How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb: A Complete Guide

You check into your Airbnb, drop your bags, and start settling in. Then a thought creeps in: could someone be watching?

It's not paranoia. Hidden cameras in vacation rentals have been documented worldwide. In one survey, 11% of Airbnb guests reported finding a hidden camera during their stay.

The good news: detecting hidden cameras isn't difficult if you know what to look for. Here's exactly how to check.

First: Know the Rules

As of April 30, 2024, Airbnb completely bans indoor cameras in guest-accessible areas. Hosts cannot have cameras inside the property—period.

Outdoor cameras are permitted but must be:

• Disclosed in the listing
• Located in common areas only
• Visible (not hidden)

Any indoor camera—even disclosed—violates Airbnb policy. Any undisclosed camera anywhere is grounds for full refund and removal of the host.

This matters because you're not being paranoid by checking. You're enforcing rules that exist precisely because this has been a real problem.

Where Hidden Cameras Are Usually Found

Security experts consistently identify these locations as most common:

High-Priority Areas (Check First)

• Smoke detectors - The most popular hiding spot. Check for unusual openings, extra lights, or non-standard shapes.
• Alarm clocks - Especially digital clocks facing the bed
• USB charging blocks - Wall chargers can contain tiny cameras
• Decorative items - Picture frames, stuffed animals, artificial plants
• Television bezels - Small cameras can hide in TV frames
• Mirrors - Two-way mirrors can conceal cameras behind them

Other Common Locations

• Air purifiers or fans
• Books with spine facing the room
• Tissue boxes
• Coat hooks and hangers
• Electrical outlets (especially unusual ones)
• Shower heads or bathroom vents
• WiFi routers
• Speakers

What Makes a Location Suspicious

• Directly facing beds, showers, or changing areas
• Newly installed or out-of-place items
• Objects with unnecessary holes or lenses
• Items that don't quite match the room's style

Method 1: Visual Inspection

The simplest method catches most cameras.

What to Look For

Small holes or lenses: Camera lenses are typically 1-5mm in diameter—about the size of a pen tip. Look for small dark circles in objects, especially those facing private areas.

Unusual lights: Hidden cameras may have indicator LEDs. Turn off all lights and look for any tiny glowing dots, especially red or green.

Odd placements: Why is there a phone charger pointed at the bed? Why does the smoke detector have a extra hole? Why is that picture frame angled toward the bathroom door?

How to Inspect Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are the #1 hiding spot. Check for:

• Extra holes beyond the standard sensor opening
• Unusual shape compared to standard detectors
• A lens visible inside any opening
• LEDs that aren't the normal power indicator
• Weight (camera-equipped detectors may feel heavier)

If you're uncomfortable, ask the host for the detector model. A legitimate host will understand; a suspicious one will deflect.

Method 2: The Flashlight Test

Glass surfaces—including camera lenses—reflect light distinctively.

How to Do It

1. Turn off all lights (do this at night for best results)
2. Use a bright flashlight (your phone's works)
3. Shine it slowly across the room, watching for reflections
4. Pay special attention to objects at eye level facing private areas

What You're Looking For

Camera lenses reflect light differently than other surfaces—you'll see a bright, focused reflection (like a cat's eye at night) rather than a general shine. Move the flashlight slowly and watch for any pinpoint reflections.

This method catches cameras hidden behind small holes in objects.

Method 3: Smartphone Infrared Detection

Many hidden cameras use infrared (IR) LEDs for night vision. Your smartphone can detect these.

How to Do It

1. Turn off all lights in the room
2. Open your phone's front-facing camera (it's more sensitive to IR)
3. Slowly scan the room while looking at your phone screen
4. IR LEDs will appear as bright purple or white lights

Why This Works

Infrared light is invisible to the human eye but visible to most smartphone cameras. Night-vision cameras emit IR to see in the dark—and that emission betrays their location.

Limitations

• Not all cameras use IR (daytime-only cameras won't be detected)
• Some newer phone cameras filter out IR light
• Works best in complete darkness

Method 4: WiFi Network Scanning

Wireless cameras need to connect to the internet. You can find them on the network.

