Maria Diaz/ZDNET
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Many of us have a drawer full of outdated devices that have lost their original purpose, yet still possess significant potential. There are numerous imaginative ways to breathe new life into these gadgets, rather than letting them gather dust. For instance, I personally had a couple of aging Amazon Fire tablets that I transformed into Echo Show-style smart displays for daily use around my home. This simple modification allowed me to access Alexa features visually while giving the tablets a second act. However, among all possible repurposing projects, one of the most functional and worthwhile transformations for an old tablet is converting it into a dedicated smart home control panel. This not only revitalizes dormant technology but also constitutes one of the most affordable and straightforward upgrades for any household looking to enhance convenience and efficiency.
Also: I tested every ‘allergy-friendly’ smart home gadget – these six genuinely help reduce pollen exposure and improve air quality.
If your home already features an array of connected devices — such as smart bulbs, plugs, switches, thermostats, or cameras — you know how cumbersome it can become to manage them individually through separate apps or voice assistants. Establishing a central tablet-based control hub simplifies that process immensely. By setting up an old tablet to serve as your smart home’s command center, you create a single, accessible location where every household member can easily adjust lighting, temperature, or security settings. In doing so, you extend the useful life of your tablet while enabling everyone to interact intuitively with your home’s automation systems.
### How to Use an Old Tablet as a Smart Home Display
**Maria Diaz/ZDNET**
#### What You Need
To begin this transformation, you’ll require just a few basic materials: an old tablet, its compatible charging cord, and—depending on your preferred setup—a wall mount or tabletop stand. The centerpiece of this configuration is your **smart home automation system**, the digital “brain” coordinating all connected devices. This platform will serve as the interface you interact with through your now repurposed tablet, enabling seamless control over connected lights, speakers, thermostats, and cameras.
If you already have a functioning smart home ecosystem, chances are that you’re familiar with at least one automation service. Still, it’s helpful to understand the distinguishing characteristics of several popular options:
**Home Assistant:** This open-source platform provides the highest level of customization, making it a favorite among advanced users who enjoy fine-tuning their smart environments. Because it operates locally rather than relying heavily on cloud processing, it ensures quick responsiveness and persistent functionality even without external internet connections. Another significant advantage is its exceptional compatibility—it can integrate products from various manufacturers, even those that are not Matter-certified. As a result, Home Assistant offers nearly limitless control for those seeking both flexibility and depth.
**Amazon Alexa:** For users who appreciate simplicity and powerful voice control, Alexa remains one of the most intuitive and widely supported ecosystems available. It integrates fluidly with Echo devices, the Alexa mobile app, and increasingly with online access via Alexa.com. With the introduction of **Alexa+**, Amazon’s generative AI-powered version, users can issue more sophisticated, multi-step commands. For instance, you can instruct Alexa to lock the doors, dim the lights, and adjust the thermostat simultaneously. The combination of reliability, responsiveness, and growing intelligence makes Alexa particularly appealing to beginners and voice automation enthusiasts alike.
**Apple Home:** Built for those deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem, Apple Home provides a refined and privacy-centric environment. The platform’s hallmark is its elegant and intuitive user interface, which harmonizes effortlessly with iPhones, iPads, and other Apple hardware. Although Apple Home maintains strict privacy controls that form a “walled garden,” its support for Matter-compatible accessories has recently broadened compatibility, allowing users to incorporate a more diverse range of devices while keeping their data secure. For privacy-conscious households, Apple Home remains a preferred choice.
**Google Home:** This ecosystem is especially well-suited to Android users and families who rely on Google’s broader suite of products, from Nest thermostats to smart speakers. Google Home’s design emphasizes user-friendly navigation and clean visual organization. The platform also incorporates **Gemini for Home**, Google’s generative AI assistant. While a subscription may be required to unlock premium capabilities, Google Home impresses through its convenience, wide compatibility with Matter devices, and straightforward setup process.
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Once you’ve selected your automation platform, configure your tablet accordingly. You may want to adjust the screen timeout settings to ensure the display remains active when in use. Within Android’s Developer Options, for instance, you can select a mode that keeps the screen awake while charging. Since the tablet will likely remain in a single location and plugged in permanently, this ensures that it’s always ready for quick access to your control dashboard.
If you prefer that your tablet remain fixed on a single app—such as Google Home or Apple Home—you can activate Guided Access on iPad or install apps like **Fully Kiosk Browser** or **WallPanel** for Android. These tools restrict users from exiting the home automation interface and can even launch the selected application automatically whenever the screen wakes. This feature is ideal for shared environments, maintaining a clean and dedicated user experience focused solely on home controls.
After performing a factory reset on your tablet, download and install the relevant automation application. For iPad owners, Apple Home will already be present, while Android users will typically have Google Home ready to reinstall after formatting. From there, open your chosen app and begin customizing your dashboard or “home view.” This central screen is what greets you each time you approach the tablet. Populate it with your most frequently used controls—lighting scenes, thermostats, door locks, and security cameras. You may also wish to include shortcut routines for activities like bedtime, movie mode, or morning wake-ups to streamline recurring actions.
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#### Mounting and Placement Options
If you’d like your setup to appear built-in, a wall-mount configuration can give your new control panel a sleek, professional aesthetic. Options include flush mounts that sit evenly against the wall or magnetic designs that make removal effortless. For those who prefer discrete wiring, it’s possible to hide the charging cable behind the wall for a polished finish. Alternatively, you might place the tablet on a kitchen counter or entryway table using a stand. Either configuration allows convenient access without undertaking complex installation.
#### Common Questions
**Can I use Home Assistant on a tablet?**
Absolutely. Home Assistant was designed with extensive dashboard customization in mind. By installing it on your tablet, you gain interactive visual control of your smart home environment, making it easy to monitor and modify multiple devices simultaneously from one clear, organized interface.
**Can my smart panel tablet be the only control method for my home?**
It is strongly recommended to maintain alternative control methods, such as keeping your smart home app on your smartphone. Relying exclusively on the tablet poses risks in case of hardware failure or temporary disconnection. Remember, the tablet serves as a convenient visual controller, **not** as the underlying network hub or processing unit. Continue running your hubs and smart speakers for full functionality.
**Where should I place my smart home control panel?**
Select the location that will see the most frequent use. The kitchen often serves as a central gathering space, ideal for a main control tablet that the entire family can access. The entryway is equally practical if you wish to manage locks, lights, and scenes when arriving home or leaving. For example, I keep a wall-mounted tablet along our staircase, where it sits within easy reach for adjusting lights during transitions between floors or initiating nighttime routines.
By repurposing a once-unused tablet into an integrated command station, you not only extend the utility of your existing technology but also introduce a new layer of convenience and sophistication to your home. The result is a hub that fits seamlessly into your daily life—efficient, accessible, and designed entirely around your needs.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-an-old-tablet-as-a-smart-home-control-panel/
