Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Throw Away Your Old iPhone

Who doesn’t have an old iPhone lying around in a drawer somewhere? I have old ones dating back to the iPhone 4S. There will come a time when the device’s battery will completely die and it will no longer turn on. However, if the phone still works, but the software and security support has expired, you can still do a lot of things with the device. Consider that iOS 27 can run on iPhones as old as the iPhone 11!

Whether you give your old iPhone to someone else, use it for a specific function with or without a Wi-Fi connection, or send it for safe recycling once it’s no longer operational, the last thing you should do with an old iPhone is throw it away. More importantly, there’s still a lot you can do while it’s still running, if you get creative.

Remember the iPod? These dedicated portable music players marked the next evolution of Walkman and MP3 players. When Apple introduced the iPod Touch, its appearance mimicked the first iPhone. So it’s not that complicated to use an old iPhone as a makeshift music player. Clear it from all apps except your favorite music streaming services. Then stream over a Wi-Fi network, download songs from a streamer you subscribe to, or transfer music files you own. With the phone empty of everything else, you can dedicate all the storage to music in well-organized playlists.

Then use it to listen to music at a backyard barbecue, on the beach, or while camping, connected to a portable Bluetooth speaker. Take it with you on the go or on trips for personal listening while using your main phone for primary purposes. The advantage is that you don’t drain the battery of your main phone. Besides music, an old iPhone can also be a portable gaming device using services like Apple Arcade or basic gaming apps.

Another idea could be to install it on your nightstand with a charging station or kickstand, permanently plugged in. Any iPhone with iOS 17 or higher works with sleep mode when positioned horizontally, which turns the screen into a bedside clock and alarm clock. If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you can listen to music as soon as you wake up or even ask Siri to tell you the current weather, traffic, your calendar, and tasks for the day.

On the go, set it up with a navigation app, connect it to your phone, then mount it on the handlebars of a bike or motorcycle to use as a dedicated navigation device. Although it doesn’t have an eInk screen, you can also use an old iPhone as a dedicated e-reader, downloading your favorite titles from an e-reader app to read at home and on the go.

Are you a content creator? Consider an older iPhone for shooting things like time-lapse videos so you don’t have to take up your main device to do it. I once shot a time-lapse video of my son building a Lego set, which took hours. I used a dedicated camera, but if your phone is your primary content capture device, a secondary iPhone would work well.

If you’re recording things like interviews, use your primary phone for footage and the second iPhone to capture audio which you can then sync during editing. Or use it for multi-camera footage to get shots from different angles while recording video for social media or even a podcast. FinalCut Pro has a Live Multicam feature that lets you connect up to four iPhones (or iPads) from one iPad, so an extra phone will come in handy to enhance your videos.

If you have various smart home gadgets, use an old iPhone as a dedicated control hub. Place it in a central location like the kitchen or living room with the smart home control app loaded. From there, family members can use it to control everything from the TV to the music and lights. Activate scenes like “Gaming Night” or “Good Morning” that perform multiple actions at once with the press of a button or use of a Siri voice command. It can also work as a secondary Apple TV remote or as a primary remote if you’ve lost the small remote that came with the streaming box. You can also download digital remotes for Roku and Fire TV devices.

View live camera footage from a compatible video doorbell or even use the iPhone itself as a security camera. Although you won’t want to leave your iPhone outside, you can set it up in a baby’s room or on a living room shelf to keep an eye on your pets while you work with a remote monitoring app like AlfredCamera.

Families with tweens and teens always struggle to know when it’s the right time to give their child their first smartphone. You can test the waters with an old iPhone. It may not support all the latest features, but you can use it to monitor your child’s behavior, screen time, and responsibility. Ask them to only use it at home or when they’re on a Wi-Fi network (or connected to your personal hotspot). Or sign them up for an entry-level carrier plan. Once they’ve established trust and you’re sure they’re ready, you can upgrade them to a new device.

An old iPhone is also great for a grandparent who needs something simple and familiar but doesn’t require all the latest features, fast processing speeds, or Apple Intelligence. If you have a toddler who uses your phone to watch videos (for example, so you can have a real conversation for 15 minutes over brunch with a friend), you can use an old iPhone with a sturdy case as a makeshift video player. Download content like their favorite cartoons from streaming services, then stream it with confidence without worrying about them throwing and breaking your phone.

If no one in your family wants one, you can also sell an old iPhone and support the circular economy. Use sites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay, or even websites dedicated to buying/selling used phones like Gazelle and Swappa to see if anyone is willing to pay for it. If there is a local organization that accepts telephone donations for those in need, you can support the cause. Organizations like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Cell Phones for Soldiers are worth investigating.

Depending on the age of the model, Apple may also offer a nominal trade-in value that you can invest in a new phone. Otherwise, take the phone to a local depot for recycling. Many retailers like Best Buy and Staples have recycling kiosks where you can drop off old phones for safe recycling. Just be sure to wipe and reset the device sufficiently before selling, giving away, trading in, or even recycling an old phone.

Bottom line: even if an iPhone no longer works, you should never throw it away. Not only is it bad for the environment, but if the phone still turns on and works, you, or someone else, can still get a lot done with it.