Setup guide

Set up an old phone as your SpareCam Camera.

You need two Android phones: one stays in the room as the Camera, and one stays with you as the Viewer. Allow about ten minutes for the first setup, plus time to find a safe powered position.

Android closed betaAsk about beta access

Before you begin

Check the phones, power, and network first.

Two Android phonesOne Camera and one Viewer

A healthy chargerFor the phone that stays behind

Wi-Fi or mobile dataSame LAN only for LAN-only mode

Do not reuse a damaged battery.

If the phone is swollen, unusually hot, unstable while charging, or physically damaged, retire the battery before using the phone as an always-on camera.

Standard remote setup

Cloud-Assisted setup, step by step

Install SpareCam on both phones
Use the same release channel on both devices. Open the app and read the privacy explanation before continuing.
Sign in, then choose each phone's role
On the phone that will stay in the room, choose Camera. On the phone you carry, choose Viewer. Use the same account for the straightforward Cloud-Assisted pairing path.
Pair with the QR or manual code
Keep the pairing screen open on the Camera phone. Scan its QR code with the Viewer, or enter the displayed manual code. Pair in person before placing the Camera phone.
Grant the required Android permissions
The Camera needs camera access and permission to show its foreground service. Notifications are needed on the Viewer for motion alerts. Follow the Android prompts rather than changing unrelated system settings.
Open the live view before walking away
Confirm the room is framed correctly and the Camera appears online. If possible, move the Viewer to mobile data for one test so you know cross-network access works.

Want to use SpareCam without an account?

On the sign-in screen, choose Use without an account (LAN-only) on both phones. Then select Camera and Viewer roles and pair them while they are connected to the same usable local network.

LAN-only is deliberately local. It can keep working when the internet connection is down, but both devices still need the same Wi-Fi or LAN and must be allowed to communicate with each other. Guest Wi-Fi and client-isolation settings commonly block that.

Read the complete offline and LAN-only guide →

Camera placement

Give the lens a useful, safe view.

Use a stable stand instead of balancing the phone.
Avoid pointing directly into bright windows.
Keep the phone away from steam, rain, and direct sun.
Do not cover the phone with fabric or block its airflow.
Keep private areas outside the frame.
Respect local notice and consent rules for recorded spaces.

Android reliability

Let Camera mode keep running.

Connect a charger and check that it remains cool.
Exclude SpareCam from aggressive battery optimization.
Allow its foreground-service notification to remain visible.
Keep Wi-Fi enabled and avoid automatic sleep schedules.
Reopen the Viewer after router or phone software updates.

Quick troubleshooting

If pairing or viewing does not work

The Viewer cannot scan the code

Increase the Camera phone's screen brightness, clean the Viewer lens, and hold the phones steady. Manual code entry is available when scanning remains unreliable.

The Camera appears offline

Check that Camera mode is still on, Wi-Fi or mobile data is connected, and Android has not stopped SpareCam in the background. Restart Camera mode after changing networks. In LAN-only mode, confirm both phones are still on the same non-isolated LAN.

Motion alerts do not arrive

Confirm Viewer notifications are enabled, Do Not Disturb settings inside SpareCam are not suppressing alerts, and the Camera can reach the selected notification path. The event can still be recorded locally even when a notification is delayed.

The phone gets hot

Move it out of sun, remove an insulating case, improve airflow, and lower the workload from SpareCam settings if available. Stop using a phone that remains abnormally hot or has a damaged battery.

Still stuck?

Visit Support or email[email protected] with both phone models, Android versions, the connection mode, and the step that failed. Never send a password or pairing secret.

Ready to pair?

Start with the two phones in the same room.

Pair and test first. Place the Camera phone only after the Viewer has opened a live view and one test event.