If you have a tablet forgotten in a drawer, you're not just keeping useless junk: you're wasting an inexpensive and highly versatile home multimedia and control centerWith a few apps and some careful setup, you can transform it into your home's "remote control," a kind of portable TV, or even your car's main screen.
Besides saving you from buying smart speakers or Nest Hub-type displays, reusing it is a simple way to Extend the life of your technology and generate less electronic wasteFrom using it as a touch panel for lights and plugs to turning it into a pocket Smart TV, you'll see that even the oldest tablets still have a lot to offer.
Prepare your tablet for its new multimedia life
Before you start installing apps willy-nilly, it's worth getting your tablet properly set up, because that's what will determine whether it truly becomes a tablet. a device you use every day, not an experiment you put away againWe'll look at location, power supply, physical support, and basic screen settings.
Choosing the perfect location, plug, and stand
Ideally, your tablet should have a fixed place at home, always connected and at handThe most common place to put it is in the living room, in the kitchen or in a central hallway, where you can see it and touch it in passing and where it can also hear voice commands well.
Keep in mind that for it to work as a control panel or makeshift television, the tablet must be plugged into the mains almost permanentlyThis is where the stands come into play, which can be wall-mounted or tabletop, depending on what suits you best.
- If you opt for a wall mount, you have options ranging from simple screw-in models to articulated arms or magnetic mountsThe most basic ones cost around 20-30 euros. Make sure they have enough space to connect the charger and that the viewing angle is comfortable when you move around the room.
- If you prefer a tabletop stand, you'll find even more variety: foldable, arm-type, sturdy metal ones… Many stands designed for mobile phones also work for tablets, so You can reuse one you already have at home.There are options ranging from just over 10 euros to very solid models that approach 60-70 euros.
The important thing is that the set allows you to view the screen without straining your neck and touch it without having to hold the deviceAlso take the opportunity to hide the wiring as best as possible and prevent it from hanging or getting in the way when passing by.
Screen settings: brightness, lock, and timeout
If you're going to use the tablet as a control panel or TV-like screen, you'll want the screen to be Ready as soon as you look at it, but without overheating it or leaving it at maximum shine.A few basic adjustments make all the difference.
On Android, go to Settings > Display (the name may vary depending on the brand) and check the timeout before power off. Some tablets allow you to set a specific timeout. screen always onOthers have a maximum time limit, such as 30 minutes. If it won't let you keep it on indefinitely, you can use apps like Caffeine or similar to prevent it from turning off while you're using a specific app.
It's also a good idea to adjust the brightness. Usually, a little is enough. medium-low level if the tablet is indoors and at a close distanceYou can leave automatic brightness enabled or set a manual brightness that is not bothersome at night nor insufficient during the day.
Remember that all this does not prevent you from changing the screen when you leave home or don't want it to be displaying anything. lock the tablet with the physical button and turn it off manuallyThis way you combine comfort with some energy and panel savings.
Ambient mode and use as a digital photo frame
On many Android tablets, especially older ones, it is still available Google Assistant Ambient ModeIt's a mode designed to allow the device to function as a secondary screen: it displays useful information and photos while it's plugged in.
To check if your tablet has it, open the Google app and go to its settings menu. There you should see a section related to... “Ambient mode” or connected screensFrom there you can choose what is displayed when the device is idle and charging.
This mode allows you to display The time, weather, reminders, upcoming events, and, above all, Google Photos albumsIn this way, your new media center also acts as a digital photo frame, changing the image every so often to avoid screen burn-in.
If your tablet no longer has this mode or Google has removed it in that version, you can always install a digital frame app (for example, alternatives to Fotoo or similar) or pin the app you're going to use to the screen (Google Home, a TV-style launcher, a web dashboard…), combining it with a a long wait time or an app that prevents automatic shutdown.
Configure voice control: your tablet as a smart display
One of the great things about reusing your tablet as a family media center is being able to talk to it as if it were a smart speaker with a screenFor that, the Google Assistant (or Siri in the case of an iPad) needs to be properly configured.
Activate “Hey Google” and train voice recognition
On an Android tablet, the assistant is usually integrated into the Google app. To activate voice listening, open the app and tap your profile or home picture in the top right corner. Then go to Settings > Google Assistant and look for the section “Hey Google and Voice Match” or similar.
Within that menu, activate the "Hey Google" switch so that the tablet can react to the keyword without you having to touch anythingThe system will ask you to repeat some phrases to train the Voice Match model, which is used to identify your specific voice.