Using a Network Scanner App

1. Connect to the Airbnb's WiFi
2. Download a network scanner app (Fing is popular and free)
3. Scan the network to see all connected devices
4. Look for suspicious devices

What to Look For

• Devices labeled as "camera," "IP camera," or manufacturer names like Wyze, Ring, Nest
• Devices with generic names but unusual manufacturers
• More devices than you'd expect for a vacation rental

Limitations

• Savvy hosts may use a separate network for cameras
• Some cameras use cellular connections instead of WiFi
• Device names can be changed to hide their purpose

Method 5: RF Signal Detection

Wireless cameras emit radio frequencies. Dedicated detectors can find them.

How RF Detectors Work

These devices scan for radio signals that cameras use to transmit video. When you get close to a transmitting camera, the detector alerts you.

Where to Get One

RF detectors are available online for $20-$300. More expensive models detect a wider range of frequencies and are more sensitive.

How to Use

1. Turn off your phone and other wireless devices
2. Turn on the detector
3. Slowly sweep the room, especially private areas
4. When it alerts, investigate that location closely

Limitations

• Won't detect cameras that store locally (no transmission)
• Picks up other wireless devices (can get false positives)
• Requires some practice to use effectively

Method 6: The Mirror Test

Two-way mirrors can hide cameras behind them.

The Fingernail Test

1. Place your fingernail against the mirror's surface
2. Look at the gap between your nail and its reflection
3. Normal mirror: There's a small gap (the glass thickness)
4. Two-way mirror: Your nail appears to touch its reflection directly

Why This Works

Normal mirrors have the reflective coating on the back of the glass. Two-way mirrors have the coating on the front, eliminating the gap.

Where to Check

• Bathroom mirrors
• Bedroom mirrors
• Any mirror that seems unusually placed

What to Do If You Find a Camera

Step 1: Don't Touch It

Leave the camera in place. You need evidence, and disturbing it could complicate matters.

Step 2: Document Everything

Take photos and videos of:

• The camera's location
• How it's concealed
• What area it's monitoring
• The room context

Step 3: Leave the Property

Your safety and privacy come first. You don't need to stay in a property where you're being recorded.

Step 4: Contact Airbnb Immediately

Call Airbnb's emergency line. Report:

• What you found
• Where you found it
• That you've documented it
• That you're leaving or have left

Airbnb takes this seriously. You should receive rebooking assistance and a full refund.

Step 5: Contact Local Police

Hidden cameras in private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms are illegal virtually everywhere. File a police report. Provide your documentation.

Step 6: Don't Confront the Host

Let authorities handle it. Confronting a host who installed hidden cameras could escalate the situation and interfere with investigation.

Exception: Disclosed Outdoor Cameras

Some hosts legitimately disclose security cameras in their listing. These should be:

• Clearly mentioned before booking
• Located outside only (doorbell, porch, driveway)
• Visible, not hidden
• Never pointing into windows

If you're uncomfortable with disclosed cameras, simply don't book that property. But disclosed outdoor cameras aren't violations—they're security features.

Protecting Yourself Going Forward

Before Booking

• Check the listing for camera disclosures (under "Safety & Property")
• Read reviews mentioning privacy concerns
• Message the host to ask directly about cameras

Upon Arrival

• Do a quick sweep of private areas
• Use the flashlight and smartphone methods (takes 5 minutes)
• Check smoke detectors and alarm clocks especially

During Your Stay

• Use bathroom fans while showering (blocks audio if nothing else)
• Change clothes in the bathroom or closet with door closed
• Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, investigate

The Bigger Picture

Most Airbnb hosts are honest people. Hidden cameras are relatively rare—but they exist.

A five-minute check upon arrival gives you peace of mind for the entire stay. The methods are simple, require no special equipment, and catch the majority of hidden devices.

Your privacy is worth five minutes.

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Concerned about an Airbnb's trustworthiness? StayCheck analyzes listing reviews for patterns that indicate problematic hosts—including privacy concerns mentioned by previous guests. Check your listing