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Watches. Detects. Sends.

Turn an old Android phone into a security camera

Install Telecam, connect Telegram, and receive motion-triggered videos, photos, or alerts from your old smartphone.

Telecam 2.12 · checking the current version

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No DVR required Telegram alerts Works with old Android phones
Telecam screen with a sample camera view

Got an old Android phone sitting in a drawer?

It already has a camera, Wi‑Fi, a battery, and enough power to detect motion. Telecam turns that unused phone into a practical security camera for everyday situations.

screens

What Telecam looks like in use

The screenshots show the essentials: live view, saved files, settings, and quick Telegram commands.

Telecam screenshots: camera, files, settings and Telegram controls in English
Telecam is meant to feel like a practical tool: clear actions, readable screens, and no extra ceremony.

features

What Telecam can do

Motion-triggered recording

Telecam can detect movement in the camera view and send a short video when something happens.

Telegram alerts

Receive events where you already read messages — in your own Telegram bot.

Email delivery

Send important events to email if you prefer a more traditional notification channel.

Recorder mode

Use the phone as a simple recorder when delivery channels are disabled.

Multiple cameras

Connect several old phones and give them names like Garage, Cabin, Hallway, or Workshop.

Baby monitor mode

Sound-triggered alerts are planned for baby monitor scenarios.

Camera trap mode

Capture occasional motion events: driveway, yard, garage, pets, or wildlife near a cabin.

use cases

Where Telecam is useful

Home

Watch an entrance, hallway, room, or storage area without buying a dedicated camera.

Cabin / cottage

Use an old phone for simple remote monitoring when you are away.

Garage

Get a Telegram alert when motion appears near your car, tools, or garage door.

Entrance

Use a temporary camera for a doorway or shared space where this is allowed.

Workshop

Monitor a workbench, equipment area, or temporary setup.

Baby monitor

Use a spare phone as a simple camera for the nursery. Sound alerts are planned.

Elderly care

Stay aware of important events while respecting privacy and using the app only with consent.

Pets

Check what your dog, cat, or other pets are doing while you are away.

Camera trap

Capture occasional movement in a yard, driveway, or remote location.

4 steps

How it works

01

Take an old Android phone with a working camera and Wi-Fi.

02

Install the APK and place the phone where it has a clear view.

03

Choose Telegram or email as the delivery channel.

04

Receive an event when motion is detected.

Events are kept locally only while they are waiting to be delivered, so the phone is not meant to become an endless video archive.

Telecam User Guide

Telecam turns an old Android phone into a surveillance camera without a separate server. The phone records, keeps a local queue, and sends media to Telegram or SMTP email.

Telecam app interface map
Quick Start
  1. Install Telecam and allow camera, microphone and notification permissions.
  2. Open Settings -> Device and set a clear phone name: Nursery, Entrance, Garage.
  3. Configure Telegram bot delivery or SMTP email.
  4. On the Camera tab, choose Rear or Front and check the angle.
  5. Tap Start.
App Main Screen
Viewfinder
Live preview. Buttons inside: Rear, Front, ↻.
Start / Stop
Starts or stops watching. Android may show the camera indicator while active.
Photo / Video 10
Take a quick snapshot or record a 10-second clip.
Status rows
Queue, Motion, Flash, Channel, Background.

Bottom navigation: Camera, Queue, Settings, Help.

Queue and Local Recorder

The Queue shows photo and video preview tiles. Files stay here when delivery is disabled or network delivery fails.

  • Watch - open the file.
  • Share - open the Android share sheet.
  • Send - manually send to Telegram or email.
  • Delete - delete after confirmation.

Delivery -> Do not send turns Telecam into a local recorder.

App Settings
  • Device - phone name for statuses and cards.
  • Language - auto, Russian or English.
  • Telegram - token, chat ID and menu refresh.
  • Delivery - Telegram, email, both, fallback, or local only.
  • SMTP Email - Gmail, Yandex or another SMTP server.
  • Capture quality - separate video and photo size.
  • Behavior - recording on motion.
  • Background work - battery and system permissions.
Connecting the Telegram Bot
  1. Open Telegram and find @BotFather.
  2. Send /newbot, then set the bot name and username.
  3. Copy the token like 123456789:AA... into Settings -> Telegram.
  4. Tap Save settings and start watching.
  5. Send /start to your new bot.
  6. If Telecam sends a chat ID, paste it into the allowed chat field.
  7. Tap Refresh bot menu.

