# New use for old, broken phones? **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/new-use-for-old-broken-phones/35897 **Category:** Questions **Created:** 2026-03-02T21:48:09Z **Posts:** 7 ## Post 1 by @avalanche-banjo — 2026-03-02T21:48:09Z Hi all! I am crossposting here from [the Reject Convenience forum](https://www.rejectconvenience.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=588) to get a discussion going on uses for old/broken phones. The thing is that I have like 5 or 6 old phones that me and my family have accumulated over the years. Some work just fine, and I wiped one of them to use as a fully offline music/podcast player. However, I still have some phones that I don’t want to just become e-waste. Especially one of them, a Galaxy Z Flip 3, whose screen broke and it was too expensive (€700) to fix. So, here is my question: what use can I give to these devices? I have two that have an unresponsive screen, but I feel like I could give them a new life somehow. I don’t know if, at least, there are parts that could be salvaged the same way you would an old laptop’s? Let’s start a discussion!! ps. i know this isn’t really privacy/security related per se, let me know if this isn’t an appropiate forum for this kind of discussion --- ## Post 2 by @Anvil — 2026-03-02T22:27:00Z This has been discussed a few times in the past: > [@Should I throw my Pixel 2 XL away?](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/should-i-throw-my-pixel-2-xl-away/24675): > > I found my old Pixel 2 XL, put it through a factory reset, and now it’s sitting in front of me in airplane mode staring at me (dons tin hat maybe more than I realize). What would you do with a it or any similarly outdated phone? I imagine I could use it as an impromptu dashcam, a ridiculous external SSD, and/or possibly an offline maps device using solely GPS and downloaded maps. Is it too big of a security concern that I should chuck it? What ways could it be hardened? I’ve been using Graphen… > [@Pixel 6 Pro supports drops in Oct 2026](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/pixel-6-pro-supports-drops-in-oct-2026/34619): > > I have a Pixel 6 Pro with GrapheneOS. I installed GrapheneOS for privacy reasons. My threat model is to avoid big tech, especially Google. I bought it about 1 year after release, and it still works perfectly fine. Unfortunately, the GrapheneOS support ends in October 2026. What are my best options in October? Keep using the phone with GrapheneOS until it is time to upgrade the phone Install iodéOS. According to their website they support locking Bootloader on the Pixel 6 Pro: [iodéOS offic…](https://iode.tech/iodeos-official-supported-devices/) > [@Best way to turn old Android phone into a secure surveillance Camera?](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/best-way-to-turn-old-android-phone-into-a-secure-surveillance-camera/33240): > > Ive got some old Android phones laying around and I was wondering, if there is an open-source way of turning a old phone into a IP-Camera, that I can access from everywhere. I couldnt find any relevant softwate besides Haven, which is not actively developed as of now. (and no commits since 2021) And also, you cannot do a live-view afaik, only when the phone detects movement. I could only find this closed-source software: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pas.webcam) (IP Webcam) … --- ## Post 3 by @Expert4870 — 2026-03-02T23:22:20Z CupCake by cakewallet gives you a convenient and inconspicuous hardware wallet for crypto. --- ## Post 4 by @FranklyFlawless — 2026-03-03T03:41:41Z > [@avalanche-banjo](#): > > what use can I give to these devices? You can harvest the parts for another non-functional model, fix it using those parts, then either continue the cycle until there are no remaining parts left or recycle the remainder. --- ## Post 5 by @avalanche-banjo — 2026-03-04T17:52:40Z Thanks for the recap! I had thought of most of these options, actually, which mainly are turning the phone into a security camera/dashcam/similar. These honestly seem like really good options to make use of an old phone, especially one that’s perfectly functional still. However, that is not something _I personally_ need right now. I have looked into [VDO.Ninja](https://docs.vdo.ninja/readme/use-cases) also, which seems like a _really_ cool project but, once again, I do not have a use for any of the options it offers at this point. --- ## Post 6 by @avalanche-banjo — 2026-03-04T17:53:28Z This honestly would be kind of ideal, getting to tinker with the phones and whatnot.. But unfortunately I do not have that technical knowledge and/or skills --- ## Post 7 by @FranklyFlawless — 2026-03-05T04:53:47Z You can start learning like any other skill. Odds are you will want to bootstrap with iFixit: > **[iFixit: The Free Repair Manual](https://www.ifixit.com/)** > > iFixit is a global community of people helping each other repair things. Let's fix the world, one device at a time. Troubleshoot with experts in the Answers forum—and build your own how-to guides to share with the world. Fix your Apple and Android... Take your time with this project so that it remains achievably sustainable.