If you have an old laptop that’s collecting dust, it’s time to do your Dr. Frankenstein best and give it a new life. Even if your device isn’t working like it used to, it probably still has enough juice left to do something useful with it. If it starts and runs, it may still have a use.
While this isn’t a complete list of everything you can do with an old laptop, the items below should give you plenty of ideas for revamping it. Whether it’s for personal use as a security system, a retro gaming rig, or you want to do something nice for someone like teach them a new skill, there are plenty of ways to repurpose an old machine.
Much like finding uses for an old CD or DVD player, repurposing an old laptop is not only a way to get some extra mileage out of it, but it’s also a great way to ensure that the device doesn’t rot in a landfill somewhere or go completely to waste. So before you decide to put a price on your old machine and sell it at a garage sale, consider some of these ideas. You may find that your laptop has more uses than you initially thought.
Build your own security system
Chances are your old laptop has a built-in webcam. Otherwise, finding one on the cheap is incredibly easy, and one with a decent resolution can be useful for turning your laptop into a complete security station. Fortunately, the Internet offers many choices when it comes to keeping your home, office, or local business secure.
A good option currently is Agent DVR, which is the successor to the company’s original software, iSpy. Available on Windows, Linux and macOS, this security software is open source and many of its features are available for free for private use. Access your security camera remotely without the need to reconfigure your router, record your feeds, or integrate the system with a wide variety of home assistants – Agent DVR offers useful tools for anyone interested in security.
If you’re looking for alternatives, ZoneMinder is also free and open source, while Blue Iris is a popular premium option. All three offer remote management options, meaning you can view your live security feed from virtually any device with a web browser. Anyone looking for peace of mind or just wants to see what’s going on in an area when they’re not there may find this to be a fantastic solution for bringing an old laptop back to life.
Create the ultimate retro gaming station
For many, the golden age of gaming was when video games were available on cartridges or could only be found in an arcade or pizza parlor. Even if your laptop is several years old, chances are it’s still capable of playing a lot of games from yesteryear, especially anything that doesn’t require 3D graphics. These days, even the iPhone has emulators, which are software that lets you play games on computers or phones designed for other game consoles, and they’re pretty easy to find.
There are many emulators available for free, each allowing you to play your own legally saved games directly on your laptop. RetroArch is a fantastic open source emulator for Windows, Mac or Linux that has a pretty large community behind it. The RetroArch team also provides a good amount of resources and support documentation to help you get started.
Most emulators will allow you to play from your keyboard, but investing in a good controller can really take your new emulation machine to the next level. It’s pretty easy to connect a PS5 controller to your PC if you have one, and even Xbox controllers or Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons can easily make a connection.
Transform your laptop into an educational tool
One of the benefits of an old laptop is that you may not really care what happens to it, which can create a world of possibilities. Rather than getting rid of the machine altogether, you can turn the device into an educational tool, using it to help yourself or others learn a valuable new skill.
Using an old laptop for educational purposes can be a great idea for anyone with children, as you can teach them how a device works without endangering your daily driver. With the right tools and safety equipment, you can have them try to take the machine apart and put it back together, helping them develop their engineering and problem-solving skills. You can also use it to teach kids how to code, as there are plenty of resources online. MIT’s Scratch is a great nonprofit resource for virtually all ages and offers great support, and Kodable is a good premium resource that offers a seven-day free trial.
It’s not just about teaching younger kids, because you can also use an old laptop to learn new tricks. For example, you can install Ubuntu Linux on a Chromebook without worrying about your primary platform, or you can experiment with Vibe coding thanks to Google. A laptop that you no longer use daily is ideal for experimentation, allowing you to push the limits of a device without having to worry about breaking anything.
Create an online privacy machine
The Internet has always been like the Wild West in the sense that you never know who or what you’re going to meet. As it becomes more difficult to protect your privacy online every day, having a device that focuses exclusively on your anonymity on the Internet can be quite handy. That’s where Tails comes in, part of the Tor Project, a global nonprofit focused on online anonymity and privacy.
Tails is an operating system you can take anywhere to help defend against censorship and surveillance. One of the main features of the operating system is that it always starts with a fresh slate, which means that every time you shut down, everything you did before will automatically disappear. This is made possible because everything you do is written to memory and not storage, making it ideal for anyone concerned about privacy. You have the option to enable persistent storage and select what you want to save.
You can run Tails in a virtual machine, from a burned DVD or USB stick, or even install it by cloning it from another system. It works with Windows, macOS and Linux. However, you need to make sure that your laptop is not more than 10 years old, is not 32-bit, and does not have an ARM, PowerPC, or M-series (Apple) processor. The operating system also includes a suite of applications, including a password manager, Tor browser for surfing the web, office applications, and more.
Donate it to a good cause
If none of the ideas above trigger your trigger, then donating your old laptop to charity can net you a good deed for the day. While you’ll need to do some research if you want to keep the donation local to your area, there are still a good number of online resources that will happily accept old devices and laptops. You can even get a tax deduction for the current market value of your device.
Anyone considering donating a laptop may want to check out Computers with Causes. Operated by the Giving Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, Computers with Causes happily accepts old laptops and devices and even accepts corporate donations. The nonprofit uses the hardware for a variety of purposes, including helping returning service members with education and job training, and building computer labs in schools that can’t afford them. Digitunity and Compudopt also accept donations if you are looking for alternatives.
If sending your device to an online agency doesn’t sound appealing to you, think about the people in your life who could do without it. Maybe a friend has a child who is just starting high school and could use some extra help, or maybe you have a family member who is going through challenges. You can even go the extra mile and combine your donation with one of the ideas above, like turning your old laptop into a security system and donating it to a local animal shelter.
