How to Use Your Smartphone to Find Hidden Cameras in Rentals

Travelers staying in short-term rentals or hotels face the risk that hidden surveillance cameras are installed in their room. Tech outlet Engadget has published guidance on using a mobile phone to run a check and ease some of that worry.

How common is the problem

A 2024 CNN report found that rental platform Airbnb handled 35,000 support tickets about surveillance devices over the preceding decade. The platform permits doorbell and outdoor cameras but bans any indoor recording devices. Airbnb said at the time that fewer than 0.1 percent of its properties had safety complaints, including those about cameras. Still, 51 percent of visitors say they do not trust short-term rentals. Cameras are often disguised as everyday items such as smoke detectors, chargers or picture frames.

Flashlight and camera checks

Start by closing the curtains, switching off the lights and sweeping the room with a flashlight, looking for the glint of a lens or an LED. Common hiding spots include smoke detectors, air purifiers, televisions, shower heads and lights, with extra care near the bed and shower.

Mirrors need checking too: a real mirror reflects the flashlight beam rather than letting it through. When a finger is pressed to the glass, a gap between it and its reflection suggests a normal mirror, while a two-way mirror makes them appear to touch.

A phone camera can also pick up the infrared light emitted by night-vision cameras, which appears as purple or white dots. Pointing the phone at a TV remote and pressing its buttons shows whether the camera detects infrared. The front-facing camera is more likely to have this ability.

Scanning the network

Many hidden cameras stream over Wi-Fi. Apps such as Fing, Net Analyzer and WiFiman can list devices on the network, including names containing "cam" or brands like Wyze, Blink or TP-Link. Results may also include harmless printers or televisions. A Bluetooth scan can help too.

These methods are not foolproof, since many cameras record to local memory cards and will not appear in scans.

If a camera is found

Do not touch the device: photograph it, contact the police and notify the platform's customer support. Airbnb has in several cases permanently removed hosts and fully refunded guests. Vrbo also bans recording devices and says affected guests may qualify for a refund. CNN found Airbnb has no strict rule requiring staff to contact law enforcement, so guests who feel unsafe should call the police themselves.