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How to Use Two Phones as a Baby Monitor

Setup guide · 5 min read

Any two phones can be a baby monitor: two iPhones, two Androids, or one of each. One phone watches the crib (the camera), the other shows you the live feed (the monitor). Because naptutto runs in the browser rather than as an iOS or Android app, the two phones don't need to match — an old Android can stream to your iPhone, or an old iPhone to your Android, with no compatibility fuss.

This guide covers the shared setup, then the few things that differ between iOS and Android so you get it right the first time.

What you'll need

• Two phones (or a phone and a tablet) — any mix of iPhone and Android. The spare/older one becomes the camera; the one you keep with you is the monitor.
• Wi-Fi on both, ideally the same network.
• A stand for the camera phone — a tripod, a case that props it up, or a stack of books.
• A charger near the crib for the camera phone.

Set up in three steps

1. On the spare phone, open naptutto and tap Use as Camera. Allow camera and microphone access. It shows a 6-digit code.
2. On your phone, open naptutto and tap Use as Monitor. Type the 6-digit code — it connects automatically.
3. You're watching. Live video and audio, motion alerts, and tap-to-talk — whether the two phones are the same brand or not.

If your camera is an iPhone

• Allow access when asked. If you tapped "Don't Allow" earlier, turn it back on in Settings → Safari → Camera / Microphone (or via the aA menu in Safari's address bar → Website Settings), then reload.
• Keep it plugged in and add it to the Home Screen (Share → Add to Home Screen) so it opens full-screen like an app. Low Power Mode can dim or sleep the screen — naptutto keeps the screen awake while streaming, but charging avoids surprises.
• Battery readout: iOS Safari doesn't expose battery level to web pages, so if your camera is an iPhone, the monitor won't show its battery percentage. (An Android camera will.)

If your camera is an Android

• Allow access when Chrome asks. If blocked, tap the padlock/tune icon in the address bar → Permissions → set Camera and Microphone to Allow, then reload.
• Multiple lenses: many Android phones have wide and ultra-wide back cameras — you can switch between them right from the monitor to get the framing you want.
• Battery percentage shows on the monitor, and naptutto keeps the screen awake so the feed doesn't sleep. Keep it charging for long sessions.

Mixing iPhone and Android

This works exactly the same — there's no "iPhone app" and "Android app" to keep in sync, just one website. A common setup is an old Android as the camera (good cameras, and you get the battery readout and lens switching) with an iPhone as the monitor, but either direction is fine. Pair them with the same 6-digit code regardless of brand.

Placement, battery & privacy

Mount the camera phone above and to the side of the crib so the whole sleeping area is in frame, and keep charging cables well away from the crib. For deeper placement and battery advice, see How to Use an Old Phone as a Baby Monitor. On privacy: naptutto streams peer-to-peer directly between your two phones — the video isn't stored on our servers — which we cover in Is a Phone Baby Monitor Safe and Private?

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an iPhone and an Android together?

Yes. naptutto runs in the browser, so the two phones don't need to be the same brand or OS.

Do I need to install an app on both phones?

No — it runs in the browser on each. You can optionally add it to the home screen so it opens like an app.

Which phone should be the camera?

Use the older/spare phone as the camera and keep your everyday phone as the monitor. An Android camera also gives you a battery readout and lens switching.

Got two phones lying around? Point one at the crib tonight.