7 ways to give your old computer new life

What should you do with your old computer? Stashing it in a closet just takes up space, plus it could be a fire hazard. Tossing it in the garbage isn't a good idea either—the metals and chemicals in electronics can be toxic, so you'll want to keep your old computer out of a landfill.

You could recycle it or donate it to a friend, but your best bet may be to give your old device a new life as, say, a gaming server or a security system. Here are our seven favorite money-saving, environmentally friendly ways to do so.

Make a home theater media center

If you bought your device in the last decade, it should have enough power to host your video files or stream movies and TV shows from Netflix®, Hulu®, YouTube™, and any other service. All you need to do is connect your old computer to your TV by using an HDMI cable. Then grab a wireless keyboard and mouse and start watching. You can also use a media center or media server app.

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Create a game server

Create a file server

Another way to get extra mileage out of your old computer is to turn it into a file server. You can access your files across multiple computers in your home, and online too, and you'll avoid any fees related to cloud storage. Even aging computers with port compatibility issues or network hardware limitations can become file servers. Just make sure to leave your old computer on all the time—it works best that way. To get started, you'll need free file transfer protocol (FTP) server software. A simple Google® search will point you in the right direction.

Use your old computer for video conferencing

If you work from home a lot, turning your old computer into a dedicated video conferencing station might be a great addition to your home office. All you need is FaceTime®, Zoom™, Microsoft Teams™, or your video chat platform of choice. Alternatively, you can download a webcam app and even boost the quality of your videos by investing in an external webcam.

Use your old computer in your kitchen or garage

Your kitchen, your garage, your porch—these are all places you wouldn't want to take your brand new laptop. But an old one might work perfectly there to help you follow a recipe or keep track of to-do items for your latest construction project because you won't feel quite as bad about getting it dirty.

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How to get your old computer ready