Many of us have old phones stored in a box somewhere, and there are lots of great ways to reuse them. If you’re interested in getting into the home media server craze, you may be hesitant to buy a bunch of new hardware. What about that old Android phone?
Yes, this is possible, but it is limited
The short answer is yes, you can definitely use an old Android phone or tablet as a media server. These devices are, after all, just small computers. However, there are several distinct limitations that you should know before diving into it.
Your biggest hurdles will be the phone’s processing power and storage capacity. If your old phone truly Old, may have difficulty transcoding. This is the process in which a server converts a video file into a format that a playback device (such as a smart TV) can understand. If you’re streaming large 4K files or trying to stream to multiple devices at once, your old phone may have an issue.
Storage is an equally big concern. Many older Android phones only had 128GB of storage, and some still do! Even if your old phone has 256GB of storage space, it can fill up very quickly. Fortunately, Android supports expandable storage, so that’s a hurdle you can overcome. More on that later.
But why?
As mentioned earlier, there are many smart uses for old Android phones and tablets. These are advanced, powerful devices, and it would be a shame to let them rot. However, running a media server on an old phone certainly stretches the boundaries of reusability. So why bother?
First, you already own the hardware. Getting started is often the hardest part, it was for me when I set up my home music server. Using a device you already have removes the barrier of finding and purchasing a custom device. Not to mention, it’s a much cheaper way to get your feet wet.
5 ways to reuse your old Android phone
Don’t let this phone rot in a drawer.
Also, every home media server is different. Not everyone is interested in downloading a bunch of huge, high-quality video files. Maybe you just want a server to store photos or the ability to access documents from anywhere in your home. A minimal media server setup can save you from paying for a cloud storage subscription.
One limitation I didn’t mention above is the media server software itself. Although there are many great options available on other platforms, there is only one for Android: Impey. Plex has a media server for Android TV devices, but it can’t be installed on phones or tablets. Jellyfin and Kodi do not have Android media servers at all. The good news is that Emby Media Server on Android is easy to set up and use.
First, on the Android phone or tablet you want to use, go to Admin Impi download page For Android server. Download the APK and sideload it.
Open the newly installed Emby Server app on your device and click the “Open in browser” button to get started. You will be guided through the process of creating a user profile and setting up your media library. This involves choosing a content type and pointing Emby to a folder to scan.
Once you have the server configured, it is just a matter of accessing it from other devices. You can do this using the Emby app (not the server app) on a wide range of platforms, or through any browser. Simply enter the server’s local IP address and your login credentials. You can adjust server settings by clicking on the user icon in the upper corner.
Accessories to make it even better
To make your Android phone usable as a media server, some extensions will improve the experience. As mentioned earlier, your phone’s internal storage space, even if it is large, may not be enough for a large media library. The obvious solution is to simply plug in a USB storage drive or portable hard drive and point Emby at it.
However, since your phone only has one USB port, you need a way to charge it and access storage at the same time. Wireless charging will likely generate a lot of heat in the long run, so your best bet is some sort of dongle or hub that adds more ports.
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- Storage capacity
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2 TB
- Compatible devices
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USB
- Brand
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Lassie
If you want a truly portable hard drive, you want to make sure it can withstand drops and bumps. The LeCie Mini HDD can handle that and much more.
Additional storage space may not be needed for your situation, but power is non-negotiable. Ideally, your old phone has a removable battery, which you can take out and rely solely on AC power. Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly rare even on older phones. Use the battery protection features on your phone and make sure it doesn’t overheat.
So, using your Android phone as a media server is surprisingly easy. Is it as good as a dedicated PC or NAS? Of course not. But in certain situations, using what you already have is the best option