Can my phone detect hidden cameras?

Yes. Most phone cameras can detect infrared (IR) LEDs used by night-vision cameras. Turn off all lights, open your front-facing camera, and scan the room. IR lights appear as purple or white glowing dots on screen. The front camera works better because it usually lacks an IR filter.

What is the fingertip test for mirrors?

Touch the mirror surface with your fingertip. On a normal mirror, there's a visible gap between your finger and its reflection because the reflective coating is behind glass. On a two-way mirror (observation glass), your finger appears to touch its reflection directly with no gap.

Where are hidden cameras most commonly found in hotels?

The most common locations are smoke detectors, alarm clocks, USB wall chargers, air vents, picture frames, and bathroom fixtures. Cameras are typically positioned facing the bed, shower, or dressing area.

Are hidden cameras legal in Airbnbs?

Airbnb's policy bans hidden cameras entirely. Disclosed cameras are allowed only in common areas, never in bedrooms or bathrooms. Secretly recording guests is illegal in most jurisdictions. If you find one, document it and report to both Airbnb and local police.

Do RF detectors find all hidden cameras?

No. RF detectors only find cameras that transmit wirelessly (Wi-Fi or radio frequency). Cameras that record to a local SD card or are hardwired don't emit RF signals. A BBC investigation found that some professionally installed cameras were undetectable by consumer RF scanners.

How to Check Your Hotel Room for Hidden Cameras: 5-Minute Sweep Guide

Why should you check your hotel room for cameras?

Hidden cameras in rental accommodations are more common than most travelers realize. A 2024 survey found that 1 in 4 Airbnb guests have discovered a hidden camera, and nearly half of frequent travelers express concern about surveillance in their rooms.

In 2023, a BBC investigation revealed professionally installed hidden cameras in multiple UK hotels, some hardwired into the building’s electrical system. These weren’t amateur setups — they were designed to avoid detection.

You don’t need to be paranoid. You need a system. This 5-minute sweep covers the most common hiding spots and detection methods, using nothing more than your smartphone.

How do you do a visual sweep of your hotel room?

The most effective first step is a systematic visual inspection. Walk through the room methodically, checking each area for anything that looks out of place.

The fingertip test for mirrors

This is the fastest check you can do. Touch any mirror in the room with your fingertip:

Normal mirror: You’ll see a gap between your finger and the reflection. The reflective coating sits behind a layer of glass.
Two-way mirror: Your finger appears to touch the reflection directly. The reflective coating is on the surface, allowing someone to see through from the other side.

Check every mirror, especially those facing the bed, shower, or dressing area. If a mirror fails the fingertip test, cover it with a towel and report it.

Smoke detectors and clocks

Smoke detectors are the single most common hiding spot for covert cameras. Real smoke detectors have visible sensor vents with a photoelectric or ionization sensor inside. Look for:

Pinhole lenses (1-3mm diameter) that don’t match the detector’s design
Multiple smoke detectors in one room — this is unusual
Detectors positioned to face the bed rather than centered on the ceiling

Alarm clocks and digital clocks facing the bed are another frequent hiding spot. Examine them closely and consider turning them away or unplugging them.

USB chargers and power strips

USB wall chargers are one of the most popular spy camera form factors sold online. A camera-equipped charger looks almost identical to a real one. Check any USB charger already plugged in when you arrive:

Look for a tiny pinhole on the face of the charger
Check if the charger feels heavier than normal
Replace pre-installed chargers with your own if you’re unsure

Power strips near the bed can also conceal cameras. Inspect them and consider moving or unplugging suspicious ones.

Air vents and decorative items

Air vents are easy to overlook and provide a perfect hiding spot. Use your phone flashlight to illuminate inside each vent — a camera lens will reflect light as a distinct bright spot.

Also check:

Picture frames facing the bed or bathroom
Artificial plants or flower arrangements
Air fresheners and decorative objects
Stuffed animals or gift items
Books or objects that seem oddly positioned

How can you use your phone to detect hidden cameras?

Your smartphone is a surprisingly effective detection tool, especially for cameras with infrared night vision.

Phone camera IR detection

Most night-vision cameras use infrared LEDs to see in the dark. These LEDs are invisible to the naked eye but visible to many phone cameras.