If over time you notice that it malfunctions frequently or that several people have used the same account and the assistant gets confused, go back to that section and select the option to “Retrain the Voice Match model”This way you clear the training and teach it only your voice again.
On some tablets, especially older ones, the system itself may warn you that it is only able to listen. when screen is onIn that case, you'll have to decide whether it's worth keeping the screen always on in the stand, or if you prefer to activate the assistant manually with a visible icon.
Retrain Siri if you're using an iPad
If the tablet you want to recycle is an iPad, the concept is the same but using Siri. Go to Settings > Siri & Search and turn off the option “Listen Hey Siri”Reactivate it and the system will guide you through the voice training again.
Redoing that training is interesting if you've been using the iPad with different users for a while, because that way You make sure that Siri understands your way of speaking well. when you use it as a multimedia panel or home automation center.
When you don't want the microphone to be constantly listening
If you're bothered by the device constantly listening for the wake word, you can disable "Hey Google" and choose to More manual but equally quick ways to open the wizard.
Typically, you place a large icon of the Assistant or the Google app itself on your home screen, so you can speak to it with a single tap. If you use launchers like Nova, you can even configure gestures (double tap, swipe up, etc.) to... Opening the assistant or Google Home is just a matter of a gesture on the desktop..
Use your tablet as the central panel of your smart home
Beyond playing music or videos, where a tablet truly shines is in becoming the touch panel from which you control your entire home automation ecosystem: lights, plugs, fans, speakers, robot vacuum cleaners, thermostats, cameras and whatever else you can think of.
Unify devices in Google Home or the Apple Home app
If your tablet is Android, the logical app for centralizing your home is Google Home. From there you can add compatible devices. Google Home, Nest and the Matter standardso that almost everything sold today "for smart homes" can end up on the same panel.
Check that all your light bulbs, plugs, sensors, or robot vacuums are already linked. If not, in Google Home tap "Add" > "Set up device" and then the option to “It works with Google” to link each manufacturer's accountFrom there, you'll be able to at least turn it on, turn it off, and change basic modes from the same application.
It's very important that, once added, you organize them by room and give them logical names. Group them by room (living room, kitchen, bedroom, office, etc.) and make sure each one has a descriptive name that you understand just by reading it: “living room ceiling light”, “LED strip shelf light”, “coffee maker plug”, “hallway vacuum cleaner”…
If you're in the Apple ecosystem and use an iPad, the equivalent is the Home app. With it, you can manage HomeKit-compatible accessories, create scenes and automations, and turn your tablet into a home theater system. the master control of your connected homeYou can also install Google Home on the iPad to control compatible Google devices, although the integration won't be as deep as on Android.
Complement with the official apps of each manufacturer
Sometimes, even if your devices are integrated with Google Home, advanced features are only available in the manufacturer's own app. This happens a lot with... lights with complex scenes, robot vacuum cleaners with detailed maps, or devices with specific modes.
The key here is to install the apps from those brands on the tablet (for example, Xiaomi Home, SmartThings, Philips Hue, Govee, iRobot, etc.) and place their icons. somewhere visible on the main screenThis way you can quickly open them when you need fine-tuning that the main app doesn't offer.
Don't worry if you can't integrate absolutely everything into a single app; the important thing is that the things you use most are just a tap away. For everyday use, Google Home or Casa will act as the nerve center, and the other apps will remain as “advanced tools”.
Buttons and widgets: shortcuts that anyone can use
Talking to the assistant is great, but in a house with children, guests, or elderly people, it might be more convenient to offer Large on-screen buttons for the most common actionsAndroid offers quite a bit of flexibility in this regard.
Action Blocks: turning voice commands into giant buttons
Action Blocks is an official Google app designed for accessibility that's perfect for a home control panel. Its function is simple: it allows you to create large widgets that launch a specific command to the Google Assistant by touching them.
The process is very guided: you install the app, choose "create new block," and decide whether to use a suggested action or a custom action. In that custom action, you write the same thing you would say aloud to the assistant, for example: “Turn on the living room lights”, “Turn off all the lights in the house”, “Play relaxing music in the home group” or “Turn the heating up to 21 degrees”.
Next, you can choose whether you want the assistant to respond aloud or not, and assign a name, an icon, and even a photo to the button to make it clear what it does. Once saved, you add it as a widget to your home screen and You already have a huge button for that specific command..
With just a few blocks you can build a kind of "scene panel" where, with a touch, you can launch the goodnight routine, turn on all the lights in an area, play your favorite Spotify playlist, or check the weather forecast without having to navigate through menus.
