If you have an old Android phone, you may be wondering what to do with it once you've upgraded to a new one. You could trade it in, sell it, or simply stash it away in a drawer. However, if you're looking for ways to make your old phone useful again, there are a few options you can consider.

Probably, you could use it as a webcam, Google Home, or wireless mouse - after all, you did spend money on it, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

Another great option is to use your old Android phone as a media player. You can load it up with music, movies, and TV shows. Furthermore, you can use it as a dedicated eBook reader.

Creative ways through which you can repurpose your phone into something useful:

Turn your old Android into a wireless mouse

No one likes it when their wireless mouse dies without warning, especially when you're in the middle of important work. That's why it pays well to have a backup plan. Did you know that you can turn your phone into a mouse? All you need to do is download a mouse app, such as Remote Mouse.

Once you have the app, simply connect your phone and desktop to the same Wi-Fi network and you're good to go! This is a great solution for when you're on the go and need to get some work done. Plus, it's always better to keep options handy in your laptop case just in case your mouse runs out of battery.

Google Home

Repurposing your Android phone into a Google Home smart speaker is a budget-friendly way to get all the features of Google Home without having to spend $129 on the device. To do this, make sure your phone is updated to the latest Android OS and has the "OK, Google" feature enabled. Next, find a Bluetooth speaker to pair with your phone. Once both devices are plugged in and turned on, you'll be able to give Google commands, as you would with the actual Google Home.

Turn your old Android phone into a Nintendo Game Boy

You can play your favorite video games from your childhood anywhere you go using your Android phone. Turn your phone into a Nintendo Game Boy using the Hyperkin SmartBoy Mobile Device for only $50.

To get started, all you need are the cartridges. But if you don't have any retro cartridges on hand, don't worry! You can also play Game Boy Advance apps.

Use your old Android as a baby monitor

Did you know that you can turn your old phone into a baby monitor? Here's how:

Setting up a baby monitoring system only requires a few minutes. Download Skype on both your old phone (which will be used as the monitor) and your regular phone. Once the app is downloaded, set up a Skype account for each device and sign in.

Set up the monitor to automatically accept calls from your phone. This is necessary since your baby most likely does not know how to work Skype yet.

To enable automatic answering of calls on Skype, follow these steps:

  • Open Skype and navigate to the Settings page.
  • Under the Voice and Video calls settings, check the box that says Answer calls automatically.
Android Phone
UNSPLASH