How to do it:

Turn off all lights in the room — make it as dark as possible
Open your phone’s camera app
Use the front-facing camera — it typically lacks an IR filter, making it more sensitive to infrared light
Slowly scan every surface, corner, and object in the room
Look for small purple or white glowing dots on your screen

If you see a glowing dot that isn’t visible to your naked eye, investigate that spot closely. It’s likely an IR LED from a camera.

Wi-Fi network scanning

Wireless cameras need to connect to a network. Use a free app like Fing (available on iOS and Android) to scan the local Wi-Fi network:

Connect to the room’s Wi-Fi
Run a network scan
Look for devices with camera-related manufacturer names
Note any unfamiliar devices — cameras often appear as generic IoT devices

This won’t catch cameras on a separate network or those that record locally, but it’s a quick check.

Magnetic field detection

Some phone-based detection apps use your phone’s magnetometer to detect the electromagnetic fields produced by electronic devices. While less reliable than visual or IR methods, it can help identify hidden electronics in walls or objects.

Walk slowly around the room with the app running and investigate any strong readings near suspicious locations.

What dedicated detector devices work best?

For travelers who want more thorough protection, dedicated detection devices significantly improve your chances of finding hidden cameras.

RF (Radio Frequency) detectors

RF detectors scan for wireless signals emitted by transmitting cameras. They’re effective against Wi-Fi cameras and cellular-connected cameras. A good RF detector costs $20-40 and can sweep a room in minutes.

Limitations: RF detectors cannot find cameras that record to a local SD card or are hardwired. They also pick up signals from legitimate devices (phones, routers), so you need to learn to distinguish these.

Lens finders

Lens finders use a ring of red LEDs to create a bright reflection off any camera lens in the room. You look through a viewfinder while the LEDs flash, and any lens in your field of view will produce a bright, distinctive glint.

Lens finders work on all cameras, regardless of whether they’re wireless or wired, on or off. They’re one of the most reliable detection tools available. Budget models start around $25.

For detailed product recommendations, see our best hidden camera detectors guide.

What can’t consumer detectors find?

The 2023 BBC investigation is a critical reality check. Their team found professionally installed cameras that:

Were hardwired into the building’s electrical system with no wireless signal
Used pinhole lenses smaller than 1mm, extremely difficult to spot visually
Were embedded in permanent fixtures like ceiling tiles and bathroom fittings
Had no IR illumination, relying on ambient light

Consumer RF detectors missed these entirely. Only professional-grade spectrum analyzers and physical inspection by trained investigators found them.

This doesn’t mean your sweep is pointless — the vast majority of hidden cameras in accommodation are consumer-grade devices purchased online. Your 5-minute sweep will catch most of them. But if you’re in a high-risk situation, consider professional debugging services.

What should you do if you find a hidden camera?

Finding a camera is alarming, but it’s important to respond correctly:

Don’t touch or remove it. It’s evidence. Disturbing it could compromise a criminal investigation.
Take photos and video of the camera and its location from multiple angles.
Note the exact position — which direction it faces, what it can see.
Leave the room and contact hotel management or the property host.
Call local police and file a report. Hidden cameras in private spaces are a criminal offense in most jurisdictions.
Report to the platform (Airbnb, Booking.com, etc.) with your evidence.
Document everything — dates, times, who you spoke to, reference numbers.

If you’re in an Airbnb, the platform’s policy requires hosts to disclose any cameras, and cameras are never allowed in bedrooms or bathrooms. Airbnb should relocate you immediately and investigate the host.

Quick reference: the 5-minute sweep checklist

Run through this sequence every time you check into a new room:

Mirrors — Fingertip test on every mirror
Smoke detectors — Look for pinholes, check positioning
USB chargers — Inspect or replace pre-installed chargers
Clocks & electronics — Check anything facing the bed
Phone IR scan — Lights off, front camera, scan all surfaces
Wi-Fi scan — Run Fing or similar app on room network
Bathroom — Check vents, fixtures, mirrors, hooks
Decorative items — Inspect anything with line of sight to key areas

For an interactive version of this checklist that works offline, try our free sweep app.