Google Home widgets and widgets from other smart home apps
In addition to Action Blocks, Google Home includes a Custom widget that allows you to pin specific devices or scenes to your desktopThis way you can control lights, plugs or groups of devices with a single tap without even opening the main app.
Many third-party home automation apps also offer widgets: Xiaomi Home, Philips Hue, some alarm systems or cameras, etc. If you combine them with Google Home widgets and action blocks, you can create a home screen where The important functions of your home are organized in a mosaic pattern. and be understandable at a glance.
Transform your tablet into a complete multimedia player
Once the home automation aspect is covered, it's time to make the most of the screen for entertainment. Your tablet can be both portable television, movie and series player, live TV screen and even improvised “set-top box” if you connect it to another monitor or to the TV, or even become a home media server.
Smart TV-style interface: change the launcher
If the main use is going to be watching content, it's best to replace the classic tablet screen with a launcher that mimics the smart TV interface, with large icons and rows of apps.
Google Play offers several interesting options. TV Launcher and its variants offer a very simple design, with an app grid that looks great from the sofa and can be customized. Personalize by changing the number of rows, hiding apps you don't need, and adjusting the icon size..
Another powerful alternative is ATV Launcher (and its Pro version), which closely resembles the look and feel of Android TV. It allows Change backgrounds, play with categories, add widgets, and modify the appearance of shortcuts. so that the experience resembles that of a Chromecast with Google TV or a modern Smart TV.
There are also launchers like TV Launcher – Smart TV Box or Smart TV Launcher, designed specifically to give tablets and mobile phones a TV-like appearance. Many include Content filters, widget support, and a much more convenient navigation experience with remote controls or at a distance are included..
Apps for watching live TV and free streaming
A television without live content is incomplete. Luckily, nowadays there are a good number of apps that allow you to watch. Live channels and on-demand content without a mandatory subscriptionor with mixed free and paid models.
Among the most interesting is ViX, a platform focused on the Spanish-speaking audience. Its free version includes live news, sports, entertainment and soap opera channels, in addition to a catalog of movies and series to watch whenever you want.
Pluto TV is another veteran in the sector: it offers more than a hundred themed channels with content from brands like Paramount and Nickelodeon. Its tablet app... You can jump between channels for series, movies, reality shows, cartoons, or cult programsall without creating an account or paying a monthly fee.
We mustn't forget YouTube. Although we tend to think more about individual videos, it's becoming increasingly common to use channels for... broadcasting sporting competitions, live events or special coverageFor background music, cooking tutorials in the kitchen, or drawings in the kids' room, it's practically indispensable.
Internet television with IPTV, DTT and Kodi
If you're interested in having digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels available on your tablet without a traditional antenna, you can use... Legal IPTV lists and compatible applicationsThe idea is very simple: you upload a file or URL with the channel list and the app displays them as if it were a TV guide.
Apps like TiviMate focus precisely on this: they allow you Add IPTV lists and browse channels easily.TDTChannels is another well-known option that works as an aggregator of DTT channels and online radio, with its own app and web version.
Tivify, for its part, offers a mix between IPTV and its own platform: it has different plans (one free and others paid) and adds extras such as Program recording, access to recent content, or premium channelsdepending on the option you choose.
Pluto TV, which we've already mentioned, also works with linear channels like digital terrestrial television (DTT), but via the internet. And if you want something much more flexible, Kodi is practically a world apart. It's an open-source application that can play Videos, series, music, DTT via IPTV lists, streaming platforms through add-ons, and even retro games.
To watch Spanish DTT legally on Kodi, simply install the PVR IPTV Simple Client add-on and configure it with the URL of a legal public list. From there, Kodi's "TV" section becomes a digital tuner which you can control from your tablet connected to the TV or directly on the screen itself.
Use IPTV m3u or m3u8 lists in other apps
Beyond Kodi or very specific apps, almost any modern IPTV client accepts playlists in m3u or m3u8 formatDownload the file or copy the URL containing the channels (always making sure it's legal) and add it from the application settings.
Once the list is imported, the app organizes the channels and allows you to switch between them, see the schedule if available, and even create your favoritesIt's a simple way to have your usual channels on your tablet without an antenna cable or physical tuner.
Connect the tablet to the TV or use it as a remote control and extra screen
Another twist for your media center is to use the tablet not only as a standalone device, but as brain connected to your television or as a screen for other devices.
