If you are like me, you probably have at least one old iPhone that is in a drawer or an outdated iPad that has not been updated this year. Using these devices like your headphone or tablet is impossible as they no longer run the latest software and the life of the battery is not the best.
Still, there are still some things you can do with these devices if you don’t just want to throw them away – especially at a time when some people are trying to spend more time away from modern technology. From a smart home controller to a pseudo-iPod, here are some ideas on how to breathe new life into an outdated iPhone or iPad.
Make your iPad a digital photo book
iPads are excellent devices to see photos. Even older iPads have large screens with color accuracy and decent brightness. If you have an old iPad lying around that you no longer use, why not make it a digital photo book?
You can put your favorite photos in it or even your exams and wedding albums to show your friends and family once in a while.
If your iPad is not too old, iCloud may be an option to sync photos to it. You can choose to use your most important iCloud account and sync your entire photo library or create a separate account just for this iPad so you can only choose the photos you want.
And if you have a really old iPad, as a first generation of iPad, you can always transfer photos to it using a Mac or PC equalization in the old days.
Enjoy some classic games
Mobile games have evolved a lot in recent years, to the point where we have console-level games available for the latest iPhones and iPads. Older devices can’t run these games, but some classic games can be compatible with them.
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If you simply go to the App Store and try to download an app on an old iPhone or iPad, you are likely to see an error message that says this app requires a newer version of iOS. But there’s a trick to get older versions of an app for an older version of iOS.
- Open the App Store.
- Look for the Purchase tab (it may be under your account> apps depending on the iOS version).
- Tap the Sky icon to download the apps you want.
If the app still has an older version that is compatible with your device available in the App Store, you will be asked to install it. Web -based apps (like YouTube and Netflix) usually don’t work, but old games run just fine.
It’s a great opportunity when you want to play games without draining your iPhone’s battery, having fun with some classic titles or even turning an old iPad into a game machine for your kids.
Here, for example, I have installed many classic games on my iPad 3, such as Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Minecraft, Subway Surf, Crossy Road and Temple Run. Just remember that you need these purchased apps in your account before you can download them to an old device.
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Use them as a smart home control
If you have smart Home accessories (such as HomeKit-compatible accessories), your old iPhone or iPad may still work as a good controller for your home.
There are good wall mounts for tablets that allow you to attach your iPad somewhere in your living room, kitchen or bedroom so you can easily turn on the lights or turn off, unlock the door or check the temperature using the home app. It’s a great way to recycle the old iPad you no longer use.
As Apple migrates HomeKit to a new architecture, checking HomeKit accessories will soon require a device running iOS 16 or newer. From the fall of 2025, the old Homekit architecture will no longer be supported … and you will want to be on the newer home app if you also want to control devices that use the case standard.
An old iPhone can be a good iPod
Some people miss iPod. They want a device capable of storing multiple songs, but without all distractions of a smartphone. Fortunately, if you have an old iPhone to spare, it can act as a good iPod.
Depending on how old your iPhone is, you can even take advantage of having the headphone jack back to get into the iPod experience.
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You can sync music to it using a Mac or PC, so you don’t have to rely on a streaming platform. And if your iPhone is running iOS 9 or later, you can still log in with your Apple ID and use Apple Music on it.
Similarly, you can also sync movies and music videos to an old iPhone or iPad.
Finish a book on your old iPad
Surprisingly, you can still use Apple books on many older iPads. Just sign in with your iCloud account and your entire library of books will be there and wait for you. Make sure your device is running at least iOS 9 or a newer version and that you are good at going.
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No more excuses for not ending the book you have been exposed to for months.
Pack up
These are just a few ideas to give your aging iPhone or iPad another life instead of letting it collect dust or throw it away. Whether you want a dedicated music player, a digital photo album or a smart home checker, older Apple devices can still serve a purpose.
Not every old device can follow in today’s requirements, but with a little creativity you may be surprised at how useful they are still. So before you recycle the old iPad or iPhone, you may want to consider giving them a new role, you may end up loving them again.