Do not share the token: it can be used to control the bot.

Telecam Telegram bot map
Telegram Bot Buttons
  • 📱 All phones - show cards from every connected phone.
  • 🎯 Active phone - open the selected phone.
  • 📸 Photo, 🎬 10 sec - quick actions.
  • 🎥 Video - 10/30/60 seconds, rotation and auto orientation.
  • 🛡️ Guard - motion on/off.
  • 🔁 Lens - rear/front camera and flash.
  • 📊 Status, ❓ Help - state and guide.
Several Phones with One Bot
  1. Give every phone its own name.
  2. Use the same token and allowed chat ID on every phone.
  3. Update every phone to the same app version.
  4. Tap 📱 All phones, then 🎯 Select on the needed card.

If some phones still run an older app version, they may reply Unknown command to new buttons.

SMTP Email

Gmail: smtp.gmail.com, port 465, SSL/TLS, full email and app password. Guide: Google app passwords.

Yandex: smtp.yandex.ru or smtp.yandex.com, port 465, SSL/TLS, email and mail app password. Guide: Yandex Mail SMTP.

If From and To are empty, Telecam sends mail to itself through the SMTP login.

Background, Battery and Updates

For long sessions, keep the phone charging and allow unrestricted battery use for Telecam. If Telegram needs VPN, allow background work for the VPN app too.

Updates are checked through update.json. Download the new APK in browser and install it over the current app without uninstalling.

event delivery

Security alerts inside Telegram

Many camera apps require a separate cloud account or a dedicated viewer. Telecam uses Telegram as a simple delivery channel: videos and alerts arrive in a chat you already use.

comparison

How it differs from a regular IP camera

Uses an old phoneYesNo
Requires a DVRNoSometimes
Telegram alertsYesDepends on model
Quick temporary setupYesUsually less convenient
Motion-triggered eventsYesUsually yes
Multiple camerasYesYes
Professional reliabilityLimited by phoneUsually better

Telecam is not meant to replace a professional security system. It is a practical option when you need a quick, flexible, low-cost camera using hardware you already own.

honest fit

Good fit / not a good fit

Good fit

  • You have an unused Android phone.
  • You need a temporary or simple security camera.
  • You want event alerts, not 24/7 live monitoring.
  • You prefer Telegram or email delivery.
  • You want to monitor a garage, cabin, pet area, hallway, or workshop.

Not a good fit

  • You need certified professional security equipment.
  • You need guaranteed 24/7 uptime.
  • You need outdoor weatherproof hardware.
  • You need hidden recording.
  • You need surveillance without consent.

responsible use

Responsible use

Telecam is designed for legal home and personal monitoring: home, garage, cabin, workshop, pets, baby monitor scenarios, and care situations where everyone involved understands how the camera is used. Do not use Telecam for hidden recording, spying, or monitoring people without proper consent. Laws differ by country and region, so make sure your use case is legal where you live.

FAQ

Questions before installing

Can I use an old Android phone as a security camera?

Yes. Telecam is designed to turn a spare Android phone with a working camera and network connection into a simple security camera.

Does Telecam need a DVR?

No. Telecam runs directly on the phone and can send events to Telegram or email.

Can Telecam send alerts to Telegram?

Yes. Telegram alerts are one of the main ideas of the app. Events can be delivered to your Telegram bot or chat depending on configuration.

Does it support motion detection?

Yes. Telecam can detect motion and send a short event video or notification.

Where do videos go?

To Telegram and/or email, depending on app settings.

Can I connect several phones?

Yes. You can use several phones and give each camera a clear name, such as Garage, Cabin, Hallway, or Workshop.

Can I use it as a baby monitor?

Telecam can be useful as a simple camera for baby monitoring. Sound-triggered alerts are planned.

What happens if the internet connection is lost?

If the connection is lost, Telecam keeps unsent events locally and sends them after the connection returns.

Is Telecam a replacement for a professional security system?

No. Telecam is a simple, practical tool for everyday monitoring and temporary setups, not a certified professional alarm or security system.

Can I use it as a hidden camera?

No. Telecam should not be used for hidden recording or monitoring people without consent.

Give your old Android phone a second job

Install Telecam, place the phone where it can see the area you care about, and receive your first motion alert in Telegram.

Telecam 2.12 · checking the current version

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