Turn your tablet into a kind of Android TV for your TV
If your tablet or old mobile phone has a USB video output (something you should check in the model specifications), you can connect it to the TV using a USB-C to HDMI adapter. This way, The interface you see on the tablet is replicated on the big screen. and you can also use it as a secondary monitor.
Just as some people repurpose Android phones with Kodi as a media center for their TV, you can do exactly the same with a tablet: install Kodi, streaming apps, DTT, IPTV, or whatever you want, connect via HDMI, and You control everything from the touchscreen itself or with a Bluetooth remote..
If your TV supports wireless mirroring, you can also share your screen wirelessly, although this carries the risk of having Micro-cuts or reduced fluidity if your WiFi network isn't very reliableWhenever possible, use an HDMI cable for a more stable connection.
Turn your mobile phone into a tablet remote control
When your tablet is connected to the TV or placed on a stand some distance away, it can be inconvenient to get up every time you want to change something. That's where apps like [app name] come in handy. Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse, which turn the mobile phone into a mouse, keyboard and multimedia controller for the tablet.
The idea is simple: you install the app on both devices, pair them via Bluetooth, and your phone then controls the cursor, clicks, and some playback buttons on the tablet. This way you can manage the Smart TV-style interface from the sofa, without directly touching the screen.
Most of the app's basic features are free, although in some cases a small fee is required to unlock more advanced media controls. Even so, it's usually much cheaper than buying a dedicated physical controller.
Tablet as a car screen with Android Auto
Another very curious, but very practical, reuse is to use an old tablet as Android Auto screen for your carInstead of installing a new radio or buying an external screen, you can take advantage of what you already have.
To achieve this, there's an Android app called Headunit Reloaded, available on Google Play for a very reasonable price. This app is designed to make the tablet act as a... Android Auto display unit connected to your mobile phone.
All you need is a tablet in good working order, with Wi-Fi enabled, and capable of running the app smoothly. Once you've established the connection with your phone, you'll be able to see it on the tablet screen. Google Maps, Spotify, calls, messages, and other Android Auto features, with the advantage of having a larger surface area than many cars.
However, mount the tablet on a sturdy holder on the dashboard and position it so that it doesn't obstruct your view of the road or important controls. The goal is that so you can use it at a glance, without unnecessary distractions.
Giving a second life to very old tablets: extra ideas
Not all tablets we have at home can handle the latest versions of Google Home, YouTube, or the most modern streaming apps. But even those older models can be repurposed. simple devices that remain useful for the family.
Digital photo frame
One of the most welcome retirements for an already worn-out tablet is to use it as digital frame for your photographsAll you need is a nice stand, a good spot on a shelf or sideboard, and an app that displays looped images.
On Android, there are many apps designed for this, some connected to cloud accounts and others that use local folders. On iOS, there are alternatives like LiveFrame. Simply load your favorite albums and configure how often the photos change. turn your tablet into a permanent window to your memories.
Simple media center with basic apps
Even with limited hardware, you can almost always install a lightweight version of video and music players. This allows the tablet to serve as a... separate screen for watching series, listening to podcasts or showing cartoons to the childrenwithout always depending on the mobile phone.
You can add video streaming services that are still compatible with that version of Android or use simpler apps to play local files from a microSD card. If you combine it with a Bluetooth speaker or a Chromecast, You can manage all your entertainment from your tablet without overloading your main phone..
Affordable home video surveillance
Another very practical idea is to repurpose the tablet as part of an inexpensive video surveillance system. Although the quality of its cameras isn't spectacular, they are usually more than sufficient for the job. to monitor a room in the house or to control a specific room.
With specific apps, you can link the tablet to your mobile phone to view images in real time, record clips, or take periodic snapshots. It doesn't reach the level of a professional circuit, but for uses like monitor the baby's room, the front door, or a second homeIt's a handy and cheap option.
Basic connected home panel
Even if the tablet doesn't support the latest versions of smart home apps, it sometimes allows you to run older versions or lightweight web dashboards. In that case, you can use it as a... fixed screen for the simplest home controlssuch as turning lights on and off or checking the status of some sensors.
Installing Google Home (if the Android version allows it) or using web interfaces from platforms such as Home Assistantthe tablet becomes a modest but functional control center, perfect to have in the entrance of the house or in the kitchen.
With this wide range of options, it's clear that an old tablet isn't an electronic brick, but a great base for building. a multimedia and family control center tailored to your needsFrom a home automation panel with buttons and voice control to a portable television, a car screen, or a simple photo frame, making the most of it is a matter of choosing the use that best suits your home and spending a few minutes configuring it. Share this guide so more users can learn how to use their tablet as a media center.