Breathe new life into your old iPhone or iPad with these simple ideas

If you’re like me, you probably have at least one old iPhone lying in a drawer, or an obsolete iPad that hasn’t been updated in years. Using these devices as your main phone or tablet is impossible as they no longer run the latest software and the battery life isn’t the best.

Even so, there are still some things you can do with these devices if you don’t want to just 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 an pseudo-iPod, here are some ideas on how you can breathe new life into an obsolete iPhone or iPad.

Turn your iPad into a digital photo book

iPads are excellent devices for viewing photos. Even older iPads have great screens with color accuracy and decent brightness. If you have an old iPad lying around that you no longer use, why not turn it into a digital photo book?

You can put your favorite photos in it, or even your graduation and wedding albums to show your friends and family once in a while.

If your iPad isn’t too old, iCloud may be an option for syncing photos to it. You can choose to use your main iCloud account and synchronize your entire photo library, or create a separate account just for this iPad, so you can choose only the photos you want.

And if you have a really old iPad, like a first-generation iPad, you can always transfer photos to it using a Mac or PC – just like 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 may 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’ll probably see an error message saying that this app requires a newer version of iOS. But there’s a trick to getting older versions of an app for an older version of iOS.

1. Open the App Store.
2. Look for the Purchases tab (it may be under Your Account > Apps depending on the iOS version).
3. Tap on the cloud icon to download the apps you want.

If the app still has an older version compatible with your device available on the App Store, you’ll be prompted to install it. Web-based apps (such as YouTube and Netflix) don’t usually work, but old games run just fine.

It’s a great option for when you want to play games without draining your iPhone’s battery, have fun with some classic titles, or even turn an old iPad into a game machine for your children.

Here, for example, I’ve installed many classic games on my iPad 3, such as Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, Minecraft, Subway Surf, Crossy Road, and Temple Run. Just keep in mind that you need to have 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 might still work as a great controller for your home.

There are great wall mounts for tablets that let you attach your iPad somewhere in your living room, kitchen, or bedroom, so you can easily turn the lights on or off, unlock the door, or control the temperature using the Home app. It’s a great way to repurpose that old iPad you no longer use.

However, as Apple is migrating HomeKit to a new architecture, controlling HomeKit accessories will soon require a device running iOS 16 or later. Starting in the fall of 2025, the old HomeKit architecture will no longer be supported…and you’ll want to be on the newer Home app if you want to control devices that use the Matter standard, too.

An old iPhone can be a great iPod

Some people miss the iPod. They want a device capable of storing multiple songs but without all the distractions of a smartphone. Luckily, if you have an old iPhone to spare, it can work as a great iPod.

Depending on how old your iPhone is, you might even benefit from 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 runs iOS 9 or later, you can still log in with your Apple ID and use Apple Music on it.

Similarly, you can also synchronize 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 waiting for you. Make sure your device runs at least iOS 9 or a newer version and you’re good to go.

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No more excuses for not finishing that book you’ve been putting off for months.

Wrap up

These are just a few ideas to give your aging iPhone or iPad a second life instead of letting it collect dust or tossing it away. Whether you want a dedicated music player, a digital photo album, or a smart home controller, older Apple devices can still serve a purpose.

Not every old device can keep up with today’s demands, but with a little creativity, you might be surprised by how useful they still are. So before you recycle that old iPad or iPhone, consider giving them a new role, you might end up loving them all over again.