Phone Webcam

This instructable will show you how you can setup an old smartphone to be used as a camera to monitor a 3D Printer, baby room, house while you are away, front porch, peep hole on front door and so on. the options are limitless.

This is simple to do but very effective. I just use and app, connect to WiFi, set password, and can be viewed anywhere from a computer or device.

As you can see in the photo, I use mine as a camera to keep an eye on my 3D printer.

If you enjoy this or could see yourself using this information, please vote for my project above. Thank you!!

Step 1: Setting Up Phone Software

I did this using my Android phone and it may be different for others.

First thing you need to do is connect to WiFi and go to the Play Store and download IP Camera app. This is a free app, at least at the time that I am writing this.

Once the app is installed, make sure all other camera apps are closed. Then open the IP Camera app.

When you have the app open scroll down to the bottom and click "Start Server"

This will bring up a live view of your rear camera. at the bottom of the screen you will see and address, for example http://192.168.xx.xxx:8080

Copy this number down as you will need it in the next step

Step 2: Setting Up the Viewer

Go to any browser, it can me a computer or phone and type in the address that was at the bottom of you screen on the last step. For example

http://192.168.xx.xxx:8080

This will bring up a new page like in the photo above. At the top under Video render choose "Browser", and under Audio Player choose HTML5 wav.

You can now view your camera and receive sound.

Step 3: Protection

This part is very important!!!

On your phone that you are using as a camera, you need to back out to the main screen of the IP Camera app and go to Local Broadcasting under Connection Settings.

Once you are in Local Broadcasting click on Login/ Password

Add a login and password here to prevent everyone in the world from viewing your camera. Click OK.

Go back to the main screen and go back down to Start Server.

Now when you login to you address in your browser you will be prompted to put your username and password in.

Please do not skip this step, its for your protection.

Step 4: Final

I have used this to view prints on my 3D printer from my other phone in a different room and also as a second baby monitor. Feel free to use this how you would like whether its for security, watching for critters at night, timelaps of the stars...the options are endless.

If you like this please vote above.

Thank you!

Comments

[MuhammadA22]

Dear how to supply charging 24h to my android device? I want to put my mobile on 24h and watch remotely cam view , if i plug in an Ac adaptor and connect it with mobile and leave it on 24h is it harmful? Please reply soon ,it is argent thank you.

[kurtz64]

You can keep this plugged in for 24 he no problem. It's like charging your phone for 24 hrs. It will not harm the phone.

[MuhammadA22]

thanx for your reply, i have an old china android device , http://uae.souq.com/ae-en/wintouch-m4-dual-sim-4-5-4gb-3g-wifi-white-7602922/i/ , i think that may be thats device become hot or may be short circuit ? Thats why i am asking you deeply ,bcz where i am fixing this camera i come there after 1 or 2 years later my friend,
Thanx instructables team!

[Orngrimm]

Great! Just what I needed!
now I can use my cracked phone I had no use for...
will set up my router to port-forward (with password of course) an incoming request to the local page of the webcam. together with my dynamic DNS, I can check my printer also from training and shut it down if needed (teamviewer on printer-notebook).

[kurtz64]

I'm glad you could use this. I'm also glad to see you took it one step further. Thanks for the comments.