How to Make a Phone Camera Into Night Vision

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Follow our DIY guide for a simple night vision camera

Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: February 28, 2025

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Here's how to convert you camera phone into a night vision or infrared camera.

How to Get Night Vision on a Phone Camera

Open up an old mobile phone and carefully remove the lens and infrared filter from the camera. Connect an IR LED light to a battery, and attach the light in front of the lens. Turn on the LED and use your camera to take night vision photos and videos.

1

Get an old mobile phone.

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Remember, this hack isn't really reversible so don't do this on a camera you want to use in the future.

2

Open the phone and find the camera.

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Once the phone is open, locate the camera inside.

3

Remove the lens.

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Unscrew it and remove the plastic containing the lens. Make sure not to let any dust fall onto the shiny CMOS sensor inside.^{[1]
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4

Remove the infrared filter.

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This is the infrared filter. You have to remove this by applying some pressure on it sideways till the glue gives way and it comes off.^{[2]
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=== Put the phone back together.

Screw the phone back together securely.

5

Connect IR LEDs to a battery.

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Connect the LEDs in parallel to a battery of about 3-5 volts. It's better to use more than one in parallel to spread out the current equally. Test the LEDs by looking at them through any a digital camera.^{[3]
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6

Mount the LEDs on a holder and secure the phone inside.

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You're almost done.^{[4]
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7

Turn on the camera and LEDs.

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You now have an infra-red night vision Camera.

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Question

If I remove the IR filter in my Canon FS400 vcam, will it convert into a night-vision vcam?

Pavan Abeysinghe

Community Answer

It will not turn into a night-vision camera. The sensor must be sensitive to infrared.

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Question

Will the camera still work in daylight?

Community Answer

Yes, it will still work in daylight. However, the quality will not be the same as before.

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