personal data to enter.
- Is there a subscription? No.
- Does it work away from home? It works on Wi-Fi and mobile data on both sides.
- Can more than one person watch? Yes, one camera can be watched by several viewer phones.
- Where are my photos and clips saved? In your phone's Pictures and Movies folders.
- Can I remove a camera? Yes, remove or rename it any time from the viewer.
Private by design
- The two phones talk directly to each other (peer-to-peer WebRTC, encrypted)
- When a direct connection is not possible, the encrypted stream is relayed, but it can never be decrypted or stored on the way
- Our servers only keep the pairing between your phones
- Your video is never stored in the cloud
Give an old phone a second life as a baby monitor, pet camera, shop camera or home surveillance camera. With SpareCCTV it takes a minute.
