How to use an old phone as a free security camera
A spare phone in a drawer makes a perfectly good security or pet camera — it has a camera, a screen, and wifi. Here is how to point one at a room and watch the live feed from another device, with no app to install and nothing recorded or uploaded.
Open dkcam →Set up the camera phone
On the old phone, open dkcam and start the camera. It gives you a watch link. Prop the phone where you want to watch — pointed at a door, a crib, a pet — and keep it plugged in, since a live camera uses battery.
Watch from anywhere
Open the watch link on your own phone or laptop and you see the live feed in your browser, streamed directly from the camera phone over a WebRTC connection. You can flip between the front and back camera and toggle the mic. Multiple devices can watch the same link.
Nothing recorded, nothing uploaded
This is a live view, not a recorder — the video stays between the two devices and is never saved to a server. That keeps it private, but it also means there is no footage to review later; it is for watching in the moment, like a baby monitor or a quick check-in on a pet.
How to do it, step by step
- Open dkcam on the old phone. Go to yarimati.com/dkcam and start the camera. No app to install.
- Position and power it. Prop the phone where you want to watch and keep it on a charger.
- Copy the watch link. Note the link the camera phone shows.
- Open it on your device. Open the link on your phone or laptop to see the live feed.
- Flip camera / mic as needed. Switch front/back camera or toggle the mic; multiple viewers can watch.
dkcam streams the camera live over WebRTC between your devices. Nothing is recorded or uploaded, so there is no stored footage — it is for watching in real time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an old phone as a security camera for free?
Yes. Open dkcam on the old phone, start the camera, and watch the live feed on another device via the link. No app and no fee.
Does it record footage?
No. dkcam is a live view only; nothing is recorded or stored, which keeps it private but means there is no playback later.
Do I need to install an app?
No. Both the camera phone and the viewing device just use a browser.